Please Don’t Eat the Marshmallow!
By Rabbi Yaakov Marks
SAN DIEGO — The Torah lists the specifications for the living creatures which, according to the laws of kashrut, a person may or may not eat. Mammals must have split hooves and chew its cud. Fish need to have both fins and scales. The non-kosher birds are listed by name. The Torah permits a few insects while the rest are prohibited.
There is a major philosophical debate regarding the reason why G-d forbade us to eat certain creatures. Many commentators believe in the “you are what you eat” theory. They say that the attitude and mannerisms of these animals are mystically absorbed into the human body and soul. A human that consumes the animal will be spiritually affected by the negative attributes of the animal that he consumed. A few people say the prohibition of these creatures are for health reasons. Several commentators (1) take a different approach. The ingesting of the animal is not the problem, but the breaking of the rules of not eating the animal creates the problem.
The way to interpret a phrase in the Torah is a source of the argument. The Torah says, “Do not make yourself disgusting to them, do not defile yourself with them, lest you become defiled” (Leviticus 11:43). The Talmud (Yoma 39a) states the House of Rabbi Yishmael learned that sin dulls the heart of a person as it is said in the Torah, “do not defile yourself with them (insects) and be defiled by them. Don’t read the word as “defiled,” but as “dulled.”
Many commentators learn that this means the eating of the insects will dull your heart. The digesting of insects will cause a physical and spiritual negative change in a person. They also learn that defile and dulled come from the same root word.
Several commentators argue with this approach. The Talmud specifically states that the “sin” of eating the insect causes the heart to be dulled not the insect itself. They also argue that defile and dull, come from different root words. He defiles himself, but this action will dull him. When a person has a
goal that he is working towards there will always be temptations that if given into will divert him from reaching his goal. If his focus on his goal is stronger than his momentary desire, he will succeed. However, if he gives in to his momentary pleasure he has put himself into a downward plunge. He has dulled his mind by increasing the need for the pleasure and will begin to rationalize his misdeeds. If not stopped, he will eventually become dependent on that pleasure and rationalize it into a Mitzvah. That is what it means if he chooses to defile himself and get pleasure through the breaking of rules that will affect his future thinking. It will “dull” his heart from thinking objectively.
In the 1960’s Dr. Walter Mischel made a study of delayed gratification. A child was offered one small marshmallow, cookie or pretzel to be eaten now or if they chose to wait 15 minutes they would get two. After the child made their decision a tray was placed in front of them. On one side was the singular treat if they decided not to wait and on the other side were the two treats if they waited. Even after deciding to wait for two, only one-third of the children were able to delay the gratification. Later follow-up studies showed that the children who were able to delay their gratification were much more successful than the children who could not. Dr. Mischel stressed that this does not label a child because delaying gratification can be learned.
The Rabbis expressed this concept when they said, “Who is a wise person, someone who can visualize the outcome of his actions or the withholding of action. (Avot3;13)
This challenge confronts a person when he chooses to improve his health or his eating habits. He sets a goal to lose some weight and as he is on his journey he is tempted by some unhealthy food. He can either indulge in the food or contemplate the greater satisfaction of reaching his weight loss goals. Indulging will only give him short term pleasure but long term guilt and maybe even cause him to abandon his goal completely. However, by delaying his gratification he gets the emotional pleasure of being in control and additional strength in reaching his goal.
One of the lessons which G-d is teaching through the laws of Kashrut is the importance of being able to delay gratification. If a person can develop this attribute he will be able to obtain his goals and the great satisfaction which comes with completing a goal.
May we be blessed with the wisdom of seeing past the diversions of life and be able to focus clearly on the great goals we are striving for. May G-d grant us the strength to delay gratification and the ability to reach our goals.
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Rabbi Marks is a life and health coach, who may be contacted via ahealthyrabbi@gmail.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter-writer’s first and last name and his/her city and state of residence (city and country if outside the U.S.)