blogs/rabbi-huberman

Is it just me, or does it seem that we are all gaining weight during this time of isolation?

We were supposed to cook healthier, eat lighter and shed a few pounds now that we are confined to our homes.

And to some extent, that has been the case. So why is it, at least for me, that the opposite seem to be true?

So how interesting it is, that this week's Torah portion, Sh'mini, devotes so much attention toward the act of eating.

We call it kosher — which translates to the words "fit" or "proper." And these days, many rabbis are redefining what the words "fit" or "proper" really mean.

Yes, kosher involves certain slaughter rituals and designating which animals are unclean. But there is so much more — especially these days.

For example, should we consider food from a company that mistreats its workers, or disrespects the environment, or abuses animals, truly kosher?

I think not.

Why is a deli sandwich dripping in fat and preservatives deemed kosher, while a vegan product that does not carry a rabbinical inspection insignia not quality? What about hormones and preservatives?

As I began reading this week's Torah portion — I began to reflect upon the horrible plague currently affecting us all.

And I asked myself, "Is there a connection?"

By many accounts, the coronavirus took root in the wet markets of China, where, with little regard for health standards and basic hygiene, creatures of all kinds were messily slaughtered — while children and adults roamed nearby.

Is it any wonder that Judaism strictly forbids the consumption of blood? It is something to be removed from an animal and respectfully returned to the earth.  

A recent article in the Scientific American noted that many past pandemic outbreaks can be traced to the mass production of meat raised to fill western consumers' insatiable lust for protein.  

It noted: "Yes, we humans may crave meat, but our conception of "meat" is now becoming far more diverse than in the past."

In other words, we can't get enough meat fast enough.

So many consider Kashrut to be an outdated system of forbidden foods — but this week, I see the Torah sending us a modern message.

It reminds us that life is sacred, and that animals should be consumed with respect for the life force that once flowed within. We should slaughter, prepare and consume these sacred creatures with mindfulness and compassion.

Rabbi's blessings have nothing to do with Kashrut. Rather, it is how we treat animals and how we consume them that determines "fit" or "proper."

The Scientific American also noted:

"As we hunker down and weather the corona storm now hitting the world, let us take some of our downtime to contemplate that we have the power to reduce the chance of the next pandemic.

"Yes, we should curb wildlife markets, but let's not stop there. If we have the will to shut down our entire society for weeks on end, surely we have the will to slightly change our diets."

Two weeks ago, while at a local supermarket, I bought numerous packages of freshly cut Hebrew National smoked turkey. Fifteen sandwiches and a few boxes of egg matzah later, I am now asking myself whether I should reflect upon the quantity and pace of the food that — in partial isolation — I am consuming.

And, I do not believe I am alone. 

We live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world. Then why all the panic and desperation?

This week's Torah portion inspires us to be more thoughtful about what and how we eat and to ask some modern kosher questions like, "Where did my food come from?"

And as the Etz Chaim Torah commentary notes, "There is a moral difference between eating an apple and a slice of meat."

Judaism forges a link between the foods we consume, and what that says about our souls. Perhaps during these times of solitude, it's time to eat less, and contemplate more.

For this world and this bountiful country will be here once this plague passes.  

Indeed, "We are what we eat." During this time of stress and anxiety, that has become too easy to forget.

Noted the American Journal of Public Health in 2007, we can avoid these pandemics "if we change the way we treat animals — stop eating them or eat less of them."

Sounds like a message from God.

Indeed, during these times of silence and contemplation, we need to eat better and eat lighter, as we embrace the connection between godliness and food.

See you next week, hopefully a little bit lighter, as I take that message to heart.

Shabbat Shalom, v'kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman

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