Healing Well of Miriam

ב״ה

In our day and age, many of us have fallen into the routine of eating thoughtlessly.  There is a real problem, especially in the United States, of morbid obesity.  Aside from the appearance, this leads to many serious health problems.  Many people, however, are becoming increasingly conscious of what they are eating.  From a Torah perspective, it is very appropriate to ask: “What is food?”

There are three stages of human history in which Hashem defined food for Mankind.  The first was at the time of Creation (Genesis 1) when He told Adam that all seed-bearing fruits and herbs were given to them as food.  People were vegetarians, and the plants that were “food” were clearly specified.

The second stage was following the Flood, when Noah was told that in addition to the vegetation, all creatures were given to Man for food (Genesis 9:3).  The only stipulation was that the blood of the creature should not be eat, for “its soul is in the blood” (vs. 4).

The third stage was the giving of the laws on kosher eating to the people of Israel.  Clean and unclean animals were defined in Leviticus 11.  Although it is after the people of Israel left Egypt that this is first laid out as law, it was not a new idea.  Indeed, we see that when Noah brought the animals on the ark he brought more of the clean than of the unclean.  A close reading of the stories of Genesis shows that the families of Abraham were quite aware of the difference.  In Noah’s case, this was the acceptable sacrificial offering to be made after the Flood.  It was not a new idea even then, for Abel, too, brought a lamb sacrifice.

What is the difference in these two categories—clean and unclean—of animals?  On a physical level, we see it in the difference of their diet; we are forbidden to eat carnivores and scavengers.   When we ingest something, it becomes part of our physical body.  However, there is more, for its spiritual vibration also melds with our own.  The “unclean” animals have a denser vibration than the vegetarians.  Within our beings, this affects our own ability to absorb spiritually—it is a difference of permeable or impermeable to the Light.  While non-Jewish people are certainly not commanded to abstain from “unclean” animals—in fact they are specifically permitted from the covenant with Noah— for those who are interested in learning Torah and advancing spiritually, it may be something to seriously consider.

What is food?—not only for my body’s benefit, but also for my soul’s?