Re'eh - 5775

Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17

I used to think that keeping kosher was nonsense, that God cared far more about how I act than what I eat. Then one day, I learned otherwise. This week's torah portion, Re'eh, lists various categories of animals that are not kosher for eating. Have you ever wondered why?

While the categories themselves have some interest for me, I would like to explore the more basic concept that some animals are permitted and some are forbidden. The Torah uses the language of 'clean' and 'unclean' to describe these animals, allowing us only those animals that are labeled 'clean.' These are confusing terms, because we know that the 'unclean' animals are not more dirty than the 'clean' ones. So I would prefer a different terminology: animals that are 'permitted to us' and those that are 'safe from us.' 

What a remarkable concept! The world and all that is within it are not ours to consume. We may live in a consumer society, but keeping kosher reminds us that the world is not our oyster (which is ironically not a kosher food). Consider the environmental implications of this idea! According to Torah, God placed us in Eden in order to tend and care for the Garden, and not to use it all up. Every time I sit down to eat, I am reminded of this by the limits that are placed upon my diet, and the constant reminders help me to live more responsibly. Imagine how different our world would be if we all took this lesson of kashrut to heart. Perhaps profits would become less important than sustainability, or climate change a greater priority than partisan politics. On a more personal level, we might become less concerned with keeping up with our neighbors, or elevating our power and status and instead become more interested in how we use the time that has been given us as a great gift from God.