Beloved Friends,
This week, as we gather for the peace of Shabbat, we turn our hearts and minds to Parashat Sh’mini, my Bar Mitzvah Torah portion, where we’re introduced to the sacred guidelines of kashrut — the dietary laws that ask us to discern between what is tahor (pure) and what is tamei (impure). At first glance, these laws might seem to concern only what goes into our mouths. But in truth, they open the door to a deeper, more expansive teaching: what we allow into ourselves shapes what flows outward.
The Torah reminds us,
“You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).
The connection is clear: kedushah, holiness, isn’t found only in lofty places — it’s created through everyday choices. Kashrut becomes a practice in mindfulness, a way to infuse holiness into the ordinary, bite by bite.
And as Mussar teaches us, the journey of refining our inner world is a sacred calling. Rabbi Israel Salanter, founder of the Mussar movement, once said:
“A person’s greatness is measured not by how they behave in moments of inspiration, but by how they conduct themselves in the ordinary moments of daily life.”
What we choose to eat — and what we choose to say — both reflect our inner compass.
The laws of kashrut elevate the act of eating. But they also whisper to us about the sacredness of speech. Mishlei (Proverbs) teaches,
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
Our words, like our food, have lasting impact. They can nourish or harm, soothe or inflame. And in our world today, speech doesn’t always come from the mouth — it comes from our keyboards, our thumbs, our screens.
It’s easy to get swept up in the noise of social media, to respond to hatred with heat, or to share words without pause. But Torah and Mussar invite us to slow down, to breathe, and to ask: Is what I’m about to say—or post—worthy of holiness?
The Chafetz Chaim, who devoted his life to the laws of ethical speech, reminds us:
“One who guards their tongue from evil protects their soul from trouble.”
Even a comment left online can ripple outward in unseen ways.
This Shabbat, let’s bring the wisdom of Sh’mini into our lives by making our mouths — and our messages — instruments of kindness. Let us elevate our speech just as we elevate our meals, choosing with intention, speaking with care, and remembering that every word is an opportunity to heal, to build, and to bless.
This is the heart of who we are at Temple Jeremiah. We are a community rooted in compassion, joyful in connection, and committed to making the world gentler — one conversation at a time.
May your Shabbat be filled with simcha (joy), reflection, and the quiet power of sacred speech.
Shabbat Shalom,
