Rabbi Konigsburg's Blog

More than thirteen years ago, I used to make the argument about why eating meat made a lot of sense. Not only are our teeth sharp enough to chew meat and that our stomachs have enzymes to break down that meat, but meat smells and tastes really good. I can recall the aromatic smells of barbequing meat at state fairs, and how pleasing I found that smell. The meat wasn’t kosher, mind you, but the smell was quite satisfying. Since our bodies seem to be built to appreciate and digest meat, I reasoned, it therefore follows that we ought to eat it. This reasoning served me well, until my vegetarian soon to be brother-in-law pointed out to me that just because you CAN do something, like eat meat, doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Shortly thereafter, I became a vegetarian/pescatarian, and derive a great sense of meaning from transcending my natural cravings and tendencies. While I recognize that vegetarianism is not for everyone, this idea that people are able to overcome their nature is a hallmark of our humanity. Surely, we are intrinsically connected to the natural world, but as humans we also have the ability to be more than our instincts and desires.

In Parshat M’tzorah, we encounter more laws concerning ritual purity. From skin diseases to bodily discharges, this portion explores the minutia of how to diagnose and rehabilitate those who contracted this ritual impurity. For many modern readers, the details of these ritual laws are alien and irrelevant. Yet, while ritual impurity isn’t for everyone, this religious idea that humans can transcend and stand apart from nature has some inherent meaning. Perhaps for a twenty-first century reader, these laws can serve as a reminder that we desire to be more than just our physical and natural experiences. Maybe this parsha teaches us that we ought to be more aware of how humans can work to control their instincts and behaviors. Maybe it’s a reminder that humans CAN do a lot of things, but maybe SHOULDN’T do some of them. 

Judaism provides many opportunities to practice self-control and conquer our baser instincts. From dietary laws that remind us to be more conscious of what we eat to rules of Shabbat that invite us to pause from our materialism, there are many ways for us to exert dominance over our nature. In addition to my vegetarian lifestyle, these Jewish laws remind me that I can be more than my biological inheritance. And if you and I can conquer our natural instincts, then perhaps we will be one step closer to a more perfect future, where we can live more intentional, more meaningful, and more human lives. 

Shabbat Shalom