Thursday, March 24, 2011

Shemini 5771

This week's parsha explains how to tell whether a particular animal, bird or fish is kosher. The parsha specifies the types that may be eaten and those that are prohibited. Land animals may be eaten only if they have split hooves and chew their cud, while fish must have fins and scales. There are no signs for kosher fowl, but rather a tradition affirming which species are not kosher.

The parsha includes an explanation as to why we must observe the laws of kashrut. "You should not make your souls abominable [by eating] any creeping creature that creeps. You should not defile yourselves with them…You should sanctify yourselves and be holy." In other words, what we eat affects our souls, not just our bodies: eating non-kosher foods can contaminate the soul. We know that our bodies need to be properly nourished, and that certain food products, especially if eaten in excess, can be harmful to our bodies. Torah teaches that our souls, too, need to be properly nourished.

Torah prohibits non-kosher foods to prevent us from assimilating the negative characteristics of these foods. What negative characteristics do non-kosher animals have that Torah warns us not to eat them?

Torah lists twenty species of birds that are not kosher. Any species of bird not mentioned in that list is considered kosher. Over time, the identity of some of the specified birds has become unclear. The Talmud (Chullin, 59A) teaches that predatory birds are contained within the non-kosher species mentioned. The Ramban explains that upon eating one of these birds, we will, to some degree, ingest their cruel nature as well.

Interestingly, there is one non-kosher bird, the chasidah, that does not seem to comport with the Ramban's rationale. Rashi, quoting the Talmud (Chullin 63A), identifies the chasidah as the stork. He explains the essence of its name, which literally means "kind," finding it appropriate because the stork manifests kindness to its friends by sharing its food. Kindness is a positive trait. Why would the chasidah be considered non-kosher?

Rabbi Yitzchak Meir of Ger, founder of the Chassidic Ger Dynasty, finds that a close reading of the Talmud reveals that the chasidah's kindness is limited to its friends: it shares food with its own species, but not with other types of birds. This selective kindness is actually a form of cruelty, which goes against Torah's concept of kindness. Torah does not allow this type of discrimination. Kindness to one's fellow human being is required at all times, to all people.

As parents, we should consider the qualities we would like our children to develop. We should recognize the profound effect of food on our children's development and fill them with food that is spiritually nourishing.

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