(Insights from this week's Portion: Shemini)
While there are many animals that the Torah prohibits us from welcoming into our kitchens and stomachs, one has risen to the top of the non- kosher "food chain": the pig! The grubby, pudgy, porky pig! But why the inordinate pig prejudice? Shouldn't the pig – which at least has one of the two signs required for being Kosher – be regarded in higher esteem than its counterparts that can boast neither of the signs, like a snake?
One answer lies in an examination of exactly which symbol is the distinguishing sign of the swine. For an animal to be kosher, it must a) have split hooves: an external emblem, clearly visible to the outside onlooker and b) chew its cud: an internal insignia, not visible to the outside onlooker. Of all the animals that are not kosher, most possess neither feature; a few possess the cud-chewing feature alone (i.e. without the split hooves); and only the pig possesses the split hoof feature alone (i.e. without the cud-chewing).
So while the pig is no more "traif" ("non-kosher") than any of its non- kosher counterparts, it is the one "traif" animal that appears kosher from the outside. It is as though the pig deceptively represents itself as being kosher, dangling its visible validity before our eyes while covertly concealing its "dark side." Moreover, the very Hebrew word for pig is "chazer", which also means "return", compounding the deception as if to say that the pig additionally returns its food (i.e. chews its cud) and has the inner kosher sign as well.
Our sages tell us that the current exile of the Jewish people is symbolized by the pig: that ever since the era of the Roman Empire, the Jews have been enamored by cultures, movements, systems, and civilizations that seem kosher on the outside but possess an inner dark side not readily discernible. >From the charm of "enlightened" Europe to the allure of "progressive" communism to the glamour of "culturally refined" Germany, the Jews have been repeatedly captivated – and subsequently disillusioned/demolished – by the outward legitimacy of these cultures.
Indeed, the systems that have posed the greatest threats to our people have been those that seem "kosher on the outside". Movements such as these – as well as people, politicians, and products competing for our allegiance – also exist today in full force, constantly challenging us to resist their alluring charm. May we all develop the finesse to ensure that our open-minded optimism be balanced by the level-headed skepticism required to guarantee our healthy survival!
Have a Wonderful Shabbos! Love, Jon & The Chevra