What a great Seder we had last week. Thank you to our chef Cynthia Lewerke for creating, yet another, amazing dinner. There were so
many people that thought the entire event went well and commented on how much they learned. Thank you all for being with us. Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. We're so grateful you are with us. Another "thank you" to David Samson and his family for helping clean the shul and to Denise Swatsenbarg who not only cleaned before the Seder but stayed with us to help clean up after. And, of course, Shawn and Lacy Soifer and the kids for setting a beautiful table and helping in the kitchen! Good folks all! Some additional news: The Board has approved a website for the shul. This will be yet another way in which we can communicate with others who may be interested in our history, leadership and more. Thank you for making that happen.
Parsha Shmini
This week we are studying Lev. 9 - 11 or Parsha Shmini (which is Hebrew for "eighth"). As we read, "It was on the eighth day that Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel." What is going on? Last week we read that Aaron and his sons were to wait in the Tabernacle for a full seven days and now, on the eighth day marks the start of the Priestly Service. What follows are directions about the various offerings and how the service was to be structured.
This is also the Parsha that speaks to the death of Nadab and Abihu the two sons of Aaron who, while filled with the spirit of the event performed an unauthorized service and lost their lives. What happened? Most commentators say the two brothers erred in bringing their own incense into the Holy of Holies. The place where only the Kohen Gadol (the high priest) may enter on Yom Kippur. Others say that while they knew that there was a commandment to bring fire and incense each day. Moses had not yet instructed how...so they "jumped the gun" so to speak. The lesson here is that it is always wise to ask for direction before taking on a task. That is why every rabbi has a...rabbi.
It is here in Lev. 11: 1 - 47 where we learn about food that is kosher and food that is not. The Torah goes to great lengths outlining what is permitted and what is not permitted. This section of the Torah can be, to some, very confusing and it is often misrepresented. Over the years I have heard so many "excuses" as to why these laws don't matter in our modern civilization. Those who do not attempt to keep kosher or know nothing about the Torah have told me, "The reason you can't eat specific food is because there was no refrigeration." Or, "These are simply suggestions and don't matter...am I not to have free will?"
No...these are the laws for all time and by eating kosher and understanding that it is a commandment from G-d. Even that gets some "push-back". Some will ask, "How do you know these laws came from G-d and were not just written by some guy?"
That is a powerful question and if proven could put the entire Torah in question. If one law could be proven incorrect than what about the rest of the Torah? For this I have an answer.
In Lev. 11: 1 - 8 the Torah goes into great detail about the fact we may eat the meat of an animal that has both a split hoof and "brings up the cud". But then the Torah tells us exactly which animals may chew the cud but not have a split hoof and which animal has a split hoof but does not chew the cud. For example: "...and the pig for its hoof is split and its hoof is completely separated, but it does not chew its cud - it is unclean to you." Think about this for a moment. These Mitzvot were given long before anybody could do a Google search so how can you explain that there is no other animal that has a split hoof but does not chew the cud? Yet the Torah names...names.
So, you're about savor a BLT? Nope.
The Lesson
The laws of eating kosher are designed to bring us closer to Hashem. In other words by observing these laws the Jew continues to rise above base interests. But when ignored the Jew starts to build a barrier between him/herself that blocks out a degree of holiness. We are called to become a "holy people" and because eating is something we must all do...what we eat...matters. When we make a conscious decision to not eat treif food (unclean) we elevate ourselves. And, today it is so much easier to eat kosher or "kosher style" than ever before. Everyday more and more food companies opt for a kosher symbol on their products...not only is it good for the soul but it's good for business.
Services & Midrash
Mark you calendar for May 19 and 20 for services and our next Midrash...Torah study.
Shabbat Shalom and thanks for reading!
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