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Chabad.org » Parshah » Bereishit - Genesis » Vayeira » Rashi Studies (Advanced) » Milk and Meat Together?


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Rashi Studies (Advanced)
Milk and Meat Together?



He took cream and milk and the calves that he had prepared, and he placed [them] in front of [the angels], and he was standing over them under the tree, and they ate.

-- Breshis 18:8

Classic Questions

How could Avraham serve milk and meat together? (v. 8)

Da'as Zekeinim: Rashi writes that Avraham served them "bit by bit, as each item was prepared" (v. 8). Thus, he did not serve them meat and milk together, which is forbidden, but rather milk, and then afterwards meat ("cream and milk, and the calves"), which is permissible.

The Rebbe's Teachings

Milk & Meat (v. 8)

In addition to the argument of Da'as Zekeinim that the cream and calves were served separately, thus circumventing the prohibition of eating milk and meat, one could also argue that he offered each of the angels either milk or meat. Thus, "three calves' tongues with mustard" were prepared (Rashi, v. 7) to give each of the guests the option of eating meat. This was done in order to fulfill the mitzvah of welcoming guests in the best possible fashion. No guest, however, was served milk and meat.

(Based on Likutei Sichos vol. 6, p. 150)


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Adapted by Chaim Miller; From the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory; adapted by Chaim Miller.
An excerpt from the Gutnick Chumash published by Kol Menachem, New York.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Nov 10, 2009
Another Level of the Mitzvah
The Jewish people are a vessel of Divine Truth, by faith carrying the natural mitzvot through time so that higher levels and deeper meanings may be preserved. Milk/meat is far reaching mitzvah!
Milk on higher level: "the milk of Torah”.
Milk is for a baby. On the spiritual level-a new disciple, his yetzer hara not disciplined nor is skillful in Halachah. In need of mercy, love with every step and stumble. An adult on the higher level would correspond to a teacher of Torah, who by knowledge, discipline, and experience judges evil and restrains himself from it. Milk-attribute of Mercy, and Chesed. Meat-attribute of Justice, Gevurah, and Halachah. Milk is to nourish the baby; not kill it! Two meals on Shavuot: FIRST dairy meal, THEN meat meal. Without crucial separation and order of Torah milk and meat, a newborn inevitably is killed by what is to give life. The Jewish people-vehicle of faith displaying Divine principles making it insignificant for the angels to follow protocol.
Posted By Anonymous, Palm Springs, California



 


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