My daughter came across a website last week called "Kosher Ham". It included a variety of cutesy t-shirts, mostly centered around the tongue-in-cheek theme of "kosher" ham.
It reminded me of a discussion we had a while back about a friend of hers whose young son would grind his teeth, even during the day. The friend purchased most of her groceries at a local health food store. Whenever she ran out of organic meat, her family would eat vegetarian for a few days until she could get to the health food store. She noticed on several occasions, that her son stopped grinding his teeth during that period. At first she thought it was a coincidence, but when she paid closer attention, she noticed a pattern and mentioned it to my daughter.
My health conscious, Noahide daughter suggested that her friend try kosher organic meat. She explained that kosher meat is slaughtered in a way that is specifically designed to quickly release the blood from the animal, and as a result, the adrenaline that is carried in the blood. Her friend tried it and the teeth grinding came to a grinding halt. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself!)
So what is kosher for a Noahide? The word "kosher" simply means fit. In Parasha Noach, Hashem said to Noah, "Every moving thing that lives shall be yours for food: like herbal greenery I have given you everything. But flesh, with its soul its blood you shall not eat." (Exodus 9: 3-4)
Rashi comments that "there you have the prohibition against eating blood taken from a live animal."
There is so much to argue about here, that even rabbis are still arguing about what this means.
We know that crabs and lobsters are cooked alive. What about the new trend of slaughtering cows after being stunned with a stun gun? Can non-kosher meat be devoid of blood from a living animal? If not, then how does a Noahide get ham and pork chops that are kosher for bnai Noah?
Please be assured that this blog is not intended to be a scholarly treatise on the finer points of halacha, (Torah law.) I'm sure you've figured that out by now. Rather it is intended to start a discussion, if only in your own mind, to think about the many ways that we can connect to Hashem.
We really don't know all the reasons for dietary laws, although over time, science has discovered many benefits of kosher practices. Food poisoning from shellfish, not unheard of, but from salmon?
Nevertheless, Hashem was very clear that everything was permitted for food to bnai Noah. This would include grasshoppers, escargot and all sort of delicacies. The only prohibition was strangled meat, or meat from a living animal, and the only explanation was that the soul of the animal is contained in the blood. That does appear to explain the aggression in carnivores, and it appears to explain the teeth grinding mentioned earlier.
One of the great challenges of being a ben or bas Noah, is struggling with issues of unsettled law. The body of discussion and clarification of many of these laws (as they apply to bnai Noah) is not vast, which leaves the Noahide much room for personal study and discovery. Unlike that popular "mainstream" religion, Judaism for both Jews and for Bnai Noah, requires struggle, study, and questioning everything. It involves more work, and ultimately more reward.
Kol tuv.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
You Are Cordially Invited to Rabbi Kurinsky's Torah Class
So maybe it's not possible to attend his weekly classes here in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. But Rabbi Kurinsky has graciously allowed me to recap his classes for you so that you may "attend" them virtually.
I won't replay the entire class each week, but I will give you some highlights. In addition, Rabbi Kurinsky invites your "ask the rabbi" questions on this week's parasha at nochum@bellsouth.net.
It is a bit of a shock to learn that Hashem instructs Moses to attack the Midianites in retribution for the incident of Peor and the incident with the Midianite, Cosbi. Revenge is not something that is advocated in Judaism. So why the exception?
The Midianites knew that Hashem was with the Jews. In the previous parasha of Balak, Bilaam the prophet is ordered to curse the Jews. But Hashem was on Balak's lips and only blessings could he speak, "how lovely are your tents o Jacob..."
The only opportunity the Midianite kings could conceive of to defeat the Jewish people, was to turn Hashem's wrath against the Jews. Only if Hashem was not with them could the Jews be destroyed. Even the daughters of the kings were offered in service to seduce the Jews and entice them into sexual depravity and ultimately into idolotry. Hashem's anger toward the Jews paled compared to His outrage at the depravity and viciousness of the Midianites. Torah teaches that is is far more serious to cause someone else to commit an avera, than to personally commit a sin against Hashem.
Pinchas was rewarded with Hashem's eternal friendship for putting a stop to the assimilation that was becoming more blatant and destructive with every day that it was tolerated. Today we see assimilation as no big deal. Jews marry non Jews at an alarming rate. Torah teaching is often watered down for the sake of not being so intrusive. Sometimes we have to stop overthinking a problem and act for the sake of heaven.
Chassidus teaches far more about this story and the good that came from the chaos. What we can take from this is that everything is in the hands of Hashem. Even rebellious people and rebellious acts can be used as an instrument for longterm good.
Kol tuv.
I won't replay the entire class each week, but I will give you some highlights. In addition, Rabbi Kurinsky invites your "ask the rabbi" questions on this week's parasha at nochum@bellsouth.net.
It is a bit of a shock to learn that Hashem instructs Moses to attack the Midianites in retribution for the incident of Peor and the incident with the Midianite, Cosbi. Revenge is not something that is advocated in Judaism. So why the exception?
The Midianites knew that Hashem was with the Jews. In the previous parasha of Balak, Bilaam the prophet is ordered to curse the Jews. But Hashem was on Balak's lips and only blessings could he speak, "how lovely are your tents o Jacob..."
The only opportunity the Midianite kings could conceive of to defeat the Jewish people, was to turn Hashem's wrath against the Jews. Only if Hashem was not with them could the Jews be destroyed. Even the daughters of the kings were offered in service to seduce the Jews and entice them into sexual depravity and ultimately into idolotry. Hashem's anger toward the Jews paled compared to His outrage at the depravity and viciousness of the Midianites. Torah teaches that is is far more serious to cause someone else to commit an avera, than to personally commit a sin against Hashem.
Pinchas was rewarded with Hashem's eternal friendship for putting a stop to the assimilation that was becoming more blatant and destructive with every day that it was tolerated. Today we see assimilation as no big deal. Jews marry non Jews at an alarming rate. Torah teaching is often watered down for the sake of not being so intrusive. Sometimes we have to stop overthinking a problem and act for the sake of heaven.
Chassidus teaches far more about this story and the good that came from the chaos. What we can take from this is that everything is in the hands of Hashem. Even rebellious people and rebellious acts can be used as an instrument for longterm good.
Kol tuv.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
It's True! I Love John Stossel!
I never miss a chance to see John Stossel. He comes on Friday nights, so I set my VCR. This week was another eye opener. Stossel typically focuses on the unintended consequences of many of our laws. He has the annoying habit of asking innocent questions that usually contain far more wisdom than the answers he gets. This week's theme was the government's war on sex.
For me, the most fun part of the program was Stossel's interview with Texas State Senator Dan Patrick. Senator Patrick is a fine Christian man whose passion for law and order is exceeded only by his modesty. According to his website he is the auther of "The Second Most Important Book You'll Ever Read".
Stossel asked him about the harsh penalty for a man who has to regularly register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, for having premarital sex with his wife. She was a 15 year old high school freshman, he was a 19 year old high school senior. Mom got ticked off, (I don't blame her), and reported the teenagers' offensive behavior to authorities, to teach them a lesson. Little did she know the life sentence that would be imposed on the young man who would become her son-in-law and father to her grandchildren.
When asked about the fairness of being listed on a website with rapists and child molesters, Senator Patrick's response was, "rules are rules." Stay with me here and I will tell you what's really bugging me about this.
I suspected that the good senator was a Christian man, and indeed he turns out to be. Doesn't Christianity replace "the law?" What about "grace and forgiveness?" I guess that's only for some sinners. So, apparently, if you're a Christian, it's only Torah law that's temporary. Texas law is eternal.
For me, the most fun part of the program was Stossel's interview with Texas State Senator Dan Patrick. Senator Patrick is a fine Christian man whose passion for law and order is exceeded only by his modesty. According to his website he is the auther of "The Second Most Important Book You'll Ever Read".
Stossel asked him about the harsh penalty for a man who has to regularly register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, for having premarital sex with his wife. She was a 15 year old high school freshman, he was a 19 year old high school senior. Mom got ticked off, (I don't blame her), and reported the teenagers' offensive behavior to authorities, to teach them a lesson. Little did she know the life sentence that would be imposed on the young man who would become her son-in-law and father to her grandchildren.
When asked about the fairness of being listed on a website with rapists and child molesters, Senator Patrick's response was, "rules are rules." Stay with me here and I will tell you what's really bugging me about this.
I suspected that the good senator was a Christian man, and indeed he turns out to be. Doesn't Christianity replace "the law?" What about "grace and forgiveness?" I guess that's only for some sinners. So, apparently, if you're a Christian, it's only Torah law that's temporary. Texas law is eternal.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Hang On! Shabbos is Coming!
It is late Friday afternoon. Thank goodness, Shabbos is coming! While the Sabbath was given to the Jews at Mount Sinai, bnai Noah are not prohibited from enjoying the benefits of Shabbos, and there are many.
The directive for the Jews is to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy..." Exodus 20:8. Bnai Noah may remember the Sabbath day in their own way. They may not keep the Sabbath as a Jew would keep Sabbath. The reasons are many and for another discussion.
A ben or bas Noah may light a candle (without the Jewish blessing that refers to remembering the Sabbath as a commandment.) One may enjoy a festive meal, or maybe a special dessert after an evening out. One may sing Shabbos songs.
I can tell you that there is great benefit in declaring one day a week as totally off limits for the tedious and the mundane. No frantic errands, no annoying phone calls, no boob tube, no paying bills, no putting in overtime at work. As people learn that needless tasks and interruptions are off limits one day a week, they will respect your time in other ways as well. Reserving one day for rest and family, what could be more important?
While learning Torah is an important daily activity, making it a point to study one specific day every week is a good start.
Just as planning a family vacation takes preparation, so does preparing for Shabbos. Planning for a vacation requires making sure the laundry is done, packing all the essentials, making a run to the bank for extra cash, arranging transportation or filling up the car's gas tank, and maybe preparing travel snacks for the kids.
Preparing for a weekly mini-vacation involves similar preparations. A last minute run to the grocery store, paying bills that are due, wrapping up work related projects and making sure the laundry is done and the grass is mowed. In other words, all the annoying things that you wouldn't want to be dealing with if you were away from home on vacation.
Wouldn't it be nice if every week you had a day that you could call your own? We are seeing the results of our stress related culture in the eruption of new diseases and increased use of prescription drugs. Divorce rates never seem to go down and families with small children are being abandoned by a spouse who just can't take it anymore. Work environments seem to be increasingly hostile and even long term friendships can be disposable at the slightest provocation. The damage that stress overload can do is immeasurable.
Shabbos is referred to as an island in time. While preparing for Shabbos often involves frantic, last minute preparations, (don't all vacations?), it is all forgotten once Shabbos arrives.
It takes time to get the hang of relaxing, connecting with family and connecting with Hashem on a regularly scheduled day. Is there really something more important on your calendar?
The directive for the Jews is to "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy..." Exodus 20:8. Bnai Noah may remember the Sabbath day in their own way. They may not keep the Sabbath as a Jew would keep Sabbath. The reasons are many and for another discussion.
A ben or bas Noah may light a candle (without the Jewish blessing that refers to remembering the Sabbath as a commandment.) One may enjoy a festive meal, or maybe a special dessert after an evening out. One may sing Shabbos songs.
I can tell you that there is great benefit in declaring one day a week as totally off limits for the tedious and the mundane. No frantic errands, no annoying phone calls, no boob tube, no paying bills, no putting in overtime at work. As people learn that needless tasks and interruptions are off limits one day a week, they will respect your time in other ways as well. Reserving one day for rest and family, what could be more important?
While learning Torah is an important daily activity, making it a point to study one specific day every week is a good start.
Just as planning a family vacation takes preparation, so does preparing for Shabbos. Planning for a vacation requires making sure the laundry is done, packing all the essentials, making a run to the bank for extra cash, arranging transportation or filling up the car's gas tank, and maybe preparing travel snacks for the kids.
Preparing for a weekly mini-vacation involves similar preparations. A last minute run to the grocery store, paying bills that are due, wrapping up work related projects and making sure the laundry is done and the grass is mowed. In other words, all the annoying things that you wouldn't want to be dealing with if you were away from home on vacation.
Wouldn't it be nice if every week you had a day that you could call your own? We are seeing the results of our stress related culture in the eruption of new diseases and increased use of prescription drugs. Divorce rates never seem to go down and families with small children are being abandoned by a spouse who just can't take it anymore. Work environments seem to be increasingly hostile and even long term friendships can be disposable at the slightest provocation. The damage that stress overload can do is immeasurable.
Shabbos is referred to as an island in time. While preparing for Shabbos often involves frantic, last minute preparations, (don't all vacations?), it is all forgotten once Shabbos arrives.
It takes time to get the hang of relaxing, connecting with family and connecting with Hashem on a regularly scheduled day. Is there really something more important on your calendar?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
But it's Not Really Stealing!
Let's just run down the list of the Seven Laws, and then I want to talk about one of them. There are six prohibitive laws, and one positive law.
1. Prohibition against idolotry.
2. Prohibition against blasphemy.
3. Prohibition against murder.
4. Prohibition against sexual immorality.
5. Prohibition against theft.
6. Prohibition against eating meat taken from a living animal.
7. Positive directive to set up courts of justice.
You probably expect me to discuss these in the order listed, but frankly I don't think it's a good idea to address idolatry as an introduction to this blog. Many readers may be new to this and I would like to establish some common ground before I start making readers uncomfortable.
It's easier to hear difficult words from a friend that you trust, than from a stranger. So let's get acquainted, so that you will know that I am coming from a place of support and encouragement. Then we can stray from our comfort zones. Let me warn you in advance, that Torah is for the open minded, and for the intellectually curious. If you are expecting familiar dogma, you may be on the wrong blog.
And for a housekeeping note, I want to let you know that I prefer to use the name "Hashem" when referring to God. This literally means "the name", and Jews often use the term as a measure against accidently taking one of God's names in vain. So, from now on, Hashem. Okay?
Now that we've set the tone for discussion, I want to talk about the prohibition against theft. Why? Because theft was one of the acts of immorality that angered Hashem to the point of sending the flood.
There is a teaching from our oral tradition that describes people in the days of Noah as having no respect for the property of others. Just as some people think it is okay to sample a grape at the grocery store before checking out at the register, people were doing something similar in the times of Noah. They were taking it to a new level by stealing a grape here, pilfering a berry there, until their bellies were full and they didn't need to buy anything. It's hard to figure out why this small time petty theft would even attract Hashem's notice, let alone bring down His wrath.
These individual acts of stealing were so small that they did not even qualify as shoplifting. Would a store owner today actually call the police for someone stealing a grape? Not likely. A $25 roast, or a bottle of shampoo, of course.
Before the flood, people understood the law and knew that they could legally get away with this small time pilfering. This wouldn't be considered a legal loophole, just a case of people knowing that they were stealing from others, even though it was technically legal. And as a widespread practice, vendors were certainly being injured financially.
I remember when I was a child, it was not uncommon for people who were travelling, to call home "collect" and ask for themselves. Of course they were not home, they were travelling, but this way, they let their families know that they had safely arrived at their destination, with a "free" long distance telephone call.
The call was only free for the caller, but not for the telephone company. It was easy to justify, thinking it's only one little call, but as a common practice, it is hard to estimate the lost revenue to the phone companies and their shareholders. (If you're not sure what a collect call is, ask your grandparents!)
So the point is, that Hashem takes it seriously when people don't respect each other. Theft is about more than stealing property. It is stealing the fruits of someone's labor, diminishing someone's ability to provide for their family.
A common criticism of Torah is that it is legalistic and indifferent to the realities of being human. The more we learn about the law, the more we can see not only Hashem's wisdom, but the love that He has for each and every person.
1. Prohibition against idolotry.
2. Prohibition against blasphemy.
3. Prohibition against murder.
4. Prohibition against sexual immorality.
5. Prohibition against theft.
6. Prohibition against eating meat taken from a living animal.
7. Positive directive to set up courts of justice.
You probably expect me to discuss these in the order listed, but frankly I don't think it's a good idea to address idolatry as an introduction to this blog. Many readers may be new to this and I would like to establish some common ground before I start making readers uncomfortable.
It's easier to hear difficult words from a friend that you trust, than from a stranger. So let's get acquainted, so that you will know that I am coming from a place of support and encouragement. Then we can stray from our comfort zones. Let me warn you in advance, that Torah is for the open minded, and for the intellectually curious. If you are expecting familiar dogma, you may be on the wrong blog.
And for a housekeeping note, I want to let you know that I prefer to use the name "Hashem" when referring to God. This literally means "the name", and Jews often use the term as a measure against accidently taking one of God's names in vain. So, from now on, Hashem. Okay?
Now that we've set the tone for discussion, I want to talk about the prohibition against theft. Why? Because theft was one of the acts of immorality that angered Hashem to the point of sending the flood.
There is a teaching from our oral tradition that describes people in the days of Noah as having no respect for the property of others. Just as some people think it is okay to sample a grape at the grocery store before checking out at the register, people were doing something similar in the times of Noah. They were taking it to a new level by stealing a grape here, pilfering a berry there, until their bellies were full and they didn't need to buy anything. It's hard to figure out why this small time petty theft would even attract Hashem's notice, let alone bring down His wrath.
These individual acts of stealing were so small that they did not even qualify as shoplifting. Would a store owner today actually call the police for someone stealing a grape? Not likely. A $25 roast, or a bottle of shampoo, of course.
Before the flood, people understood the law and knew that they could legally get away with this small time pilfering. This wouldn't be considered a legal loophole, just a case of people knowing that they were stealing from others, even though it was technically legal. And as a widespread practice, vendors were certainly being injured financially.
I remember when I was a child, it was not uncommon for people who were travelling, to call home "collect" and ask for themselves. Of course they were not home, they were travelling, but this way, they let their families know that they had safely arrived at their destination, with a "free" long distance telephone call.
The call was only free for the caller, but not for the telephone company. It was easy to justify, thinking it's only one little call, but as a common practice, it is hard to estimate the lost revenue to the phone companies and their shareholders. (If you're not sure what a collect call is, ask your grandparents!)
So the point is, that Hashem takes it seriously when people don't respect each other. Theft is about more than stealing property. It is stealing the fruits of someone's labor, diminishing someone's ability to provide for their family.
A common criticism of Torah is that it is legalistic and indifferent to the realities of being human. The more we learn about the law, the more we can see not only Hashem's wisdom, but the love that He has for each and every person.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Welcome to Bnai Noah!
I am so glad you found me! I have been hoping to create an online community for Bnai Noah, (children of Noah), also known as Noahides, for quite some time.
My children and grandchildren are Bnai Noah. As a result of my own journey to Judaism, my daughter and son-in-law ultimately abandoned the church in search of a coherent, consistent means to understand God and their place in the world. I have shared their struggle, and while they are always warmly received at synagogue functions, they do not enjoy the same sense of community that I have enjoyed since converting to Judaism. And they have no interest in converting.
Fortunately, converting is not necessary. Everyone has a share in the world to come, and Bnai Noah have an increasingly important role to play.
Many people are finding the courage to question the mixed messages of the church, yet often remain where they no longer feel comfortable, in order to remain part of a community. I encourage you to comment and connect, and question everything. Unlike the church, Judaism teaches that challenging and questioning is essential to meaningful study. In fact, the Talmud is basically one, long, ongoing argument.
If you are new to the laws of Noah, I will be discussing them. They are the Torah's message and instructions for the non-Jew. I don't have all the answers. Fortunately, more and more rabbis are beginning to act on the need to instruct and inform non-Jews who want to learn the ways of Torah. There are wonderful online resources available. There are also online sites that are missionary sites posing as Bnai Noah. I'll dish on the imposters as I discover them.
Please come back often. Your questions and comments are important to me!
My children and grandchildren are Bnai Noah. As a result of my own journey to Judaism, my daughter and son-in-law ultimately abandoned the church in search of a coherent, consistent means to understand God and their place in the world. I have shared their struggle, and while they are always warmly received at synagogue functions, they do not enjoy the same sense of community that I have enjoyed since converting to Judaism. And they have no interest in converting.
Fortunately, converting is not necessary. Everyone has a share in the world to come, and Bnai Noah have an increasingly important role to play.
Many people are finding the courage to question the mixed messages of the church, yet often remain where they no longer feel comfortable, in order to remain part of a community. I encourage you to comment and connect, and question everything. Unlike the church, Judaism teaches that challenging and questioning is essential to meaningful study. In fact, the Talmud is basically one, long, ongoing argument.
If you are new to the laws of Noah, I will be discussing them. They are the Torah's message and instructions for the non-Jew. I don't have all the answers. Fortunately, more and more rabbis are beginning to act on the need to instruct and inform non-Jews who want to learn the ways of Torah. There are wonderful online resources available. There are also online sites that are missionary sites posing as Bnai Noah. I'll dish on the imposters as I discover them.
Please come back often. Your questions and comments are important to me!
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