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Judaism

So why isn't our meat good enough, rabbi?

Why some rabbis personally observe stricter standards than they ask of their communities

December 3, 2009 10:22
\"Ill-conceived stringency could result in price increases\"

By

Rabbi Harvey Belovski,

Rabbi Harvey Belovski

3 min read

A rabbi goes to heaven and is invited to sit at a banquet attended by Moses himself. He makes a discreet enquiry and discovers that the food is under Divine supervision. The rabbi whispers in a waiter’s ear, “I’ll take the fish!”

Many people are puzzled by the suggestion that a rabbi might endorse some area of religious life but be reluctant to partake in it himself. For example, it troubles people that some rabbis won’t eat from certain kosher butchers; others still won’t carry on Shabbat inside an eruv. One hears the obvious concerns about inconsistency expressed in blunt terms: “Is it kosher or not? If it’s kosher why won’t you eat it, and if it’s not kosher, why should I?”

It is not possible to make sense of this phenomenon without examining some of the underlying principles of halachah. Jewish law is fascinating and complex. Even the word “halachah” (literally, a way to go) indicates a process rather than a ruling. It is a complete system that regulates every area of life, from the mundane to the most profound.

Halachah cares not only how we act, but also how we think and feel about ourselves, other human beings, the world itself, and, of course, God. As such, it is all-encompassing in its scope and the opportunity that it gives us to maximise every instant, imbuing it with meaning and purpose. From cradle to grave, boardroom to bedroom, halachah is ever-present, allowing every moment to be experienced through the lens of the Divine.