In studying Torah, it is abundantly clear that every single word, every single phrase, and every single detail matters. I picked up on something in VaYikra 20:25 that I wanted to explore in somewhat greater detail.
The Torah states in this verse that "you shall distinguish between the animal that is clean and unclean and between the bird that is unclean and clean and do not render abominable your souls through such animals and birds and through anything that creeps on the ground that I have set apart for you to 'uncleanify.'"
The first detail that must matter here is that "clean" and "unclean" are switched when comparing animals and birds. "Clean" appears first in reference to animals and second in reference to birds; vice versa for "unclean."
Why?
The end of the verse may provide a hint. Again, the Torah bends logic in stating that while G-d has set some living creatures in our world to be clean and other living creatures in our world to be unclean, it is us who must eventually "uncleanify" them - a made-up word, of course, which means that our act of distinguishing them in fact objectively renders them unclean. It is our discernment, separation, and "holification" which, in a mind-bending way, creates the distinction in the first place. Wild stuff.
Things aren't always super clear. What's holy in one context may not be holy in another. (And I use the term "holy" loosely - in a way that I heard the Ramban describe as living by the spirit, as opposed to the letter, of the law, or making the Torah deeply personal and wanting to live up to its seemingly unfair but also realistic expectations.) We should not and cannot be given a complete instruction manual for life, that tells us how to make each and every decision - that would take away the free will, the fun (and meaningful) part.
There is a reason that we thank G-d every day for the power to "distinguish." Because distinction is actually incredibly hard, especially when we don't have crystal clear guidance on how to interpret some things (or really, most). And it is why the Torah has no hesitation whatsoever about reversing the order of "clean" and "unclean" and telling us that it is actually us who makes the distinction.
Comments
Post a Comment