"קח לְךָ עֵגֶל בֶּן בָּקָר לְחַטָּאת וְאַיִל לְעֹלָה תְּמִימִם וְהַקְרֵב לִפְנֵי ה׳״...
"Take for yourself a bull calf as a sin offering, and a ram as a burnt offering, [both] unblemished, and bring [them] near before the Lord"...
Rabbi simmons believes that its important to understand reason. He explains: 'God wants us to use our intellect and to understand the mitzvot to the best of our ability'
Do you (and your rabbinical source) feel its necessary to understand the reason behind the kashrut laws we follow? Or should we just have faith and
listen to Hashem?
Rabbi Debra Orenstein says that religion is meant to inform our lives and to add a holy mystery to them. Chukim acknowledge and make us aware of life's mystery. Kashrut in particular acknowledges that there is a taxonomy to the world beyond what we perceive. Kashrut has nothing to do with health considerations or scientifically meaningful categories. It does, in some mysterious way, have to do with making ourselves holy by making distinctions, and remembering who God is for us.
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ReplyDeleteRabbi Forst teaches that it learning and understanding the meaning behind the mitzvots helps to enhance our performance of the mitzvoth and to have a greater effect on our lives. So to with kashrut if we learn the reasoning behind it, it allows us to turn from a physical experience to a spiritual experience.
ReplyDeleteYes it is necessary to know the reasoning behind the mitzvot we do. When we know the reason it ensures that we will thoroughly follow it when possible and also makes our connection to religion stronger since we understand to some degree why god is asking something of us. When we know the reason we can do the mitzvot with more kavanah and have a better sense of fulfillment.
ReplyDelete(Rabbi Jacobs)
We learn from Rabbi Forst that is important to actually understand the reasoning behind mitzvot. Once we have a true understanding of the mitzvot it will only aid in making the mitzva more meaningful and help it truly impact our lives.
ReplyDelete-Tili
I believe that it is vital to learn the reasons behind the mitzvot.
ReplyDelete"The purpose of understanding a mitzvah is not to comprehend what is accomplished with the mitzvah, but rather to perceive the lessons to be drawn from the mitzvah. God does not need us to care for His creatures; He has countless means at His disposal. The purpose of the mitzvah of chasing away the mother bird before taking her eggs or chicks is that we internalize feelings. Thus, when we investigate the reason behind any of the Jewish laws, it is not to explain the mitzvah, but to discover what we may draw from it. The understanding of the rationale of the mitzvah elevates its performance from a mere physical actto an act that makes a spiritually significant impact on our lives".
- Artscroll
Racheli Zirman
The Rambam states that it is fitting for one to search for the reasons behind Mitzvot. The Rambam writes, "It is appropriate that one meditate, according to his intellectual capacity, regarding the laws of the Torah to understand their deeper meaning. Those laws for which he finds no reason and knows no purpose should nevertheless not be treated lightly." (Maimonides – Me'ilah 8:8). I believe that if learning the reasons behind Mitzvot will strengthen one's Emunah and help one perform the Mitzvot in a better and more meaningful way then it is important to understand and internalize the reasons.
ReplyDeleteRabbi Yisroel Ciner says that by doing mitzvot, we will come to an understanding of WHY do we them. However, if we do not have a reason for a specific mitzvah, we cannot then say that there is "a fault in the system" or that there isn't a reason. We must do the mitzvah regardless and come to a conclusion/reason after.
ReplyDeleteShabbat Shalom
Yocheved
Most of the time, I think it's of vital importance to understand the reasons behind the mitzvot. Human nature expects us to crave a logical explanation for why we are doing what we are doing and what it will accomplish. For this reason, bnei yisroel got themselves into tremendous trouble when asking for physical proof of hashem's exsistance and demonstrating a lack of emunah. Many need to be able to see, feel, or experience Hashem in some way to achieve absolute faith which is why it's important to know the reasoning behind the mitzvot. Explanations also serve to connect us closer to Hashem since we understand his commandments and may resonate with them. However, we also need a balance of faith to achieve religious completion. In my opinion, this is why the notion of chukim were formed- to separate ourselves from proof and tangible evidence but rather have absolute faith in Hashem and his plans.
ReplyDeleteMany people feel that understanding why we perform certain mitzvot helps strengthen our will and desire to do the mitzvah. However, if people were to know definitively why we perform every mitzvah that we are given, the power to agree or disagree with the reasoning is then in our hands. We are not God. We are not on the same level as God and we will never be all knowing like Him.
ReplyDeleteThe short answer to why Jews observe these laws is: because the Torah says so. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and for an observant, Jew, there is no need for any other reason. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of "chukkim," laws for which there is no reason. We show our obedience to G-d by following these laws even though we do not know the reason. Others, however, have tried to ascertain G-d's reason for imposing these laws.
ReplyDeleteIn his book "To Be a Jew" , Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin suggests that the dietary laws are designed as a call to holiness. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, pure and defiled, the sacred and the profane, is very important in Judaism. Imposing rules on what you can and cannot eat ingrains that kind of self control, requiring us to learn to control even our most basic, primal instincts.
Donin also points out that the laws of kashrut elevate the simple act of eating into a religious ritual. The Jewish dinner table is often compared to the Temple altar in rabbinic literature. A Jew who observes the laws of kashrut cannot eat a meal without being reminded of the fact that he is a Jew.
Shabbat Shalom!
The short answer to why Jews observe these laws is: because the Torah says so. The Torah does not specify any reason for these laws, and for a Torah-observant, traditional Jew, there is no need for any other reason. Some have suggested that the laws of kashrut fall into the category of "chukkim," laws for which there is no reason. We show our obedience to G-d by following these laws even though we do not know the reason. Others, however, have tried to ascertain G-d's reason for imposing these laws.
ReplyDeleteIn his book "To Be a Jew" (an excellent resource on traditional Judaism), Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin suggests that the dietary laws are designed as a call to holiness. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, pure and defiled, the sacred and the profane, is very important in Judaism. Imposing rules on what you can and cannot eat ingrains that kind of self control, requiring us to learn to control even our most basic, primal instincts.
- Judaism 101
Rabbi Jack abramowitz says that we shouldn't be led astray by our desires, and not be led astray by philosophies that are not compatible with the torah, and he says that our heart and your eyes bring temptation that can distract a person from what is important. He mentions that there are six mitzvot that are be kept solely by thought, by not giving into temptation.
ReplyDeleteTo give an understanding to kosher:
R yehonatan gefen says we left mitzraim in order to keep kosher. In order to properly observe all the mitzvot you have to keep kashrut because without keeping kosher you suffer from timtum halev, which prevents you from serving Hashem in other areas. This serves to the understanding that keeping kosher is equal to keeping all of the laws of the torah.
R' Zalmen Posner feels that it is important for Jews to understand why we must do certain things. By understanding, this will lead to a deeper want to fulfill them because it is human nature to want to do something when given a solid reason as to why it should be done. When we are given reasons, it leads us to a deeper love for Hashem and the things He asks us to do.
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