Weekly Shabbat Parsha Thoughts – Shemini – 4.2.2010

This week we have the introduction of the laws of kosher. I have always found the tradition of keeping kosher to be one of the ritual practices Jews have some of the most awareness and knowledge but have spent some of least time in thinking about it. I say this because it has been true for me in many points of my life. It is often looked at as something you either are or are not and then people move on. But when I stopped and thought about kosher it is a wonderful teacher to everyone when I stopped to think about it.

One of the keys with kosher is that it in fact does take a daily routine and force us to stop and think about what it means in our Jewish life and world view. This lesson is both powerful in the specifics as it relates to eating as well as in general that we should look at all of the routines of our lives and see where Judaism can be added or reflected upon. This is an opportunity every time we eat to think about being and acting in a Jewish way. This is a gift we are given when we are commanded to take an everyday task and add a little bit of sanctity, it opens the door while we are in the tasks to reflect on all of our Jewish actions and beliefs. It is a gift that Jewish people can approach everyday anew and one that I know that I never appreciate enough.

The fact that keeping kosher it is an “everyday mitzvah” is a valuable message. It strikes me particularly because by definition there is no end to the task. We must always eat. A mitzvah with no possible end sends a powerful message to the duration of our covenant. Also it is an unavoidable reminder that we should never believe we can perfect ourselves (or others) and we should allow ourselves the reality of mistakes in everyday life. If we mess up kosher we by definition will have a chance to get it right the next time. And even more powerfully we can always improve upon our keeping of kosher. It’s unending nature and wide varieties of expression remind us that how we are Jewish in practice now is but a point on the journey and that we are always moving forward.

And the necessity of eating for survival combined with keeping kosher teaches us a valuable lesson on leadership in Judaism. It teaches us the power of a leading example. Eating is a task people see. And given the widespread awareness of kosher it is a chance and a challenge to express our Jewish identity publicly. But also it is not a task we can delegate or excuse away. We must be responsible for our nourishment. Kosher teaches us that it is not only our physical nourishment that we must be responsible but our spiritual nourishment as well. And we must nourish and act ourselves before we can worry about others.

So on this Shabbat let us look to the lessons of kosher as a reminder of our powerful commitment and responsibility to being Jewish. It is a daily commitment that we cannot avoid. And it is one that we should look to as an opportunity to grow and build ourselves physically and spiritually into the people we are always trying to become. That is message we can all digest. (badum-ching!)

Shabbat Shalom


Summary of The Weekly Torah Reading:

1st & 2nd Aliyot: The Parsha begins on Nissan 1, 2449. The seven-day inauguration of Aharon and his sons was completed and the ceremonies for the Mizbeach's consecration had begun. Over 40 offerings would be brought on that first day, each requiring the direct ministrations of Aharon. Aharon blessed the nation with the standard priestly blessing after which Moshe and Aharon blessed the nation with the special Bracha of Psalm 90.

3rd Aliya: The deaths of Nadav and Avihu are recorded at the very same time that fire descended from heaven to light the Mizbeach. Their cousins removed the bodies of Nadav and Avihu from the courtyard of the Mishkan. Moshe instructs Aharon and his two remaining sons, Elazar and Isamar, that they are forbidden to overtly mourn the deaths of Nadav and Avihu in the standard manner. It is from here that we are taught the standard practices of tearing Kriyah and of mourners not cutting their hair.

4th & 5th Aliyot: Moshe instructs Aharon and his sons to continue the service of the
Mizbeach's consecration. The first recorded difference in Halachik rulings is recorded between Moshe and Aharon as it pertained to the eating of the Rosh Chodesh offering. (Note 16-20, Stone Edition ArtScroll pg. 595)

6th Aliya: The basic laws of Kosher and non-Kosher animals, fish, and fowl are recorded. Note that verses 11:4-7 is one of the established proofs for the divine authorship of the Torah.

7th Aliya: The basic laws of purity and impurity are recorded. It is important to clarify that the Torah does not associate "Tummah" impurity and "Taharah" purity with good and bad. The entire process involves the concept of life and death and the symbolic emphasis that the Torah places on serving G-d with optimism and vigor. So long as there is life there is the opportunity to grow in our relationship with G-d.
The question of "Why are we commanded to keep Kosher?" is answered in 11:44-47. The Torah clearly states that the reason to keep Kosher is to emulate G-d's sanctity. Sanctity "Kedusha" means being set apart and different. Just as G-d is apart from all things and divine in every way, so too are we to be set apart from all other nations and be different in the manner of our eating.