We all know food is an essential element of Pesach. But why is it that as soon as Passover is done food is also prominent? Many crave a return to pizza or other foods traditionally off-limits during Pesach. At the smallest of Israeli pizza shops, i have heard the phone ring off the hook an hour or two after Pesach ends. (I have a special fondness for pizza with corn and green olives because of Pizza Sababa in Jerusalem).
The power of food both during and after Pesach illustrates that food is about much more than physical nutrition it also is about emotional nourishment.
That theme echoes in this week's Torah portion, Shemini, which contains detailed descriptions of the types of food that are fit or kosher and those that aren't. Only certain animals are eligible to be kosher. There are rules as to what makes an animal or a fish kosher. Fish, for example, must have both fins and scales.
But when it comes to birds -- the Torah does not describe general rules. Rather Torah specifically describes each specific bird – by name – that is disqualified.
One explanation for treating birds differently is that the disqualifying characteristics for most animals and fish are visible to us. One can readily tell, for instance, if a fish has fins and scales (at least if one actively fishes).
One explanation for treating birds differently is that the disqualifying characteristics for most animals and fish are visible to us. One can readily tell, for instance, if a fish has fins and scales (at least if one actively fishes).
But for birds it's different.
