This Month’s Torah Portions
Aug. 7: Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17)
Aug. 14: Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18- 21:9)
Aug. 21: Ki Tetze (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19)
Aug. 28: Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8)
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One of the benefits of living a spiritual life is that the Torah and mitzvot enable us to elevate every action — no matter how seemingly materialistic and physical — into an act of pious significance. One prime example in which the Torah makes a mundane activity into a lofty deed is eating. On one level, the consumption of food is sanctified by the blessings that we make before and after eating, transforming the basic human need of satiety into an act that helps us serve God. In addition, the Torah gives us another opportunity to serve God through eating by outlining the laws of kashrut (kosher).
In Parashat Re’ah, the Torah introduces the concept of shechita (ritual slaughter) of certain animals for human consumption. The posuk states, “When HaShem your God shall enlarge your border as He has promised you, and you will say ‘I will eat meat,’ for your soul longs to eat meat, you may eat meat, whatever your soul desires…Slaughter of your herds and of your flocks which God gave you in the way I have prescribed, and you may then eat in your settlements whatever your soul desires.” According to Rabbi Yishmael, until this command, Bnai Yisrael ate only the meat of korbanot (sacrifices). Once they entered the land of Israel, they were permitted to eat unconsecrated meat.
Rav Kook believes human consumption of animals is not the ideal. It is merely a concession to the weakness in human nature. Nechama Leibowitz brings one aspect of these posukim in support of Rav Kook’s argument, namely that Bnai Yisrael must kill animals “as commanded.” This shows that we were not given absolute dominion over the animal kingdom. Rather, we are permitted to slaughter certain kinds of animals for food, strictly following the rules of shechita that were commanded by God. In addition, the tone of the rabbis is only reluctantly permitting: “…And you will say ‘I will eat meat,’ for your soul longs to eat meat, you may eat meat…” The Torah is by no means encouraging that “meat of desire” be eaten!
The language of the sages seems to only grudgingly give permission to eat meat, showing that this concession to man’s nature is only temporary. When will man be able to fight his ‘lust’ and live with the same level of spirituality he was commanded to before the time of the Flood? Rav Kook concludes that only when peace ‘bain adam l’chaveiro’ (between man and his fellow man) exists will such controls become possible. When man does not lift up arms against his fellow man, when he can control himself to that extent, only then will the compassion that precludes the killing of animals be attainable.
From the Torah to Your Table
The Gemara comments on the words “aser t’aser” (“you shall surely tithe”) by stating, “Tithe in order that you become wealthy.” If a person takes tithes from his income and distributes this part of his wealth to the poor and to additional worthy causes, he shows he is a ‘reliable treasurer’ and God will entrust him with more. Similarly, regarding Torah studies and subsequent knowledge, if someone proves he is a reliable ‘custodian’ of his birthright and transmits this knowledge to others, God will bestow even greater wisdom, said Rabbi Shimon Shkop in “Shaarey Yoshuv.” Just as one must give at least one-tenth of one’s income to the poor, surely one must give at least one-tenth of one’s time working with or for others.
Discuss these comparisons at your Sabbath table. How else can you ‘put back’ into the world?
A Fork in the Road
Regarding Sforno in Devorim (11:26): “Take care that you do not go after “middle roads” and compromises. Behold, I have put before thee two extreme opposites — a blessing and a curse. There is no alternative. If you do not choose the part that leads to a blessing, you have thereby taken the path that leads to a curse. There is no middle road.”
*The author of this article is, alas, not a vegetarian.
