Aaron Eby relates an interesting video from Joel Osteen's church where Osteen tells his congregation to avoid eating pork or shellfish in order to promote healthy living.  Is Osteen promoting kosher?

Not really.

Merriam Webster's Word of the day for June 4th was deterge.

If you are thinking that sounds a lot like detergent then you're right!  M-W provided this definition

to wash off : to cleanse

Merriam Webster's word of the day for June 3rd was pompadour-

1 a : a man's style of hairdressing in which the hair is combed into a high mound in front  b : a woman's style of hairdressing in which the hair is brushed into a loose full roll around the face 2 : hair dressed in a pompadour

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for June 1st was malinger.   M-W defined it this way:

to pretend or exaggerate incapacity or illness (as to avoid duty or  work)

Many individuals and families who are beginning to walk in Torah commandments are interested in keeping "Biblically kosher", that is, eating according to the commandments of G-d.  The commandments regarding food are primarily given in Leviticus 11 and in Deuteronomy 14.  Kosher is a Hebrew word that means "proper".  Although the word kosher is never used in Scripture to describe the food that is fit for consumption according to G-d's commandments, it is the word that has been commonly used for millennia to describe that food.

The Merriam-Webster Word of the Day for May 26th was Philadelphia lawyer.

The word means "a lawyer knowledgeable in the most minute aspects of the law".  M-W provided the following background:

This week has provided an abundance of words for thought.  Merriam-Webster's word of the day for May 26th was manumit.

M-W defined the word as "to release from slavery" and provided the following information:

The Merriam-Webster Word of the day for May 20th was deasil.  Note that it is deasil and not diesel (the fuel).

Deasil means clockwise.  M-W says...

According to an old custom, you can bring someone good fortune by walking around  the person clockwise three times while carrying a torch or candle. In Scottish  Gaelic, the word "deiseil" is used for the direction one walks in such a  luck-bringing ritual. English speakers modified the spelling to "deasil," and  have used the word to describe clockwise motion in a variety of rituals.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 24th was destitute.

1 : lacking something needed or desirable 2 : lacking possessions and resources; especially : suffering extreme poverty

The Merriam-Webster word of the day for Friday May 22nd was carrefour.  They provided this definition:

1 : crossroads 2 : square, plaza