This week’s Torah portion, Sh’mini, and the two parshiyot following contain the origins of Jewish dietary laws and an outline of the foods that are permitted or forbidden. Often, these laws are understood as a means of distinguishing the ancient Israelite community as holy, separate, and elite. While the dietary regulations indeed separated us from other tribes—which I believe was the main intention behind their initial observance—my teacher, Rabbi Larry Hoffman, explained to me that dietary laws were not exclusive to the Jewish people at the time. In fact, many other cults, religions, and tribes made formal distinctions between what was “clean” or “unclean” to eat, both as a means of distinguishing themselves from other communities and attempting to gain proximity to Divine purity and perfection.
While the chapters of Leviticus that outline these dietary prescriptions often invoke an eyeroll from b’nai mitzvah parents, I have heard many students offer eloquent teachings on why these rules were important to our community and why they still offer us spiritual nourishment in our daily eating practices. In addition, the Hebrew itself is often poetic, and almost liturgical, in its phrasing. For instance, the forbidden foods ranging from camels to hares to piglets (oh my!) are listed in a lyrical litany (Leviticus 11:4-7) with an initial positive word about the animal followed by an explanation of its forbidden status. When I read these verses, I see a community of people working to shape their lives with structure, meaning, and pride. Say what you want about the law books of Leviticus, but our ancestors were organized!
And what, if anything, do these biblical dietary laws offer us now? I’ve heard many fascinating arguments why kashrut can add deep meaning to our daily rituals of food preparation and eating, as well as intriguing presentations for not keeping kosher and allowing us access to a world (and a menu) that our ancestors didn’t have. I deeply love Reform Judaism because we are encouraged to learn our tradition inside and out, to explore the verses of our texts and to see every side of an argument, and only then to make an informed choice about our own ritual observance. As we read Sh’mini and explore the verses surrounding kashrut, I hope we will find many avenues for connecting with our community, past and present, and for bringing meaning and blessing to every meal we enjoy.
— Cantor Emma Lutz