Surprising? How Non-Kosher Food Affects the Jewish Soul

Spiritually, non-kosher food is very harmful to the soul of the Jew who inherently believes in Hashem. Non-kosher food causes a blockage of the heart and, as a result, a flaw in the faith rooted in the soul in Hashem's existence. Of course, there are additional reasons for disbelief in Hashem other than eating non-kosher food, but here I will discuss only the issue of the impact of non-kosher food on the soul of the Jew.

Hashem created the world and nature; therefore, He knows what is good to eat and what is not. From a spiritual perspective, it is now evident that the combination of meat and milk is harmful in several ways, and also the consumption of pork, which is perceived in Judaism as a forbidden food despite lacking major differences from other impure animals, is found to contain components that cause a type of cancer. It is a fact that more and more non-Jews consume kosher food even though they are not observant and not Jewish at all. The truth is that the real reason for keeping kosher lies not in the simple level but in the secret level, on the spiritual level. Spiritually, the soul of the Jew is constructed in such a way that when it comes into contact with the spiritual structures of animals forbidden for consumption, they cause significant spiritual harm!!! This harm cannot be felt on a physical level, but it causes some blockage concerning faith in Hashem and even in understanding the study of holy Torah.

Hashem knows exactly what is in every food and its contribution to the body. There are foods that are permitted in themselves, but excessive consumption of them is not advisable, such as liver, and there are foods that only Chassidim will refrain from eating, like brain and heart where the stronger nature of the animal is found more than in its other parts. Additional influence will be more significant in the parts where the more important elements of the animal are found, for example:

The brain - which is the cognitive part.

The heart - which keeps the body alive.

The liver - which filters the blood.

It is worth noting that many are careful not to eat the liver, heart, and brain of pure animals due to spiritual harm.

What do our sages say about the Torah prohibition to eat non-kosher animals? The Rambam believed that all the impure animals forbidden by the Torah, their diet is bad and affects a person negatively in terms of health (Guide for the Perplexed, Part 2, Chapter 47). This was also the opinion of the Abarbanel (Sefer HaChinuch, Mitzvah 73). On the other hand, Rabbi Isaac Arama believed that eating animals forbidden by the Torah adversely affects the psyche: "They obstruct the intellectual power, produce misconceptions and cravings for strange and animalistic desires" (Akedat Yitzchak, Vayikra, Parashat Shmini, Gate 64, Page 33b, 38b).

The Ramban combined both approaches, holding that both health-wise and psychologically there is a negative impact on a person who eats the meat of animals forbidden by the Torah (Ramban, Vayikra 11:13).

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov writes in his book 'Likutey Moharan' about eating non-kosher food:

"...when the altar is as it should be, that is when the eating is as kosher as it should be, then the klipot, which are foolishness, surrender, because he does not give them strength and life, only just enough for his essential living; this is what he must give them, as is known, but does not give them any power and life more than their existence requires. Therefore, by eating kosher, foolishness is subdued, and wisdom is elevated..." (Likutey Moharan, Torah 17, 3).

And of course, we deduce from this that if we act against this, heaven forbid, and eat non-kosher food, foolishness will overpower wisdom. And who would want that?

There were those among our sages who argued environmentally-related points, for example: the prohibition of eating wild animals and the restriction to domestic animals raised by man causes various species not to become extinct (an interesting perspective).

Eating Blood

Consuming blood exposes a person to the risk of infection and poisoning. Meticulous adherence to the rules of halacha, such as inspecting the veins and lungs, ensuring the cleanliness of poultry, salting, and rinsing in water before and after salting - all are important for maintaining proper health. These are steps that veterinarians do not strictly follow.

Insects and Creeping Creatures

Y. Roth, a food technologist at the regional food service bureau in the Be'er Sheva health office, published an extensive article in the journal 'Public Health,' detailing the many diseases caused by insects found in food, whether through contact, inhalation, or ingestion. He lists no less than 9 types of diseases caused by insects, their wings, secretions, sheds (old skin shed by the insect as it grows), insect eggs, silk, hair, and other body parts.

The concern for kosher food is also linked to maintaining bodily health!!

The Jew is cautious about the prohibition of eating insects not for health reasons, but because the Creator commanded it. Now, an additional aspect of the advantages of keeping kosher has been revealed - the health aspect associated with it! It is stated in the Zohar: He looked at the Torah and created the world (Hashem looked at the Torah and created the world). Creation is made according to the blueprint of the Torah, and whoever is careful to observe the Torah commandments is saved from many bad things.

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