[Avodah] (no subject)

[Micha Berger]

On Sat, Oct 17, 2009 at 7:50pm EDT, R Yitzchok Levine quoted the new
RSRH chumash, Bereishis 2:
: What is it that sets man apart from the animal? The living individuality
: of the animal depends on earthly matter; like its body, so its soul,
: too, was taken from the earth. Not so man. In the creation of man,
: only the inert material was taken from the earth; only when God breathed
: into him the breath of life did he become a living individual. Herein lies
: the nobility and immortality of man, and this is the whole source of his
: freedom. That which gives the animal its individuality emanates from
: the earth and must eventually return to the earth. Not so that which
: makes man a “living personality.” Man’s preeminence over the animal
: is not only in his spirit, but also in his vitality. His vitality is linked 
: not : to his body, but to his spirit...

This is leshitaso WRT his explanation of "lo sevasheil gedi".

In an animal, the creative force and the animalistic drives are one. The
milk, its production, is one with its meat. People, however, have the
power to have a distinct creative act. To consciously choose to engage
in creation and what to create. Not just as a reflex to animal need.
Therefore, we are commanded to separate meat and milk.

This is why the meat is called "gedi", which as we see from the name
"Gad" refers to essential force, in contrast to "chaleiv imo", drawing
our attention to milk as an aspect of production and procreation.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             When memories exceed dreams,
micha at aishdas.org        The end is near.
http://www.aishdas.org                   - Rav Moshe Sherer
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