24 March 2006
Question
My husband wants us to keep a kosher home, but I would like to know the rationale behind it before taking such a big step. I am the type that needs to understand something fully before accepting it, and as of now I don't see the benefit of eating kosher foods. Is there a logical explanation for keeping kosher?
Answer
A man once came to see a psychiatrist with an unusual condition. He was unable to follow a logical train of thought. His mind simply couldn't link ideas in a rational sequence. After some tests, the psychiatrist diagnosed him as having a chemical imbalance in his brain that could easily be corrected with medication. But the man flatly refused to take the pills unless the doctor would first explain to him exactly what effects they would have on him.
"But that's the whole problem," explained the doctor. "I can talk till I'm blue in the face, but no explanation will satisfy you, because your brain cannot process the logic. Take the medicine; only then will you be able to understand its power."
When it comes to understanding the rationale behind spiritual practices such as keeping kosher, we are all somewhat like that man. The human mind has an inherent limitation. It is physical, made of flesh and blood, and so concepts that are spiritual and abstract are foreign to us. Our connection to the material world fogs the mind, preventing it from grasping a metaphysical idea with true clarity.
With the right treatment, however, we can overcome this imbalance. Every time we use our bodies to actually perform a mitzvah, a divine command, our physical self becomes refined. With each act of sanctity we become a little more sensitised to the world of the spirit. Over time, our physical mind can begin to appreciate and absorb concepts that had previously been beyond our grasp.
Our body's level of refinement is greatly determined by what we eat. The food we eat literally becomes our body. The kosher diet is a spiritual prescription, giving the body the nutrients needed to become more spiritually intuned. Kosher food is healthy for the soul-body balance.
This may seem strange. Why should these foods be good for the soul and others not? But once you take the medication, it all makes sense.
