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Thoughts to Nosh OnJanuary 2007From the Desk of Rabbi SharffAs Leo Rosten explains in his book the Joys of Yiddish, the term "kosher is probably the Hebrew word most widely encountered in English". We use it to describe people, places, and things, as in "is he kosher?" meaning "is he trustworthy?" However in its most traditional sense, the term kosher means something else entirely. The term kosher is actually an Aramaic word meaning "proper or suitable". The laws of kashrut are based on the laws found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, which refer to some animals as being either 'clean' or 'unclean' for consumption. In all, there are forty-two animals that are listed as unclean for eating. As a brief aside, according to the rules stipulated in Leviticus, a giraffe is technically kosher because it has split hooves and chews its cud. It just would be a pain in the neck for a shochet, but that is another story. Despite some prevailing theories about the laws of kashrut, keeping kosher has very little to do with hygiene or the diseases certain animals carry. Instead the rational behind the laws of kashrut instead has to do with the idea that there is something that sets us apart as Jews, as we learn in Leviticus 19:2, "You shall be holy, for I your God am Holy." According to rabbinic understanding, this means that every action we do has the potential to either bring holiness into the world or chase it away. If this is so, then even the very act of eating has the potential to bring holiness into the world. As a result there are dietary restrictions to remind us that, just as the simple act of eating can be holy, all of our actions in the world can lead to holiness. Does this mean that you have to keep kosher/ Of course not. As Reform Jews, we are all free to make the choices we feel best help us to identify with our heritage and tradition. But what it does mean is that for those within our community who choose to keep kosher, we wish to honor that choice as well. This is the reason for our providing kosher chicken and brisket. It is so that all who enter our doors can come in for any of our means, and are able to eat and enjoy. By doing this we are endeavoring to make sure that our community is always open to all, no matter how they choose to observe. Therefore by maintaining the dietary practices of our tradition in our Reform synagogue, we are very much keeping in line with one of the key principles, by which the Reform Movement was established, inviting the holy into our everyday lives. Rabbi Ben Sharff |
