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Let me give you a summary of some eating guidelines for the Jewish holidays:
Rosh Hashanah -- eat apples dipped in honey. Fast of Gedaliah -- don’t eat apples. Yom Kippur -- definitely don’t eat apples. Sukkot -- eat in the Sukkah. Simchat Torah -- eat but not in the Sukkah. Chanukah -- eat doughnuts. Tenth of Tevet -- don’t eat doughnuts. Tu Bishvat -- eat new fruits1 . Purim -- eat pastries. Passover -- eat Matzah (no pastries).
Every Jewish holiday is celebrated with a festive meal -- and so is every Brit Milah, Bar Mitzvah, and wedding. Catch my drift? Food is an essential part of life, and Kosher is one of the pillars of Judaism. The Code of Jewish Law states that a Jew should utter 100 blessings a day (not all of them necessarily on food). So we all eat a good deal as part of Jewish culture, but we need to follow some rules.
Now, how does eating meat with milk affect a Jew negatively? There is no answer except that G-d said so. Every commandment is because G-d said so. Yet we can see the positive effects of keeping the Sabbath; a day of rest makes our bodies and minds stronger so we can perform better during the week. Returning lost objects or inviting guests over help us be good citizens. The laws of praying teach us to appreciate our blessings and express gratitude.
Simply put, the laws of Kosher refine character. While there may not be an obvious and specific answer to questions about every detail of the dietary laws, almost everyone can agree with the core premise that “You are what you eat.”
The other day I bought myself a beautiful dress. Before washing it, I checked the label: machine wash cold, non-chlorine bleach when needed, tumble dry low, etc. I followed the instructions to the letter to avoid ruining the garment. I would never dream of putting a “dry clean only” dress in the washing machine -- it would be a crime, a cardinal sin! Our body is the garment to the soul. The kosher diet keeps us finely in tune and sensitive to the needs of our Divine soul.
The life of a Jewish mother revolves around feeding her children (or anyone within a 5 mile radius). Why is that? Why were we entrusted with the task and privilege of upbringing our children? As I looked at my newborn baby, it occurred to me. While in the womb, the fetus gets its nutrients from the mother. After nine months, she nurses her baby and is the sole source of nutrition for the first months of its life. The need to nurture only deepens as the child grows. We were designed to feed, to care for, and to nurture.
We are called the foundation of the home, and the dietary laws of Kashrut help us keep the family unit intact. Kosher has been, throughout the history of our people, one of the major factors of its continuity.
As “Yiddishe Mamas,” it is not enough to make sure our children eat a hearty breakfast and drink enough fluids during the day; we have to make sure that our home is a kosher one too. What goes into the ears and eyes of a child is as important for their growth as what food goes in their mouths. That’s why a conscientious parent must be aware of what kids watch on television and see on the Internet, to ensure that they are living in a truly wholesome environment.
But that’s a different topic, for another article. For now, go and make your Mom happy. Eat something (kosher).
Dini Policenco is Co-Director of Chabad Without Borders.Reprinted from www.impactmag.com
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