Perashat Shemini 5776

Perashat Shemini 5776

As we approach the Holiday of Pesah, our first thought is about the cleaning process:  when and where we are going to start, and the long hours we need to put into it. We get exhausted just from thinking about it.  We pay much attention to the external cleaning and ridding the house of Hamess, that we forget about the internal-personal “spiritual cleansing” that we need to do.  Although Passover is not known to be a holiday of “spiritual cleansing” like Kippur or Rosh HaShana, or even Shabuot, yet, it can serve as a reminder that “spiritual cleansing” is something that we always ought to do on a daily basis.  If not actually cleansing, at least preventing spiritual contamination is certainly in order, as a day-to-day activity. 

This Shabbat we read the regular Perasha of the week, Shemini and a special portion that is always scheduled to be read two weeks before Rosh Hodesh Nissan, know as Perashat Parah. 

Perashat Shemini, is known as the Perasha that introduces us to the Kosher laws; what animals, birds and fish we may, and we may not eat. No reasons are given in the Torah for these laws and for the specific Kosher signs assigned to the animals, birds and fish that we are allowed to eat. However, many Sages throughout the centuries have speculated as to the reasons why some animals are kosher and others are not. A common denominator between the animals, birds and fish, is that these signs limit the kosher animals to clean and healthier animals over others. I will not explain all the details that make these creatures healthier and cleaner. However, the lifestyle that these animals, fowl and fish live and the diet that they eat, demonstrates that indeed these animals are healthier and cleaner for human consumption. 

Perashat Parah speaks about yet another Biblical law whose reason is not given, where a red heifer is used to “spiritually purify” people that have come in contact with, or are in the vicinity of, a cadaver. Throughout the generations there were nine red heifers used. Since the destruction of the Second Temple and the exile there has not been any red heifer in use. The way we remember its use and effect, is by reading about it. During the times of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Pesah was a holiday where the Pascal Lamb was offered. One of the requirements for a person to participate in the Pascal Lamb Feast, was the need to be “spiritually clean” from having being in contact and close proximity with a cadaver. They needed to undergo the process of having the ashes of the red heifer sprinkled over them after a period of seven days of purity. Nowadays, not having the Temple  nor the Pascal Lamb Feast, we read Perashat Parah a few weeks before Pesah in remembrance of that process. 

In these times of fad diets and “healthier” eating, we hear about diet drinks, vegetarian, vegan, organic, all-protein, non-carbohydrate, fat-free, sugar-free, Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free foods, etc. - but all not very free in cost!  All of these diets, are man-made, imperfect, and money-making. Many are also fraudulent and some are unnatural, unhealthy and at times, dangerous. There is only one diet that indeed is Divine, made-to-order for our physical and spiritual well-being, and that has withstood the test of time and adherence; that is the Kosher Diet. 

As we approach the Holiday of Pesah, the Kosher Diet gets even more limited. The physical health benefits of the “Kosher for Passover” diet has not been studied scientifically, if they even exist. Yet, the spiritual benefits have been known to us for a long time. The spiritual freedom that we,  the Jewish people, have experienced; the concept of liberty and mastery over one’s destiny, the respect of one’s rights of expression and determination, the pursuit of happiness and progress, and many more, have all been enshrined in the historical documents of many nations and peoples. 

As we begin this process of cleaning our homes and possessions of Hamess in preparation for the Holiday of Pesah, let us remember the “spiritual cleansing and preparations” that should accompany this process.