GOING UP
In this week’s Parsha the Torah instructs us “You shall be men with a holy calling, therefore do not eat non-kosher meat”. The construction of the noun “men” is in the possessive form, indicating that the adjective “holy” is not modifying the noun. Otherwise, it would have stated “You shall be holy men”. Instead, the Torah is saying that we should be a people who strive to be holy, even if we have not yet achieved that state. What is holiness?
The Hebrew word kodesh means “designated for”. It could refer to anything even if it is not a holy cause. The mere designation of a person, place or thing for something specific makes it kodesh. Unless otherwise indicated, it always refers to a designation for HaShem. Therefore, this verse is instructing us to be a people whose life is designated to HaShem.
It is noteworthy that the instruction to be designated to HaShem finds itself in the context of the meat that we eat. Why is that?
When observing the ecosystem of the food chain we find that every creature serves a purpose as being a part of the food chain. The plants are there to be eaten to provide the herbivores nutrition. The herbivores serve as nutrition to the carnivores. The carnivores, when they die, serve as nutrition for the plants and the cycle continues. While this is an oversimplification of the food chain, it demonstrates how every creature has its unique role in the ecosystem.
On one hand it is genius how HaShem created the world with such intricate complexity and there is nothing that is redundant; everyone is important. On the other hand, however, the entire system is circular. What is the purpose of this ecosystem? It just goes around and around seemingly headed to repeat itself. Is there no ultimate function? Following the ecosystem carefully is like traveling for days on a complex road system with many interconnecting highways only to return to the point from where we started and to continue driving the same route! What is the purpose?!
HaShem created two planes of existence; the material world and the spiritual world, or as the Maharal calls it the world of intellect. Although the latter is abstract and from the perspective of the material world it does not seem like a real existence, nevertheless, it is actually the Real World. It is the world where we can begin to understand who the Creator is. Only in this abstract world of intellect do we begin to understand the purpose of why both worlds were created. Only in t his world can all of creation achieve its mission.
All creatures, with the exception of Man, belonging to the material world do not have any relation to the world of intel-lect. Even their purpose of existence is limited to the material world; to fill their role in the food chain. Man, however, although he is a member of the material world he also exists in the world of intellect.
HaShem designed Man’s bi-world existence because he is the only creature who can elevate the material into the world of intellect. How so? With all the intellect with which Man was endowed, his intellect will never be realized if he does not eat breakfast! Yes, that bowl of Cheerios or cup of coffee is what facilitates Man’s expression of intellect. Behold! All those coffee trees in Columbia are being cultivated so that some Jew can express his insight on a verse in the Torah! The same is true when he eats dinner and gets his protein from some beef. It is no wonder that the Torah’s instruction for us to a people who strive for holiness finds itself in the context of our food.
It is incumbent on us to give direction to the world and bring it to its destiny instead of it going around and around.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind