Speculations about the Kosher laws: would our rabbis be more successful in
getting their message across if they exchanged their black frocks for white lab
coats?
13 Comments Posted
My oldest son was born prior to the standard testing of more than just PKU. Now days they test for at least five aminio acid dysfunctions. My child, normal at birth, by two years old had lost all speech and eye contact. The doctors tried to tell me that is was organic brain damage, but my child had good days and bad days. If one is organically missing an arm, they don't have it one day, and not the next. The doctors told me that my son should be intitutionalized or my marriage would surely be doomed. Within the month, I discovered a B vitamin, B15, that assisted my son, in that he had some amount of verbalization and eye contact within the week. The doctors refused to acknowledge such a miracle. My continued research revealed that my son had the amino acid dysfunction of homocysturia. By treatment of only diet and vitamins, my so called mentally reatarded, brain damaged and autistic son went from special education with aides to being in the eccelerated program by the 2nd grade
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To Gail Murphy:
I truly believe (of course) that this was Hashgacha Protis (divine providence) reading your post today. I would so appreciate your contacting me with any info regarding homocysturia (i have only been able to research homocysturnia). I believe that a young child has been suffering from this and has never been properly diagnosed. i can be contacted at emunah@bellsouth.net thank you so much for your time.
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This last part is a real stretch on a very thin connection. You can do better.
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Dear Rav Velvl Greene,
I'm afraid the science/religion issue is locked into the wrong arena. The essence of science is the spiritual effort of contemplation (Hitbonenut) that, at its best, is the effort called "B'Chol Levavcha....," that, if performed entirely and under the right conditions, would make the scientist's whole body into an instrument of creative vision and take him all the way into the PaRDeS.
As it is, the engine of science constitutes Eureka sparks of inspiration and sparks are restricted light - Klipa. In other words, science at its best, is locked into Tuma and the Mitzva of "B'Chol Levavcha" rationalized by vanity. In effect, it is totally neglected.
If you would like to explore this discussion as a function of effort rather than as polemical speculation from lower mind, I invite you to read my essay, "Science as Applied Kabbalah." I promise you that it will be an eye opener.
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Perhaps it might be helpful to take note that these molecules you speak of are full of energy inside their nucleus. Although man has been able to access it and release atomic energy it has not been able to ascertain how this energy when diffused on its own effects the environment. Perhaps this enegy still has many mysyerious aspects to man that will be released as we get closer to Maschiach or when in fact he comes. Thinking about this might enable one to consider that since atoms make up matter each and every animal might have some effect upon this energy or this energy might have some effect upon this particular species. Perhaps that can be considered as a reason why the souls of certain peoples must not eat them.
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When i was a child back in the 1950's i lived in Washington,DC my family was very poor we lived in the old southwest part some people where well off it was kind of mixed up i'am Baptist but i had a Jewish friend who lived on the corner of 4th. and M st. sw. i would go to the row house where he lived up stairs and his parents would give me a piece of hard flat bread which tasted good i always wondered what it was i think it was round thank you.
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The key difference between science and religion is that science relies on the ability to conduct repeatable experiments with measurable results.
Since its inception, science has given us both repeatable experiments and concrete results. Even if one does not wish to conduct experiments of one's own, the results of science are all around us, in tangible objects.
Even in the case of PKU and other silent diseases, science has given us diagnostic tests, studies of treatment methods, and clinical signs of these diseases. The mother of this child can observe the doctors at work and see if their methods are successful. The mother can learn about the science of the disease and even conduct an experiment upon her own child, by giving or denying treatment. This is the crux of the matter that demonstrates the truthfulness or falsehood of the science.
Addressing the topic of the article, there must be a repeatable experiment to demonstrate these spiritual molecules. If they exist, they must interact with us in some observable fashion, or how can they affect us at all? To make your idea scientific, you must meet the standards of science.
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The analogy between the letters of the alphabet and the structure of atoms is a true one, but bear in mind also that in the alphabet of China, for instance, the letters are radically different from those of the Hebrew alphabet. The existence of alphabets, at least in cultures with written languages, being universal, but letters of one alphabet expressing a culture (and cultural reality) that co-exists with other cultures.
An alphabet functions to give form to language, yet it also reflects, informs and helps construct a unique cultural reality, a reality that in turn developed those particular letters.
Letters act to form words, just as molecules act to form more tangible structures, but the letters can look different from one culture (reality) to another. Still letters, still language, but form and function intertwine as the outgrowth of a living process of culture. The perspective a unique one, with its own particular version of letters and language as a result.
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This article makes me think of quantum concept, which posits that there is more than one potential reality, with each reality being the construct of perspective.
Each version of reality is shaped by belief and perception. Seeing reality in this way could justify kashrut on some spiritual level (the level at which belief acts), even though it may not play out on the field of scientific rationale.
Thus, the acceptance and practice of kashrut comes out of a belief and faith. The reality of this belief and faith co-existing with the reality of others who are not Jewish and who freely eat traifa foods. So on that level, it may be that kashrut does have a scientific cachet, that of quantum speculation.
The question then becomes, how do we create our spiritual reality, or can it operate as a force beyond our individual beliefs? If kashrut is a part of spiritual reality for Jews, but not necessary for non-Jews, does this not suggest that spiritual reality is also unique?
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Can these two realities co-exist?
Can a scientist be religious?
I AM a scientist (a chemist actually!) and I consider myself spiritual (i am working on the religious part).
I find it interesting that in the scientific world, or in the world in general, there is such a strong need to EXPLAIN everything in a "rational" way. There must be some physiological explantation to Kashrut laws, right?
YET - in the scientific world - we model certain reactions. Everything is theory. It may be generally accepted (like that molecules are groups of atoms), but can't be totally proven.
Not only that - science is forever changing. High fat, low fat, high protein, high carb low carb diets etc...
The only thing that is constant - is the Torah.
We may try and find explanations for Kashrut laws, but they are what they are. In the time since they were given to us, no one has disputed them...there may be explanations or discussions or wonder but they are accepted as Law.
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At uni as a student I never understand the need of the system to explain every thing ,so we will be able to put things in patterns ..
I did not connect with that because the fact that as time gos by we see in the many fields of science ,that all theories are only part of the truth ,as if it is only one angle of the view . just by definding things and putting them in "hagdara" which means in a box to firm it ,we block all the other options .
to try and understand the world is not a bad thing ,it is to look for a meaning .once we recognize we are looking for meaning (god) ,we will be happier as a nation .all human beings attempts even more so of Jews ,is to explain nature by home made lows (science ) how can a wave know the ocean ? how we understand all god's ways ? we are only waves in the big ocean ....come and gos ...
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Something to think about. Not a physical thing- but a riddle of Kashrut. Why ruminants only? They eat, lay down, bring up the food and chew on it a while- like we are to do w the Torah! A hog looks kosher outwardly- but inwardly is not. A camel is kosher inwardly- but not outwardly. We are to be true to G-D inwardly- but it is to be reflected outwardly in living out HIS ways- the Torah. Nor are we to be scavengers or "birds of prey". We are to have a guide (fins) and have armor (scales)- He is our shield!! Just "food" for thought
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Like with PKU, the affect of eating unkosher food is initially undetectable. Pork is different from lamb in what itself consumes. When one eats something, he is also eating what his meal has consumed, this is a scientific "fact." Pigs eat everything that is put in front of them- including their young. Hence the name for people whose eating habits are similar). Their diet knows no bounds and so they pass trace amounts of filth to their consumer. This is molecularly undetectable. This goes along with the concept of spiritual consumption. The mind affects the body and the soul and vice-versa. And everything is affected by everything else, however small and seemingly not so. It is this subtlety that is undetectable to our ignorant eyes that governs why. Now that's not to sound presumptuous on G-d's part, but the logic is consistent, that what goes around, comes around.
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