Israel Forever

Become a Supporter Library Library
In the tochacha warning of the curses which will befall the Jewish People which dominates this week's Torah reading, we read this among the Heavenly punishments they will suffer for abandoning their observance of the Torah:

"Accursed will be… the offspring of your cattle." (Devarim 28:18)

Perhaps we can see a fulfillment of this dire prediction in the current international campaign to ban shechitah or at least discourage it. Not only has New Zealand joined some Scandinavian countries in banning halachic shechitah altogether, but now the European Parliament has joined this anti-Semitic bandwagon by proposing that all kosher meat must be labeled as coming from animals that have been slaughtered without stunning. Since a large percent of each animal slaughtered according to halacha ends up being used by the non-kosher market, this will have a very negative impact on the kosher food industry.

Is this another message from Heaven that we must, as a nation, pay more attention to our observance of kashrut laws? After all, the Torah elsewhere (Vayikra 11:45) reminds us that G-d freed us from Egyptian bondage on the condition that we sanctify ourselves through observance of kashrut laws. Only the holiness of our people can truly secure Israel forever.

© 1995-2024 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or electronic. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission in advance at ohr@ohr.edu and credit for the source as Ohr Somayach Institutions www.ohr.edu

« Back to Israel Forever

Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.