Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Fascinating thought on kashrut laws
Message: 17
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 20:26:35 -0500
From: "Marty Barrack"
Subject: RE: distinction but not separation
Hi Richard and Sarah,
As I understand, Maimonides said that God instituted the laws of kashrut
because the Israelites built and worshiped the golden calf, showing that
the Egyptian gods were still very much with them. Under kashrut, the
Israelites were to kill and eat the animals that the Egyptians had
worshiped. The Israelites were forbidden to eat animals that the Egyptians
killed and ate, so that they were forced to kill and eat what the
Egyptians had worshiped. Obviously, one cannot easily worship what one
kills and eats.
As I understand, Christ terminated the kashrut laws (Mark 7:14) because by
that time the people Israel, while they had picked up many other
idolatries, were completely purged of the Egyptian gods, and so there was
no further need for kashrut.
So, in my understanding, the laws of kashrut were in reality enforcement
of God's First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This
is part of our understanding that Rabbi Yeshua did not change Torah.
Terminating the kosher laws was not changing the Torah because the kosher
laws all along were intended as a subset of the First Commandment.
Your thoughts? Also, if you know where in Maimonides this comes from, I'd
appreciate a citation.
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!
Baruch haba baShem Adonai, <><
Marty
Apostolate: http://secondexodus.com
Association of Hebrew Catholics: http://hebrewcatholic.org/
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 20:26:35 -0500
From: "Marty Barrack"
Subject: RE: distinction but not separation
Hi Richard and Sarah,
As I understand, Maimonides said that God instituted the laws of kashrut
because the Israelites built and worshiped the golden calf, showing that
the Egyptian gods were still very much with them. Under kashrut, the
Israelites were to kill and eat the animals that the Egyptians had
worshiped. The Israelites were forbidden to eat animals that the Egyptians
killed and ate, so that they were forced to kill and eat what the
Egyptians had worshiped. Obviously, one cannot easily worship what one
kills and eats.
As I understand, Christ terminated the kashrut laws (Mark 7:14) because by
that time the people Israel, while they had picked up many other
idolatries, were completely purged of the Egyptian gods, and so there was
no further need for kashrut.
So, in my understanding, the laws of kashrut were in reality enforcement
of God's First Commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me." This
is part of our understanding that Rabbi Yeshua did not change Torah.
Terminating the kosher laws was not changing the Torah because the kosher
laws all along were intended as a subset of the First Commandment.
Your thoughts? Also, if you know where in Maimonides this comes from, I'd
appreciate a citation.
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!
Baruch haba baShem Adonai, <><
Marty
Apostolate: http://secondexodus.com
Association of Hebrew Catholics: http://hebrewcatholic.org/
