Bon Appétit!
We are all aware of the health benefits of eating daily nutritious meals. You may also be aware of the correlation between our mood and the types of food we eat. But did you know that our diet can also affect our character and sensitivity to morality and spirituality?
The origins of the phrase “You are what you eat” is actually sourced in the Torah. In this week’s portion Shmini, we learn about the identifying signs of a kosher animal.
As the verse states, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: These are the creatures that you may eat among all the animals on earth: Any animal that has a cloven hoof that is completely split into double hooves, and which brings up its cud that one you may eat (Leviticus 11:2-3).”
Some examples of permitted animals are cows, goats, and sheep. However, animals that are missing either both or one of these signs are considered non-kosher. Therefore, animals such as the horse, donkey or pig, are forbidden.
Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (Spain 1194-1270), commonly known as Nachmanides, explains that food becomes a part of our flesh and blood. The characteristics and traits of the animal become a part of our inner makeup.
The signs by which the Torah identifies kosher animals contain profound insights into the way we should lead our lives. In general, by eating from an animal, we are supposed to be elevating it to serve a higher G-dly purpose. In order to accomplish this, however, it is essential that we not act like animals ourselves, for then the animal merely moves from one animal state to another when we eat it.
The test of whether we are acting like people, rather than animals, lies in the way we approach our Divine mission. One of the signs of a Kosher animal is rumination, which alludes to the necessity of deliberating before engaging the animal, mundane aspects of life. We must weigh our intentions and actions, ensuring that they are purely toward elevating the world and purging them of any desire to simply indulge in sensuality for its own sake.
Before we think, speak or act in a certain manner we are instructed to chew it over and ask ourselves, “Does this really reflect who I am? Will it positively impact myself and the people around me?”
Change doesn’t necessarily happen overnight, but we can choose one area to improve in. Whether to be more careful concerning which foods we bring into our homes, reflecting before responding to criticism, or setting aside a few moments of our day to reconnect with our G-dly souls through Torah study and prayer are just a few examples of how we can internalize this important lesson.
May we merit very soon to see the day when peace, goodness and kindness pervades the whole world with the coming of Moshiach!
