Apr 9th 2010, 00:00

            Someone once wisely said: “What comes out of your mouth is much more important than what goes into it.”  On one level, this is quite true, even Jewishly speaking.  Our tradition is fraught with lessons and teachings extorting the importance of speaking the truth.  Numerous statements caution us against slander, gossip, and tale bearing.  On another level, however, what goes into our mouths is also very important.

            This week’s Torah portion clearly states that the Jewish people is sanctified, that is, becomes holy, by avoiding certain unclean foods.  The Torah does not explain why such foods render us unclean, it just says not to eat them.  One can draw an inference that if certain foods make us unclean, other permitted foods can make us clean and holy.  And let’s face it, eating is more than an instinctual practice (though not for teenagers!).

            We just concluded our festival of Passover, where food takes on symbolic significance of a religious and historic event.  Certain food we refrained from eating, and certain foods we purposely consumed.  Eating matzah and charoset, and tasting the salt water and bitter herbs, goes far beyond satisfying a bodily necessity.  Not eating bread during Passover also goes far beyond the simple food element.

            For the Jewish people, food and holiness and intertwined, at least historically.  I would argue that especially today, the laws of kashrut go beyond their original and historic religious meaning.  Today, keeping kosher is an issue of Jewish identity.  For some it is a significant part of their Jewish identity; for others it is meaningless and antiquated.  But there is no denying that kashrut, perhaps more than any other Jewish ritual, plays a significant and identifying role in modern Jewish life.

            Along with Shabbat observance, Kashrut is the dividing line between Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews, particularly in America.  Not that Reform Jews don’t or can’t keep some level of kashrut, and not that all Conservative and Orthodox Jews keep the same or strictest level of kashrut.  Clearly, there is a spectrum when it comes to this ritual, as there is with most other rituals.

            Unfortunately, many people see kashrut as an all-or-nothing proposition.  Many wrongly believe that if you can’t or don’t want to keep the highest level of kashrut then you should not keep any level of kashrut.  What many Jews don’t understand is that the laws of kashrut developed over many centuries and that there are biblical laws, Talmudic laws, and other prohibitions (particularly with respect to Passover) that were developed by later authorities for various reason .

            I believe that some level of kashrut can be and should be a meaningful part of life for Reform Jews today if for no other reason than it is an identifying factor among many.  Over the years, my family has developed a standard that we can live with and with which we find meaning.  Eating certain foods and avoiding certain foods enhances our religious lives and strengthens our Jewish identity.  I urge you to think about these issues for yourself and your family and see if some level of kashrut can also be a meaningful part of your Jewish identity and your life.  What comes out of our mouths is critically important; but what goes into our mouths is also more than just food.

            Tonight at Temple is our early Shabbat service at 6:00 PM followed by dinner (prior reservation required) and then our program at 7:30 PM.  Temple member, Leon Leyson, the youngest person on Schindler’s List will be our guest speaker.  You are more than welcome to come just for the program and dessert if you wish.  As always, the service will be carried live over the Internet at www.templebethtikvah.com (click on Live Services).  Tomorrow, no religious school, but Torah Study at 9:00 AM and our Shabbat morning service at 10:00 AM as usual.  Tomorrow’s service will include special readings and prayers for Yom Ha-Shoah / Holocaust Memorial Day.  Please remember to light your Yellow Candle on Saturday night and to send in a donation for our future permanent Holocaust Memorial, currently under construction.