Judaism is, above all else, a religion that celebrates life. We are allowed to violate almost all mitzvot to save a life, a concept called pikuach nefesh.
This week’s Torah portion begins with these words, “See, this day I set before you blessing and curse:” (Deuteronomy 11:26) and continues with a lengthy prohibition against idol worship and sanctions on the consumption of meat.
It seems reasonable to ask what these prohibitions have to do with loving life. Rabbi Yitz Greenberg writes, “the Infinite God literally sustains all living by pumping vitality and energy into the fabric of universal life. No human creation, no finite force can sustain life.”
Idolatry is the elevation of a deity, a person or a thing, to a place of reverence or worship. Whether it is nature, or work, or money, or a political leader who promises that “he alone can fix it,” when we make one of these the center of our lives we degrade life.
History is full of false prophets, political leaders who promised paradise but led the followers to defeat and destruction, causing horrible degradation along the way. The Holocaust is the starkest example, but the world is full of leaders today who put their lust for power above all else. They create cults of cruelty and death.
The restrictions on the consumption of meat connect us to God’s life sustaining love by reminding us that when we eat meat we have killed a living creature to sustain our own lives. Torah teaches us to take this act seriously. To not kill frivolously or without thought. We may eat meat, but we must understand what we are doing and do it with reverence.
This week’s Torah portion reminds us to worship God and thus to cherish life … above all else.
Re’eh, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 – Parashat ha Shavuah for Saturday, August 7, 2021
August 6, 2021 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Judaism is, above all else, a religion that celebrates life. We are allowed to violate almost all mitzvot to save a life, a concept called pikuach nefesh.
This week’s Torah portion begins with these words, “See, this day I set before you blessing and curse:” (Deuteronomy 11:26) and continues with a lengthy prohibition against idol worship and sanctions on the consumption of meat.
It seems reasonable to ask what these prohibitions have to do with loving life. Rabbi Yitz Greenberg writes, “the Infinite God literally sustains all living by pumping vitality and energy into the fabric of universal life. No human creation, no finite force can sustain life.”
Idolatry is the elevation of a deity, a person or a thing, to a place of reverence or worship. Whether it is nature, or work, or money, or a political leader who promises that “he alone can fix it,” when we make one of these the center of our lives we degrade life.
History is full of false prophets, political leaders who promised paradise but led the followers to defeat and destruction, causing horrible degradation along the way. The Holocaust is the starkest example, but the world is full of leaders today who put their lust for power above all else. They create cults of cruelty and death.
The restrictions on the consumption of meat connect us to God’s life sustaining love by reminding us that when we eat meat we have killed a living creature to sustain our own lives. Torah teaches us to take this act seriously. To not kill frivolously or without thought. We may eat meat, but we must understand what we are doing and do it with reverence.
This week’s Torah portion reminds us to worship God and thus to cherish life … above all else.
~Rabbi Dean Kertesz