Rabbi Shimon said: the general rule is that just
as there are ten crowns [i.e. sefirot] of faith Above [in Holiness], so are
there ten crowns of unclean sorcery [of the Other Side] below.
All things on earth are connected either to one side [and are permissible to
be eaten] or to the other [the impure animals and birds that are
prohibited to be consumed].
You may ask about the goat [which is permissible to be eaten], in which an unclean spirit [whose source is kelipat Noga, containing both good and bad]
dwells. This is not so, for if an unclean spirit dwelt in it, we would not have
been permitted to eat it. They [the unclean spirits] pass through animals and appear before them
[but do not dwell within them]. They do not dwell in them, for when
they come to dwell in them another pure spirit passes by and [the impure
spirits] depart from the animals. They manifest inside them in order to
prosecute from within them, but they do not take possession of them. Therefore,
such an animal is allowed to us as food [for it is considered as the good of
the kelipat Noga].
Come and see: when they [the
impure spirits] come to take possession of them [the goats], another
spirit [from the side of good] passes. The unclean spirits raise their
eyes to see the other spirit's identifying-marks and they depart from the
animals - yet they are still in front of them. They [i.e. goats] are not forbidden to us for
food.
In cattle, living creatures, birds and fish,
signs of right [mercy] or left [judgment] are seen. We may eat whichever
comes from the right, but we may not eat whichever comes from the left because
all of them are in the level of uncleanness and all of them are unclean. An
unclean spirit dwells in them. Therefore, the Divine Spirit of Israel must
neither be mixed up with them nor be defiled by them, in order that Israel may
remain holy and be recognized as such Above and below. Worthy is the portion of
Israel, in that G-d desires to purify them and sanctify them above all others,
for they cling to Him.
He who is made in the image of the King should not depart from His ways.
Come and see: it is written, "Israel,
in whom I will be glorified." (Isaiah 49:3) If G-d is glorified by Israel,
how can they defile themselves and cling to the side of uncleanness? Therefore,
it is written: "you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be
holy: for I am holy," (Lev. 11:44) and, "you shall not make your souls
abominable." (Lev. 20:25) He who is made in the image of the King [of
Elokim] should not depart from His ways. Therefore, G-d records for Israel all those [animals]
which come from the side [of holiness, which may be eaten] and those which come from the
Other Side [which are prohibited to be eaten]. Happy is the portion of Israel, of whom it is written: "All that
see them shall recognize them, that they are the seed which G-d has
blessed." (Isaiah 61:9) Indeed, " G-d has blessed" - He has blessed
in every respect [in all our actions].
BeRahamim LeHayyim: What does the above mean to you, and why is it
revealed to you now?
This is the secret of Kosher eating. It does not depend on the physical
only, like food safety in avoiding pig [i.e. trichinosis], or avoiding
shellfish [due to the danger of intestinal disease]. Or treif meat.
It depends on the spiritual source of the food, which
we learn is that of Other Side. This requires a "leap of faith" to a
suprarational source. A Hok LeYisrael/irrational statute for Israel.
When one eats from the Other Side, one connectes oneself to that portion.
When one eats from the side of Holiness, one connectes oneself to that portion.
May we do what we can to bring upon ourselves more light in one's own special
path pursuant to the voice of Hashem that is whispering in each ear.
[Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries]
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