There are those who argue that the many aspects of keeping kosher are archaic and from a bygone era. Others claim that it’s just too difficult to keep kosher. Many Jewish people today view keeping kosher as an outdated aspect of ancient biblical Jewish practice and complicated by rabbis through the generations. A great number of Jewish people argue that keeping kosher is no longer relevant to modern day life. Modern society has rendered obsolete many of the laws, traditions and customs of kosher.

It happened many many years ago that a wealthy merchant sent someone to buy him a cow in a nearby village. The man bought the cow but the knot it was tied with came undone. The cow ran into the forest. The man was afraid to go into the forest because of the wild animals. He was also ashamed to return home without the animal fearing someone would accuse him and say: “He did not buy the animal and has kept the money!” The man took a great deal of trouble and searched all night until he found the cow in a herd to which it had fled.

Being real careful, he brought the animal back with him and it was slaughtered. After the meat had been salted and soaked (kashered), a dog ate some of it. The rest rest of the meat was cooked in the pot. Then the dog came and took the meat from the hot pot and broke the pot and ate the meat. The wise merchant said that this did not happen by chance. Then they told him what had happened, and he said: “Bless the L-rd who prevented me from eating the food which was brought to my home with so much risk and danger.”

Keeping kosher is more than the food we eat, it is the lifestyle we accept upon ourselves. The many aspects of keeping kosher reminds us again and again that Jewish spirituality is inseparable from what one might term “physical.” It teaches us that Jewish spiritual practice is about taking the most ordinary of experiences — in all aspects of our lives — and transforming them into moments of meaning, moments of connection.

Simply said, keeping kosher connects people to tradition, to other holy people, and to the Holy One, blessed be He. 

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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