A Kosher Mind
by Sis YahChannah

We met a man in our area that laughed us to scorn when we began discussing with him the concept of ‘kosher’ or we will say ‘biblically clean’ for those who do not care about the blessing of the Rabbi.

The man bellowed out in rage, “That is so stupid! Boy, have you been lied to. You can’t kosher nothin’ but beef!”

Just as did this neighbor, there are some who will see no sense in the message that follows. Their ears may only be open to the spouter of lies who says all these things were ‘nailed to the cross’.

But we continue for those whose ears are opened tonight so they may hear and understand the beauty of the teaching our Father has given us, that we may serve Him. “The word "kosher' is one of Judaism's contributions to an international vocabulary. People of other cultures and languages use the term in its original meaning-denoting that which is proper and meets accepted rules and standards.

In Judaism, the term "kosher" is not used exclusively for ritually edible food. We refer to the Torah scrolls as kosher to mean that they meet all halachic (Jewish legal) requirements. The expression can even be applied to people. Acceptable witnesses are called edim k'sherim; adam kasher is an upright, proper, observant Torah Jew.

Of course, most often food comes to mind when we hear ‘kosher’. However, food is not the only commodity that is spoken to in the Scriptures.

Food may be designated non-kosher for a variety of reasons. Reasons include the species involved (for example; the pig) the manner in which the food was processed (such as an animal improperly slaughtered or fed improper food or a diseased animal) Certain foods are rendered un-kosher such as: (leavened product not properly disposed of prior to Passover or food cooked on the Sabbath). Many a Torah keeper has been asked by a skeptic at one time or another: "Do you really think the Almighty cares what we eat?" What the person is actually asking is; "Do you really think the Father cares?" Philosophers have argued that the great Creator is only concerned with universal ideas, not with particulars-not even human beings.

The only difference in ‘biblically clean’ and kosher is the fact that the person who is not looking for the mark of the Rabbi, reads what is said in the Scriptures and applies what he has read to his life.

Although we like to know the ‘why’ of all we are told to do, we cannot say that the rules of kosher were given for health and nutritional reasons alone. Though, these reasons are also important and often we can see where they fit in, using rules of health or nutrition alone, as our guide will often lead us astray. We have all heard the arguments, ‘they had no refrigeration’, they did not have ways to properly clean their dishes’ and ‘they did not have the fine testing facilities we now have.’

It does make sense, though, to argue that, as our Creator, YHWH knows what we require to conduct our lives as dedicated and spiritually-oriented servants. The rules of kosher make up quite a number of the 613 laws.

However, modern medicine does find many reasons to support a kosher diet. We find each day that mankind may not have known the reasons for the laws of kosher at the time they were given but surely our Creator did know. From lead and mercury in the fish, to mad cow disease, to pigs being biologically altered with human genes and tomatoes receiving pig genes to make them more marketable.

We no longer have a community where there is a local shochet (ritual slaughterer) or a cheese factory, or bakers making kosher bread. We must now be responsible ourselves as to whether our food is acceptable before the Almighty or if it has been rendered treif (unclean) by those making it available to us.

We also must consider other items beside foods. For this reason, Torah observant men and women must become more knowledgeable about the important mitzvah of shatnes. The word shatnes is an abbreviation of three words: Shu, Tvui, Nuz and which describe three different stages in the processing of the wool and linen fibers.

Once again, we have the directives of the Rabbis but they are backing up the directives and prohibitions give us in Scripture.

We find right in the mix of statutes given for proper behavior, the following:

Lev 19:19 “Keep my decrees. ‘Do not mate different kinds of animals. 'Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. "'Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.

The most fitting translation says, “..a garment mingled of linen and woolen shall not be worn by you.”

Kosher garments, kosher fields, kosher animals? Why? Whatever reason could there be for this?

We are also told that there are proper garments which are to be worn.

Num 15:38 Speak to the children of Israel, and bid them to make themselves fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

Why once again?

Num 15:39-40 You will have these tassels (fringes) to look at and so you will remember all the commands of YHWH, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes.

40 Then you will remember to obey all My commands and will be consecrated to your Elohim.

We also read:

Lev 19:27 You shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard.

While everyone has a different explanation for this verse, we must all admit it has importance, especially when it refers in the same place about not making cuttings or tattoos, not prostituting your daughter. We also find there the admonitions to keep the Sabbath and respect His Sanctuary.

In Jeremiah’s prophecy against Moab we find:

Jer 48:37 For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.

These are pointed out to be unacceptable to YHWH for His sons.

So what we have is: kosher (biblically clean) food. No shooting or strangling, or electrocuting of animals. No animal to be for food that was killed by blunt trauma. No animals classed as unclean by the Father. No gene-spliced foods (though the tomato looks beautiful).

No clothing of mixed fiber. No 90% cotton with 10% polyester. No linen/ cotton or wool/poly blends.

The ribband of blue, the fringes, the pure fiber, no mingled animals, no mingled seed.

The rulings concerning making bald our heads, the marring of the beard, the tattoos, the cutting of the flesh for the dead...

Although these things may appear to have no connection to one another. Perhaps they seem just thrown together to you, but they all refer to the same subject.

The Kosher Mind...

The kosher mind does not eat and digest those things which lead him away from his Father and his Father’s Torah. This mind knows that to dwell on the forbidden things is to lead yourself away into sin. The man with the kosher mind does not have to know all the reasons before he submits to the Law of his Father. When he sees that he is to behave a certain way, he immediately begins to set things right.

The kosher mind reads that he is not to wear mixed clothing. He begins looking at the labels in his shirts, his t-shirts, even his jockeys. No matter that it is his favorite shirt, it will never go on his back again.

The fringes, the ribband of blue... the man with the kosher mind says.. Let me understand and do. If this will help me remember and obey. The fringes and the blue ribband are added.

Kosher minds also seek to find how to obey, not how can I get out of this. Unkosher thinkers work along the following lines: I like my hair the way it is, thank you, and I am surely not going to have a shaggy old beard, even if it was a sign of shame to have your beard chopped off.

And if you think for one minute that I am going to let the hair at my sideburns grow, you are crazy.

The kosher mind remembers how the Father wants His people to be set-apart, to be different. He also calls to mind that we cannot be faithful to but one master at a time. That calls for choice, one or the other.

We are not to have divided loyalties or we have no loyalty at all.

The kosher mind realizes that we must choose to be different, to be bound to YHWH... a kosher mind does not ‘just happen’

Josh 24:15-16 And if it seem evil to you to serve YHWH, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.

16 And the people answered and said, G-d forbid that we should forsake YHWH, to serve other gods

IKing 18:21 And Eliyah came to all the people, and said, How long will you waiver between two opinions? if YHWH be Elohim, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

II Ki 17:41 So these nations feared YHWH, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.

Ezek 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, this is what YHWH Elohim says; Go, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not pay attention to me: but you shall pollute My Holy Name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

He has set us apart to Him. He wants us to be different. He wants us to be clean in all our ways. There is an ideal, we are to seek that ideal with all our hearts.

Lev 19:2 Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I YHWH your Elohim am holy. Matthew reported YahuShua saying Be perfect even as your Father in the heavens is perfect.

Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is focused on You: because he trusts in You.

Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Your sight, O YHWH, my strength, and my redeemer.

Let us learn to be kosher (biblically clean) in all things that we may not only focus on Him and His ways but that each day we will be reminded to seek the ideal, perfection, wholeness and completeness, in Him.