A Canadian court order recently came out that prevented a law from coming into effect.  That law, might have effectively put an end to Jewish kosher meat production in Canada (without affecting the meat production of any other group, I might add).  Thanks to this court ruling, Jews can continue to consume kosher meat.  At least for now.

This week’s Torah portion, Re’eh, outlines many of the dietary laws that are now kept in Jewish kitchens around the world.  That kosher mammals can be identified by split hooves and chewing of cud.  That kosher fish are defined by their having fins and scales.  That we shouldn’t eat meat and milk together.  Etc.

Why is it that G-d asks us to eat certain foods and refrain from others?

The Rambam explains the health benefits of keeping kosher.  Bottom feeding sea creatures, for instance, are more prone to disease.  Eating an animal that died of natural causes is more likely to make you sick.  Pork fat, meanwhile, can make us sluggish.  Who better than G-d to know which foods will sustain us the best?

The Recanati suggests a more spiritual explanation.  He says that eating kosher food allows our bodies to connect to spirituality more readily.  He describes our bodies like a tool.  A tool that is well oiled or sharpened can help you do your work much better than a rusted or nicked one.  So too, a body honed with kosher food is better able to help us connect with G-d.

The Akeidas Yitzchak points out that keeping kosher is actually a way to build self discipline.  By constantly restraining ourselves from eating certain things, we make self control a regular part of our lives.  We become practiced at this character trait, such that, when less common, but more dangerous temptations come our way, we know how to resist.  We teach ourselves how to be the masters over the impulses of our bodies.

The Torah doesn’t clarify which of the above approaches was G-d’s true reason for giving us His kosher laws.  Perhaps it’s something else altogether or all of the above.  But the Torah does say one phrase, both to introduce and then to conclude the section on kosher laws. 

כִּ֣י עַ֤ם קָדוֹשׁ֙ אַתָּ֔ה לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ

Because you are a holy people to Hashem your G-d.

Devarim 14:2 and 14:21

We are G-d’s people.  This is the food that he wants for us. 

Don’t just eat.  Eat kosher. 

Don’t just be.  Be holy.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi A and the JET Team