Re’eh: The Sacred Barbecue
The Barbecue
Its a lazy summer afternoon. Warm sunshine bathes the yard, birds perch atop the trees and a gentle breeze caresses its limbs. Sounds of playing children and chatting adults waft up through the yard and, on the patio, an aroma of sizzling steak rises from the barbecue.
This is a typical scene that you have probably experienced more than once. We enjoy the camaraderie and relaxed atmosphere and anticipate a delicious picnic. Your body has certainly enjoyed the experience, but what of your soul? Did she enjoy it too?
We aren’t hedonistic, we are responsible members of society and we contribute to the best of our abilities, but every so often we like to relax and enjoy our little pleasures. We read and chat, relax and play, eat and drink. How does our soul feel at such times? Could sitting back to take in a ballgame or digging into a barbecued stake be labeled divine service?
The Animal Serves
When G-d will broaden your boundary and you will say my soul desires to eat meat, eat as much as meat as your soul desires. (1) Have you ever head of a soulful desire for meat? We are familiar with soulful desires for prayer and altruism, we are familiar with soulful yearnings for G-d and devotion, but a soulful desire for meat? What does the soul need with a cow’s meat?
Everything G-d created, he created for his glory. (2) This means that every physical object could and should be used to serve and to glorify its creator. As humans, it is our purpose to seek creative ways to utilize everything in our path for G-d’s purpose.
Every physical object contains a spark of divinity that vivifies and animates it. The spark within the human body is relatively free to express itself. Every time we pray, study or fulfill one of the commandments we are cognizant of our divine spark.
The spark within an animal is not so fortunate. It is constrained within a body that cannot give expression to its divine purpose. It is an animal; incapable of cognitive thought, intelligent expression or freedom of choice. The only way an animal’s divine spark could fulfill its purpose and be used in G-d’s service is through the assistance of a human.
When we consume the animal’s meat, digest it and derive nourishment from it, the animal is elevated to the human realm and its spark is transferred to us. It can now be utilized in G-d’s service.
We now have the option of using the energy we derived from this nourishment to perform a noble deed or to engage in devout prayer. In so doing we afford the animal’s divine spark an opportunity to contribute to G-d’s glory. From its inception, this calf awaited its opportunity. Now that it has finally arrived we have both the responsibility and sacred obligation to initiate it into the service of G-d.
The next time you attend a backyard barbecue and see the meat sizzling on the grill know that your soul is salivating as well.
Your glans salivate because you anticipate the tender, barbecue flavored, meat. Your soul salivates because it can’t wait to liberate the divine spark embedded within that meat.
The Wellspring
Liberating the spark benefits not only the animal but also ourselves. In its state of imprisonment, embedded, as it were, within a course and bullheaded animal, the spark continually yearns for G-d. This insistent and unceasing yearning builds up a wellspring of pent up energy and sacred desire. As we liberate the spark, we open its floodgates; release its pent up, incredibly sacred, energy and channel it into ourselves.
When we approach the barbecue with intention to free the divine spark and usher it in to the service of the divine, we benefit from the energy of the spark. But, when we approach the barbecue for the sole purpose of indulging our hedonistic desires, we deny ourselves this wellspring of spiritual energy.
Blood Equals Passion
This is why the Torah prohibits drinking the animal’s blood. “Only be strong and do not consume the blood for the blood is the soul (life force). (3)
Blood represents passion and excitement; it carries the force of life. When our passion for meat is sacred and related to G-d, eating meat becomes a sacred act in the service of the divine. When we drink in the animal’s proverbial blood, meaning when our passion for the steak lies in the meat itself rather than its inherent sanctity, we are in transgression of G-d’s holy will.
When we consume the animal’s meat for the purpose of liberating its divine spark we control not only our own fate, but that of the animal as well. When we allow the animal’s meat to hold sway over our passions and excitement we cede control to the animal.
Rather than incorporating the animal within ourselves and raising it to the human realm, we are, ourselves, lowered to the animal’s level as we adopt course, animal-like, characteristics. In this state, we are unable to liberate the spark. It remains, forever, in captivity. (4)
This is why the Torah concludes, “You shall not consume its (the animal’s) soul along with the meat.” (3) The divine spark contained within the animal is its soul. If we succumb to the animal’s proverbial blood, if we allow our passions to be overtaken by our interest in the meat rather than its soul, we will have consumed, read destroyed, the animal’s soul along with its meat.
Such consumption is hedonistic and wasteful. Such consumption cannot be labeled divine. We are capable of better. We know how to bring our soul along with us to the barbecue. When we do that, we come away strengthened. Fortified by a new divine spark. (5)
Footnotes
- Deuteronomy 12: 20.
- Ethics of Our Fathers 6: 11.
- Deuteronomy 12: 23.
- Of course it is possible to liberate the spark
retroactively through proper repentance. See Tanya (R. Schneur Zalman of
Liadi, founder of Chassidus Chabad, 1745 – 1812), ch. 7.
- This essay is based in part on Toras Moshe (R.
Moshe Sofer, Pressburg 1762-1838) on Deuteronomy 12: 20. See Toras Moshe
(R. Moshe Alshich, Tzefat, 1508-1600) ibid for an alternate
explanation.
Tags: body, dedication, God, soul
