Close To Torah

The prohibition of mixing milk and meat is repeated three times in the Torah. Chazal tell us that this is in order to prohibit three things: cooking, eating, and deriving pleasure from this mixture.

The Mechiltah comments that these three occurrences correspond to the three covenants which the Jews in the wilderness made with Hashem in acceptance of His Torah and Mitzvos. The three times were: Sinai, Arvos Moav and Har Gerizim! This perplexing comment needs much understanding. What is the connection between accepting to follow the Torah and the prohibition of milk and meat? The two seemingly have nothing to do with each other?!

To explain this we must understand Basar b’Chalav, milk and meat, more deeply! It is important to stress that this prohibition is a Chok, a law whose reasoning and logic cannot be grasped by human comprehension. We adhere to it solely because Hashem commanded us to do so. However, many commentators offer partial lessons which we can be learned from this Chok. They are thoughts hinting to ethics, not full explanations, because it is unexplainable.

The following thought is based on my understanding of how the Ralbag explains a lesson which can be derived from this law. It is both fascinating  and relevant.

Imagine that you visit your dear mother and she has prepared for you your favorite chocolate cream cake! As you sit and savor a piece, she asks if you could please be so kind as to take out the garbage when you get a chance….

Now imagine the following two outcomes and note which one is more disturbing.

Scenario A: You adamantly refuse to perform the requested chore and do not take out the trash!

Scenario B: You refuse to take out the garbage and instead you take the remainder of her delicious cake and smash it into her face, cream first!

Obviously, the first option is inappropriate, but the second response is unbelievably terrible and horrifying. You used her cake, which she lovingly made for you, against her!

Similarly, when one takes the milk of a mother cow, which she provided you with to enjoy, and one uses it to cook her little baby with, one is performing this same horrible act! Now, the Torah allows us to eat both milk or meat, separately, so what is the depth here? Here is the punch line: The Ribbono Shel Olam provides us with a body and put us on this earth to earn perfection and greatness. He gives us the ability to act and move. Every time that we perform a sin, we are taking the exact gift of our body and life, which Hashem gave us so lovingly, and using it precisely against Him! We are figuratively smashing a pie into His face! This is the ultimate insurgence!

These words are powerful and quite enlightening! This, says the Ralbag, is a small lesson that is partially hinted at by the prohibition of cooking milk and meat together.

On a positive note. Firstly, when we sin, we certainly do not intend to spite Hashem, rather we are overcome with desire and surely Hashem understands this. One should not linger in guilt for his sins, rather, he should use this parable to inspire him to be more careful.

Secondly, we now have an answer to our original quandary as to how milk and meat relates to the three covenants of the Torah? The lesson is one of gratitude. If the person in our above scenario would have contemplated how much his mother does for him, his heart would have been filled with love and gratitude. He would have ran to assist her in any way possible. So too, when one realizes how much Hashem does for him, cares for him and provides him with, he will become inspired to follow Hashem lovingly and faithfully. He will have gratitude and appreciation and this will cause him to commit himself to acting according to the will of Hashem. He will, in short, excitedly accept to follow the Torah and Mitzvos!

This, I believe, is the connection between the ban on milk and meat and the three covenants we made with Hashem, they signify gratitude and service!