The Birmingham Temple Forum
T '
, R
April 23rd at 8:00 PM
N
The Future of the
Automobile Industry
with David Cole
Director of the Center for Automotive Research
Sanctity In 01 Lives
Shabbat HaGadol, Parshat Tzav:
Leviticus 6:1-8:36; Malachi 3:4-24.
T
his week's Torah portion
can be seen as an act of service and
contains instructions for the
worship of God. (And for this reason,
Kohaniin, the priests, in their the designation of kosher species
sacrificial service to God. It seems that are found in next week's Torah por-
even their consumption of their parts
tion after a discussion of sacrifices.
of the sacrifices is considered part of
Likewise, there are many similar jux-
this service.
tapositions throughout the
Thus, even concerning
Torah.)
the eating of the sacrifices
The one who brings a
by the priests, there are
sacrifice acknowledges God
special regulations and
as the source of this food
restrictions (Leviticus 6:9-
and of the necessity to abide
11; 7:19-21). In fact, the
by the Divine restrictions.
Talmud (Yoma 68B) states
So, too, when we eat only
explicitly: "The priests eat
the permitted species and
(their sacrificial portion)
Ra bbi
remove the blood and the
and the owners (those
Eliezer Cohen
prohibited fats, when we
who brought the sacrifice)
Special to the
prepare it in accord with the
achieve atonement."
Jewish News
kosher requirements and
It is at least in part the
when we make the appro-
eating of the sacrifices by the priests
priate blessings, the eating itself can
that afford the people their atonement. be seen as a holy, religious act.
The eating of the sacrifice is itself a
This principle applies whether one
part of the offering procedure.
is eating meat or any other food in
Likewise, within the same context,
accordance with Jewish Law.
in our portion we
have restrictions
that apply to the
whole nation when
eating any meat
(Leviticus 7:22 -
27), specifically the
prohibition of eat-
ing blood and the
same fats that go
on the altar from
sacrificial species.
There is an opinion in the Talmud
The Torah and Jewish law
(Hulin 16B-17A) that says that dur-
(Halachah) give us a program to
ing their sojourn in the wilderness,
sanctify every act we do — especially
the Jewish nation was not permitted
those biological functions we have in
to eat meat from sacrificial species
common with all people and, in fact,
unless it was actually brought as a
all animals. By abiding by the regula-
sacrifice from which the person could
tions and restrictions of Halachah,
eat the parts permitted to him. It
our behavior and our very lives
seems that even the non-priest's eat-
become sanctified, dedicated to the
ing of the sacrifices could be consid-
worship and service of God.
ered an act of service to God.
We can indeed become (Exodus
It was not until later when they
19:6): "A kingdom of priests and a
came to the promised land and settled holy nation." 11
at a distance from the Tabernacle that
the eating of non-sacrificial meat
Conversations
from these species was permitted (see
What makes something holy?
Deuteronomy 12:20-25), but still
What are the differences
the prohibitions of sacrificial fat and
between the way a human being
blood remained.
or an animal takes care of their
It can be understood then that the
biological needs? How does the
eating of meat, in general, within the
Torah and Halachah govern all of
restrictions established in the Torah,
our behavior? To what purpose?
By abiding by the regulations
and restrictions of Lialachah,
our behavior and our very lives
become sanctified, dedicated to
the worship and service of God.
The decline of the American automobile industry, dramatically presented by what is
happening in Detroit and Michigan, is of overwhelming concern to us. Our future
rests on the viability of Detroit and Michigan. Will the American automobile industry
continue to be strong, only in different places and with different owners? Will it be
alienated to foreign places and foreign workers? Will the Detroit scene ever be
revitalized? David Cole is one of the world's foremost experts on the automobile
industry. His comments and observations always make the world press.
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