D'var Torah From Rabbi Neal Rose -Shabbat Mevarchim & Parshah Shmini-
Kashrut and Reverence for Life
This week's Torah reading contains some of the basic aspects of Kashrut; the discipline of sacred eating. It identifies the (limited number) of domesticated animals, birds and fish permitted for our consumption. Each time the Torah touches upon the subject of Kashrut, which I refer to as sacred eating, I feel compelled to explain (to myself) why I engage in this practice. The short answer, for me, is that it is a discipline that trains me to fulfill the Mitzvah of maintaining a Reverence for Life.
Today’s reading comes during a week when we commemorate two murderous events: the Holocaust and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., both acts speak of ways in which one group denies the humanity of other human beings. The Nazis denied the humanity of Jews, and white supremacists refuse to affirm the inherent humanity of African Americans. In both cases, people clearly lost what the late Dr. Albert Schweitzer called, Reverence for Life, the awareness of the Divine spark in all of Creation - what we Jews call Tzelem Elohim.
Schweitzer, a newly minted theologian and medical doctor, left Germany in order to serve poor communities in Africa. While traveling down the Amazon River, he wrote about seeing his first Hippopotamus - in all of its “strangeness”. Suddenly he sensed the immense life-force inherent in this unusual creature. From that moment on, he writes, he realized that all living beings possess that very same sacredness and therefore, all living entities deserve to be met and dealt with, with honor. His experience led him to assume a position of reverence, and he served all living creatures with a deep sense of awe. It was from Dr. Schweitzer that I first learned about the Mitzvah of Reverence for Life.
For me, Kashrut is one of the many spiritual practices that encourage this attitude. The noted Bible scholar Jacob Milgrom, in his commentary on the Book of Leviticus, argues that the underlying goal of Kashrut is actually to cultivate this quality, and to learn to apply it to all of Creation. Briefly, Rabbi Milgrom outlines three ways in which this was accomplished: (1) by reducing our choice of flesh to a few animals and birds. (2) by requiring slaughter to be carried out in the most humane fashion (rapid cutting with a highly sharpened knife) (3) by the proper disposal of the animal's blood, either through burial or use in a sacred ritual.
Judaism, like many spiritual practices, seeks to refine us; to help us cultivate a sense of awe and respect for all life. A particular wisdom in our Jewish tradition, is that one begins to cultivate this Reverence for Life by first adopting the art of the sacred eating.
Shabbat Shalom, and in closing I would like to share a phrase from a favorite family poem, by Kahlil Gibran (from his collection, The Prophet):
Would that you could live on the fragrance of the earth, and like an air plant be sustained by light. But since you must kill to eat, and rob the newly born of its mother’s milk to quench your thirst, let it then be an act of worship.
And let your board stand an altar on which the pure and the innocent of forest and plain are sacrificed for that which is purer and still more innocent in (the hu)man.
This Shabbat, we welcome Joslyn Bogner to the Bimah for her Bat Mitzvah. Joslyn is the daughter of Michaela and Myles Bogner and sister to Adin. Her grandparents are Rabbi Josef and Barbara Davidson and Dr. Stuart (Frayne, Z”L) Bogner.
When we have Congregants participating in Services from their homes via Zoom on Friday and Saturday Evenings, we recognize that the audio may be difficult to hear on our Livestream or Facebook Live. To insure you hear all of our wonderful participants, we highly encourage you to join our services via Zoom. The links to join in on Zoom are provided in the schedule below.
If you need help connecting to our services or classes via Zoom, please contact Liessa Alperin atliessa@bnaiamoona.com. Todah Rabbah!
Friday, April 9
Friday Evening Services with Cantor Sharon Nathanson in the Guller Chapel: 6:00 pm
Our B’nai Amoona’s Minyan Program consists of our amazing, dedicated Minyannaires who assure warm and welcoming ongoing daily Minyanim, morning and evening. These services support those in our community who have lost loved ones and may be feeling lonely and isolated. Our BA virtual Minyanim are a constant source of strength and comfort for those who wish to recite the Kaddish. Moreover, our Minyanim are a wonderful opportunity for spiritual uplift, social connection, community building, and the ability to fulfill one's daily Chiyuv, duty, to thank God for all that we have. This combination of Kehillah and Kibbitzing allows up to remain spiritually connected despite being socially distant. All are warmly welcomed! Please join us!
Virtual Morning Services and Minyanim
Sunday - Morning Minyan will take place virtually at 9:00 am Monday - Friday Morning Minyan will take place virtually at 7:00 am via Zoom, Livestream and FB Live Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97189645201 Meeting ID: 971 8964 5201 This Zoom link is for all morning Minyan Services
Congregation B'nai Amoona's "Lehrhaus" - Adult Education Institute
Please click the button below for a list of our Adult Education Opportunities including class schedules, descriptions, registration information, and Zoom links. Please note our newest classes.
Registration for in-person Shabbat Morning Services is open to the congregation when there is NOT a Bar or Bat Mitzvah taking place. We are currently allowing up to 100 people in our Sanctuary and those spots are reserved initially for the families of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah. If we should have space available on a particular Shabbat morning, after confirming with the family, we will post that information via our website and registration will be available. Currently, we have B'nai Mitzvah scheduled each Shabbat morning through mid June. As always, we encourage everyone to join Services virtually on Facebook Live and Livestream.
In Our Community
MAZEL TOV TO...
Dr. Bob Hoffman on being elected the Mayor of Creve Coeur, MO. Bob is the husband of Barb Hoffman and father of David (Julie) Hoffman, Jon (Daniela) Hoffman, and Jenny (Robert) Mentle.
David Hoffman on being elected City Councilman for Ward 3. David is the husband of Julie Hoffman and the father of Noah and Wolf Hoffman.
Sharon Kirsch and Ed Rosen on their grandson Jonah Zaas being named LLS High School Student of the Year for his fundraising campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
As more people receive the Covid-19 vaccine, we encourage you to download and print the prayers below. We recommend you say them when you receive your vaccination.
