In this week's parsha we read about the kosher and non-kosher animals. Kosher animals need to have split hooves and they need to chew their cud. The Torah amazingly tells us that there are only four non-kosher animals in existence which have one of these two signs, while all the other animals have none of the required signs. Of the four non-kosher animals only the pig has split hooves (the other three chew their cud).

Our Sages teach us that these four non-kosher animals represent the four exiles of the Jewish nation, with the pig representing the last and current exile. They also point out that the pig, being the only one with split hooves, sticks out his hooves as if to say "look, I am kosher" when in fact he isn't. I think this captures the essence of our current exile. One of the greatest spiritual dangers we face in our current exile is the utter confusion and blurring of the lines between "kosher" and "non-kosher", between right and wrong. Although the Torah realizes that there are a number of perspectives on any number of issues, as we know there are "70 faces to the Torah", this doesn't mean that everything or anything a person thinks or feels is "kosher". There are clear guidelines and anything falling outside of the guidelines of the Torah can't be considered a valid perspective. This has gone so far that people are afraid to say there is any objective right or wrong. Every person is allowed to have their own perspective and it is automatically valid if that is what they feel. The Torah is eternal and the guidelines set forth within the Torah don't change as they are an expression of G-d's Will which is Eternal. Outwardly we may be afraid in certain situations to declare that there is objective right and wrong on particular issues, but at least internally we must realize in our own hearts' and minds' what the objective truth is.

May we all be blessed with clear perspective in a world of confusion.

Shabbat Shalom,

Heath