Sedra of the week: Shemini
by rabbi Alex Chapper
Of the various themes in this sedra, one whole chapter is dedicated to the issue of holiness.
In this instance, it manifests itself in a most practical way, collectively known as the dietary laws, by which the Torah sets out what species are permitted and forbidden to be eaten, as well as the rules governing spiritual impurity.
R’Aharon of Barcelona, in his monumental work, the Sefer HaChinuch, set out to explain the rationale of each of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah and when he reached this section, he made a remarkable statement. No human being possesses perfect wisdom, not even Moses or Solomon.
At the same time, we can be in no doubt that God, in His goodness, would ordain anything for His creatures other than for their own benefit and good, and in order to remove all harm from them. When we gain an insight into the mitzvot, that is a source of joy for us – but when we cannot, it is for us to realise that God, in His far greater wisdom, knew the benefit we will have from that precept and that is why He commanded it.
In other words, the Sefer HaChinuch is saying there are certain things that are beyond our comprehension – and the laws of holiness are a case in point. Our response is to know that God, like a loving father to his child, only seeks the best for His creations and everything He does is for the good.
What is so significant here is the context of these laws. First, they are found at the very core of the Torah – Shemini contains not only the middle word of the Five Books of Moses, but also the middle letter. Clearly this indicates that to grasp this concept is central to the understanding of the entire Torah.
Recognising that God’s wisdom is infinite and far exceeds our own is fundamental to what precedes and follows this section. Second, this message is conveyed in a body of law that governs what we eat, a most basic human necessity for survival. It is as if this lesson is so important that it must be with us constantly, because it sustains and nourishes us like food itself. It is worth one final note that the middle letter of the Torah referred to above is an enlarged ‘vav’ in the word ‘gachon’, which means ‘a belly’. The letter ‘vav’ not only has the appearance of a central pillar, but is also associated with connection.
This suggests that internalising the realisation that our knowledge is inequitable to God’s somehow leads to a closer affinity with Him by building a bridge between His concealment and revelation. Holiness is at the heart of Judaism, it is manifested at the cusp of human understanding and the awesomeness of the Divine.
• Alex Chapper is minister of Ilford Federation Synagogue and the Children’s Rabbi. Visit www.childrensrabbi.com for more information
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
