{"id":51808,"date":"2019-11-15T16:15:12","date_gmt":"2019-11-15T22:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=51808"},"modified":"2019-11-15T16:15:12","modified_gmt":"2019-11-15T22:15:12","slug":"wait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/wait\/","title":{"rendered":"Wait"},"content":{"rendered":"

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER<\/p>\n

A critical element of keeping Kosher is the separation of meat and dairy products. Based on the verse \u201cYou shall not boil a kid in its mother\u2019s milk\u201d (Exodus 23:19, 34:26; Deuteronomy 14:21), we do not cook meat with milk, eat meat cooked with milk, or derive any benefit from such improperly mixed dishes.<\/p>\n

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Maimonides explains that the waiting period reflects concern that particles of meat may have become lodged in one\u2019s teeth; Rashi similarly states that meat leaves a residue in one\u2019s mouth: waiting before dairy prevents inadvertent, illicit mixing.<\/p>\n

The temporary restriction placed on our diet after meat can also be understood as a principled period of heightened consciousness, through which meat eaters are reminded of the moral gravity of taking an animal\u2019s life.<\/p>\n

We elevate eating to a holy act\u2026 and we acknowledge the value of all living things…
\n…by watching our wait.<\/p>\n

(Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the rabbi of Temple Emanuel of North Jersey and the National Chaplain of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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