I’m thinking about food these days after Passover, when a bagel never tasted so good.
Of course food frames the Seder, but it really defines the full eight days of Passover. I’ll go even further: for the Jewish people, food really defines what it means to be Jewish all year long. Perhaps that’s the takeaway from reading Parashat Shmini – which delves into the details of Kashrut – immediately upon the heels of finishing Passover.
The Torah first tells us the what’s and how’s of Kosher, then it tells us the why: “For I the L-rd am He who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your G-d; you shall be holy, for I am holy” (Lv. 11:45). Keeping Kosher sanctifies us; it makes us holy. In the Torah, the word “holy” has a specific meaning: “separate” (cf. Lv. 20:26). When Jews follow a unique diet, we create our uniqueness. When Jews maintain a distinctive diet, we actualize our distinctiveness.
Here’s my own answer to our opening question: For me, eating Kosher food is the daily reminder that we’re Jewish. Nobody will forget that she is Jewish, of course. But there’s a big difference between not forgetting something and having it be top of mind. And being Jewish should be something we’re always conscious of, always on our minds. Because we’re only human, we need reminders. Even if we celebrate the holidays and Shabbat, how do we remind ourselves the other 300 days of the year? We all have to eat every day. Keeping Kosher is a daily reminder that we’re Jewish, and that comes with responsibilities and expectations. It’s not enough to simply not forget. We must actively remember.
Physical health is a daily activity (diet and exercise). Financial health is a daily activity (saving and careful spending). Spiritual health – Jewish living – must also be a daily activity. We are what we eat.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Alex Freedman