Kashrut
Before we get started on the subject of Kashrut כשרת, let me explain what we've covered so far. It has been shown that both Yeshua and Sha'ul taught we should keep the law. Many people insist that Gentiles must only keep the B'rit Noach laws, but Noah himself kept kosher, which implies that Gentiles should start with the B'rit Noach, but not stop there.
| Kohelet 12:13 13The sum of the matter, when all has been considered: Fear God and keep His commandments, for that is man's whole duty. |
I believe myself, that it is best for every man and woman, Jew or Gentile, should keep the Laws of God. Now that I'm in trouble with just about everyone, let's go to Kashrut.
| Commandment 176 Vayikra 11:1-3 1HASHEM spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them, 2“Speak to the Children of Israel, saying: ‘These are the creatures that you may eat from among all the animals that are upon the earth. 3Everything among the animals that has a split hoof, which is completely separated into double hooves, and that brings up its cud — that one you may eat. Commandment 177 Commandment 179 Commandment 178 Commandment 180 Commandment 428 Commandment 190 Commandment 191 Commandment 431 Commandment 432 Commandment 433 Commandment 195 Commandment 196 |
No less than 13 commandments cover the major portion of Kashrut (next time, we'll get into fish, birds and bugs). The rules are simple: You may eat any animal with split hoof (ungulate), that chews the cud. There may be health reasons why, but far too many people have concerned themselves with health reasons— the reason is Holiness. “You are a holy people to HASHEM your God.” Once we've settled on that, the next series is simple:
- You may not eat the flesh with the blood
- You may not eat the flesh with the fat
- You may not eat the inside of the thigh on beasts
- You may not eat the flesh of carrion
- You may not eat meat and dairy together
The last point is controversial, to say the least.
| Pesachim 24b Issi ben Judah said: How do we know that meat and milk (seethed together) are forbidden? It is stated here, for thou art a holy people (...thou shall not seethe a kid in its mother's milk), and it is stated elsewhere, And ye shall be holy men unto me; (therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs): just as there it is forbidden, so here too it is forbidden. Again, I know it only of eating. |
Some Messianic believers claim this is merely Talmudic, that the injunction is not Biblical. I tend to disagree, as it is repeated no less than three times. And to quote Rabbi Issi, "I know it only of eating"; in other words, it's the only way it makes sense. Medically speaking, dairy and meat digest at different rates. When Abraham entertained the three men at the Oaks of Mamre, he served matzah and curds (dairy) first and ordered the servants to prepare a calf for a meal. The preparation of the meat would have taken long enough to give the curds ample time to digest before the meat was served. The meat and dairy were eaten separately.
"What about Mark 7, where Yeshua declares all foods clean?" Well, remember, Yeshua will never contradict Scripture ... ever. It has been pointed out before that that verse was never in the Original Greek; however, Yeshua did declare all food ritually clean, as opposed to impure. Pork is not a food by definition of Scripture. The question at hand was not, "Rabbi, what foods shall we eat?", but rather:
| Mark 7:5 5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” |
Yeshua was responding, “You do not have to wash your arms, just to eat!” Okay? Okay. However, on that note: When your mother tells you to wash your hands before you eat, you do it. If I, a Rabbi, tell you to do it, suddenly it's a problem? So, listen to your mother, if not to me. You want you should catch a cold, maybe?
Conclusion: Scripture has defined for us what is considered food: Meat of a hoofed animal that chews the cud (cattle, buffalo, sheep, deer, antelope), without fat, blood, the inside of the leg, or mixed with milk (alas! So many disagree with me there, but I can only respond:
| Colossians 2:16-17 16So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a New Moon or Sabbaths, 17which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Mashiach. |
I think that Rabbi Sha'ul was trying to use a little reverse logic here. In other words "Don't be caught NOT obeying". Another point is that verse 17 says these things are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Messiah. It does not say these things are a shadow of things which have come. Just as Passover foreshadowed the sacrifice of Messiah for the remission of sin, these things foreshadow His return. Yes, the substance if of Messiah but if you don't keep THESE you won't know Him when he does return. If you listen to the Spirit of the Holy One, great! If not, oh well! I am answerable only for myself to HASHEM ). This has nothing to do with health (however, I'm sure it's much healthier than eating things that aren't food), but holiness instead. In accordance with Colossians 2:16, I judge no one on how they eat, nor should anyone judge me. Only God Shof’tim. (sorry for the preaching, but these issues tend to raise tempers, and I hate to have anyone mad at me).
Many of those who wish to debate the point of observing festivals, New Moon celebrations, Sabbaths, etc. generally leave out verse Colossians 2:17. This says specifically these “are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Messiah.” The verse does not say these "were a shadow of things to come" so it is obvious to conclude that observing these things give us a picture of something the Messiah has not yet accomplished! Very interesting!
Basic Kashrut
The Great Cheese Controversy
Kosher Slaughtering
Kosher Fish
1 Vayikra 11:9.The scales that are indicative of a kosher fish are only those that can be scraped off easily with a knife. This excludes fish whose scales are not clearly defined, such as shell fish and amphibians.
2 Vayikra 11:4. At the end of this chapter (vv 43-45) the Torah stresses the reason for kashrut very clearly: By observing these laws the Jew pulls himself up the ladder of holiness; by ignoring them, he contaminates himself and builds a barrier that blocks out his comprehension of holiness. Just as someone who is constantly exposed to loud music and harsh noise slowly and imperceptibly loses his ability to hear fine sounds and detect subtle modulations, so too consumption of non-kosher food deadens a Jew's spiritual capacities and lessens his opportunity to become holy. And worst of all, it renders him incapable of even perceiving his loss. For this reason (Yoreh Deah 81:7) cautions that even small children should be prevented from eating forbidden foods.
3 Sh’mot 22:30. The Torah mentions holiness in introducing the prohibition against a certain forbidden food to put it in perspective. The forbidden foods deter the Jew from the attainment of holiness, the goal which God sets for His people (Ramban).
Copyright © 1998-2009 Yavoh Ministries
Web Author: Azayel ben Hillel
Date Last Changed:
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Email Address: heiscoming@cox.net