My Husband Seeks Logic Behind Kosher Food

Hello honored Rabbi, I've been looking for some time for a logical explanation to give my husband about eating kosher food. I always go with the spiritual explanation of instilling the animal's energy into the body. However, where can I find an article with additional explanations? Thank you.

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Hello and blessings,

All the respect for your positive desire to benefit your husband. However, fulfilling the commandments stems from the prior belief in Hashem and His Torah from the heavens. For someone who lacks this knowledge, the reason for the commandments won't help, as they will always think they're wiser and can achieve perfection without the reason.

Kashrut indeed touches on a spiritual matter that affects the traits of the soul, which cannot be explained, but there is also a material and psychological dimension.

Let's start with insects and bugs:

In nature, we see that insects and bugs are at the bottom of the food chain, and are food for the more primitive creatures. Thus, a person who eats bugs prepares in their soul an animalistic, lowly mindset, as they know these creatures dwell in filth, crevices, and cracks (even crabs are a kind of creature that eats carrion and "cleans" the beaches of dirt and decay). Therefore, a person who eats bugs feels more connected to their earthliness and corporeality and will be less connected to spiritual matters. Also, dirt is not healthy for the body, as these creatures bring viruses and bacteria found in decay. Furthermore, small insects are not quickly killed and have a degree of cruelty in their killing (like insects and crabs that are roasted alive).

Regarding forbidden fish:

We can see that the Torah permits only the most primitive fish, which are not advanced. The Torah forbids most sea animals, such as dolphins, sharks, and whales, which are sophisticated in their spatial awareness. Among sea creatures, the Torah also forbids eating seals and octopuses. Eating developed sea creatures has a degree of cruelty because complex animals feel more about their condition than unintelligent fish.

(Photo: Nati Shohat / Flash 90)

Regarding forbidden birds:

We can observe that the birds the Torah forbids are mostly predatory and untamed birds. Eating them is akin to entering the warlike circle of nature, similar to eating fish, and it ingrains a cruel nature by eating intelligent creatures.

Regarding mammals:

The Torah forbids eating most mammals. Even here, we can find that the mammals permitted by the Torah are the less intelligent and more naive in their intellect: cows, goats, and sheep. These creatures can graze their entire lives in one field and do not live developed social lives. In contrast, the Torah forbids eating dogs and cats, as well as monkeys, horses, and pigs (the pig is known to be the fourth most intelligent animal in the world).

Here too, we find that the Torah permits less sophisticated animals and forbids most relatively intelligent animals. Eating intelligent animals has a cruelty aspect, and it also involves humans in the natural cycle.

The pig is particularly bad because its meat is fatty, and it habituates humans to excess desire and materialism, while also harming their health. The highest rates of disease and heart conditions in the world are in the United States, where pork is a dietary staple.

The Torah forbids eating most animals in our world, thereby preventing humanity from cruelty and preserving the ecological balance of animals in nature. As is known, humanity can wipe out any animal and even the predators at the top of the food chain. Therefore, it is appropriate that humanity limits itself to eating selected animals and that these animals are inferior in their intellect but not contemptible in their materiality like bugs and insects.

Rabbi Zamir Cohen on Kosher Food and Its Influence on the Soul:

However, I suggest that your husband first explores the main topic: the foundations of faith, the existence of the Creator, and the truth of the Torah. For this, I recommend printing for him the booklet "Critical Conversation," which addresses all questions of faith. To read the booklet, search on Google for "Critical Conversation."

Good luck!

Blessings,

Daniel Bels