Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Shmot
- Mishpatim
Our parsha is one of 3 places in the Torah where
this prohibition appears, teaching us 3 things:
1) one may not eat milk & meat cooked together;
2) One may not cook them together even without
eating 3) One may not derive any benefit from
meat & milk that is cooked together (e.g. selling
it). While this is a Chok – a law without a clear
reason – various opinions are nevertheless
offered. Ramban says it is "morally insensitive"
to eat a young animal (‘g’di") cooked in its
mother’s milk. The Kabala explains that milk &
meat represent opposing spiritual forces & as
such should not mix with each other. Meat
represents the Divine power of Gevura – severity
or strictness (indicated by the red color of the
meat) - & milk represents Chesed/kindness (as in
"the milk of human kindness"). Bachya writes that
it is only now that meat & milk are forbidden; in
the Messianic era it will be allowed, as Hashem
will create harmony between all forces, including Gevura & Chesed.
God and his Laws
Parshat Mishpatim
Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed | 5749-54
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