Preparing for Moshiach by Eating Kosher
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
As of late there hasn't been any shortage of opportunities to discuss the great importance of maintaining a high standard of kashrus. What follows is the unique perspective of Chassidei Chabad based on the Sichos and Letters of the Rebbe. In Likutei Sichos v. 1 page 7 the Rebbe says that a Chosid makes all of his decisions based on the way he understands the world in which he lives. First and foremost a Chosid lives with the fact that Hashem constantly renews the entire creation top to bottom not just daily but moment to moment: המחדש בטובו בכל יום (ובכל רגע) תמיד מעשה בראשית He also knows that the entire creation is here for one purpose only; to serve Hashem. Not just with Torah and Mitzvos but with everything including what we eat and how we do business.
When a Chosid is presented with a question or has a doubt whether or not something is kosher he will never be confused about what to do. There are some whose perspective goes something like this. Since everything has been created by Hashem to be used, if you don’t know for sure and it hasn’t been proven to be non-kosher, then by default it should be considered kosher! So let's get real; the right thing to do is to just use it!
A Chosid thinks quite the opposite. Since the world is constantly being created and recreated by Hashem, therefore BEFORE I touch this it must be CLEAR why I am permitted to eat this food. If there is any question, any at all, then it is surely not to be used. After all, what is the reason I am eating this? I am only eating it in order to have energy to serve Hashem. If there is any question that Hashem does not allow this what is there to talk about? This is the essential difference that a Chosid takes into each decision about what he will eat. This perspective is incorporated in a chassidishe chinuch about food. It goes together with the understanding that the purpose of this world is to make here a דירה בתחתונים, a dwelling place for Hashem.
People say not to blame then when they ate something with a hechsher on it that ended up not being kosher. They are right! They checked the label, the hechsher or the mashgiach's signature was there. When it comes to reward and punishment they are free and clear. The question is however, what really motivates us? Is it the fear of punishment or the desire to be united with Hashem? It's not about the reward rather a desire to be connected and never to contaminate or break that connection with Hashem. When it's about the penimius, our connection, we feel differently about the possibility of making a mistake. What bothers us is the possible separation that could result from eating the wrong food.
In Igros Kodesh (volume 16 page 243 and volume 18 page 109) the Rebbe repeated a story the Previous Rebbe told about a Chosid who spoke to the Alter Rebbe about his son-in-law’s problems. The Alter Rebbe said that his problems came from doubts in emunah that came from drinking cholov akum. Once all food and drink enters the body it is eventually converted into the blood and flesh of the body which is bound to the neshama. Therefore the kashrus and the level of the foods refinement impact the character and good midos of the individual who consumes them. Therefore one should view every hidur, refinement and purity of the food he eats and its connection to and impact upon the refinement of the individual’s character traits. This is exponentially true with regard to children who are in the midst of the development of their character, and of the utmost importance. From all of this it is plainly obvious that if the issue is regarding taste and preference it should never be at the expense of kashrus and hidur.
Therefore, as a community we need to take a good hard look at what has occurred here and what can be done going forward. We need to demand that the hashgachos require enhanced standards, checking and review that will prevent doubts. When we pick up the phone, ask questions and make our voices heard we will be effective.
The Kedushas Levi quotes the opening pasuk in the parsha of kashrus: “And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon ‘saying to them’ this is the (kosher) animal etc” and asks that the words ‘saying to them’ seem extra. He answers by connecting this with the reason why Miriam asked Bas Pharoh if she should summons specifically a Jewish wet nurse for Moshe Rabbenu and not any wet nurse. The reason as brought in Rashi is because they had already tried many Mitzri wet nurses and he would not nurse from them. This because he was destined to speak with the Shechina and be a prophet therefore he did not want to nurse from an impure source. The reason why the Torah disallows impure foods is because they give rise to a cruel nature in the body and Hashem is destined to speak with every Jewish person as it says (Yoel 3:1) “Your sons and daughters shall prophesize”. Is it proper that the Shechina should speak with someone who ate impure foods? This is the hint of the extra words of ‘saying to them’ that I will be speaking to them and therefore they should not eat impure things.
By upholding the Chabad standard of kashrus may we be zoche to have the Shechina speak with each and every one of us with the coming of Moshiach Now!