By Eman Chayim
Parshat Re’eh: Devarim 12:22–24
You may slaughter any of the cattle or sheep that Hashem gives you, as I have instructed you;
and you may eat to your heart’s content in your settlements….. But be strong (Chazak) make
sure that you do not partake of the blood
Serious question, when was the last time you were at a meal and had to hold yourself back from
wanting to wash it down with a literal Bloody Mary Cocktail, a nice warm glass of freshly
poured bovine blood. Chances are never.
Yes, in China, they cube duck blood like tofu. In India, lamb’s blood gets stir–fried. And in Italy,
they swirl pig’s blood into chocolate for dessert. But with our seemingly natural Jewish aversion
towards blood consumption, the Ramban brings up this seemingly unrelatable mitzvah and begs
two important questions.
Question #1: Why the prohibition of Blood?
Even, if we did have a craving for sipping blood, why does it get such a bad reputation in the
Torah?
Question #2: Why the extra warning?
The Torah forbids many foods: pork, certain fats, the sciatic nerve. Yet only blood comes with
an added “be strong” prompt.
The Pull of Imitation
As usual, the Ramban doesn’t beat around the bush. As hard as it to believe, many Jews of
Mitzrayim were in fact, as the Torah and Midrashim explain, not disgusted by blood. Many
actually used it in idolatrous practices. The added emphasis in the mitzvah comes from a well–
known truth: when non–Jews are obsessed with something, our desire for it likely grows, not
from an innate craving, but from the natural pull of imitation of our surroundings.
Throughout Tanach, we see a recurring theme: we are drawn to copy what the surrounding
nations do. The Jews came out of Egypt, a culture where slaughtered blood was tied to demonic
pagan practices. Somehow that left an appetite for it. It’s a kind of spiritual osmosis: surround
yourself with what others are infatuated with, and you start wanting it too.
To deny the powerful gravitational pull of the non–Jewish world on the Jewish world, even in the
most “frum” communities, would be willful blindness. Just look at the striking similarities
between architecture and decorations with local non–Jewish designs in the synagogues of Rome,
the Knis’ of Syria and the Kenissas of Iran.
most “frum” communities, would be willful blindness. Just look at the striking similarities
between architecture and decorations with local non–Jewish designs in the synagogues of Rome,
the Knis’ of Syria and the Kenissas of Iran.
Even more noticeable is the mode of “Jewish” dress code. Many would be offended to be
reminded that black fedora hats, lapel suits, and even braided ‘challah’ breads are not inherently
Jewish traditions but were adopted from our non–Jewish neighbors.
It seems there is nothing inherently wrong with borrowing productive or aesthetic elements from
the outside world. But there’s a strong red line between adopting neutral cultural expressions and
absorbing practices rooted in dark spiritual worship that stands completely opposite to the
Torah’s framework.
Modern Parallels in L.A.
While few Angelinos today openly indulge in demonic blood worship, plenty of negative
influences still surround us. Who can honestly claim they’re untouched by the media’s
glorification of gossip, the sexualization of women on billboards, or the normalization of lying
and trickery in corporate boardrooms?
With this message we can make the seemingly impractical to practical. The mere exposure to the
“LA LA Land” we call home should not be taken lightly. Bluntly put, what our eyes and ears
consume should not be channeled toward negative self–serving practices, even if “everyone is
doing it”.
Looking deeper, it is interesting to note that the Rambam writes in Moreh Nevuchim that, in
Torah thought, blood is inherently pure and carries the potential for deep kosher spirituality. It
was sprinkled on the priests’ garments, dashed on the altar, and poured as part of the sacrificial
service. It’s clearly central to the Temple’s worship. In the same vein (pun intended), our words
we speak, the sights we take in, and the thoughts we entertain are inherently pure and have the
potential to be abused towards negativity or to be dedicated to holy positivity. This is the precise
reason why we need to be so strong…. because the pull to abuse is so strong and the stakes are
so high.