Keep it kosher

Shmini

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.”

Zooming

When Shabbat occurs on Chol HaMoed of Passover, Exodus 33:12–34:26 is read. Included in these verses are the 13 attributed of God (which we read repeatedly on Yom Kippur as well), as well as the story of Moses bringing down from the mountain the second set of tablets after the episode of the golden calf.

            As is noted in Etz Hayim, the second set of tablets were different from the first set, because while the first was written by the very hand of God, the second was written by a man, Moses, as God dictated them to him. This was a collaborative effort.

            A lesson of the just completed seders was the importance of involving all of those at the table in a way in which they could best assist us in the rituals and stories by their contributions to the discussion. This year was a particularly difficult one, with most of us isolated from our usual gatherings due to the pandemic we are experiencing. Some decided to add Covid-19 as an “11th plague.” Others (like us) tried to Zoom their seders with loved ones, or joined in communal live streaming, with differing results. This certainly was a Passover unlike any other Passover.

            I suggest that this special experience and the need to collaborate in novel ways at the seder table join to remind us that we all need to work together for the common good and to overcome the dangers of plagues, whether they be virus-driven or the plagues inherent in human weakness.