Lev. 9:1-11:47
Précis:
On the final day of the week-long ordination ceremony, Moses instructs
Aaron and his sons on the proper rituals. Aaron makes his offering. Aaron’s
sons Nadab and Abihu offer “strange fire” before God. They are slain. Moses
tells Aaron that he must not engage in normal mourning rituals. The Priests are
prohibited from drinking alcohol while they are engaged in their sacred
duties. Next, God tells Moses and Aaron
to instruct the people about the animals they are permitted to eat (part of the
laws of kashrut). A general warning
to guard against defilement and to be concerned about ritual purity is given.
Lev.11:1-3 “And
Adonai spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them: ‘Speak to the children of
Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things which you may eat among all the
beasts that are on the earth.’”
This is,
of course, one of the proof texts for kashrut. Interestingly, seafood is described by characteristics
(fins and scales, no shell fish), and meat animals by the split hoof and cud
chewing. Birds are listed by name (giving rise to the annual question of
whether turkey, not mentioned, is really kosher).
It’s
appropriate to read about this following Passover, when many who are not
particularly observant about food make a special effort. Some go to extremes.
[I recently read about a group of Orthodox rabbis who visit Arizona wheat farms
in the lead up to Passover, to make sure that the wheat has not been rained upon,
and therefore there could be no doubt as to its use for matzah!]
I’ve
personally gone back and forth during my life in deciding “how kosher” I need
to be, and I am certain that many readers of this weekly message have as well.
In this light (and in a spirit of good humor), I offer this brief vignette
(which does not appear in the Talmud!):
In
Exodus 34:26, God tells Moses, “you shall not boil a kid in
its mother's milk.”
Moses responds, “Oh, then I guess we shouldn’t eat meat with milk.” Again, God
tells Moses, “you shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.” “Oh,” says Moses, “then you should have
different dishes for meat and dairy!” Again, God tells Moses, “you
shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.” Moses, getting excited, says “So we should wait three
hours after eating meat before we eat dairy, and we should use different plates
and utensils for Passover!”
God
responds, “OK Moses, have it your way.”
