Originally Posted by potlimit:
Hey Rabs,
Long time no talk (or type, whatever)! Told my roommate about this thread, and he wanted to know if I could post a question for him:
Aside from any debatable health issues, what is the philosophical basis for the laws of Kashrut?
Thanks in advance,
Mase
Hey, great to see you back!
:-)
Good question.
Firstly, the basis for the laws of Kashrut are neither based on health issues nor philisophical premises.
The laws of Kashrut are an explicit command from G-d in the Torah (5 Books of Moses), most of which have no specific logical reason, according to simple human intellect.
Example: Why when kosher meat and kosher milk come together they make something NOT-kosher? By themselves they are fine, but together completely prohibitted to benefit from, not just eat - EVEN to feed to a dog or use for shampoo - a milk-meat combo is prohibitted for a Jewish person. So for no health reason, nor can philosophy explain it.
It is simply a command from G-d, as to how a Jew is supposed to conduct him/herself when interfacing with the world, to refine it - in this case through astentia from non-kosher, and partaking in kosher.
Good stuff. Keep 'em coming!
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