[Avodah] Se'udas Mitzvah

[Micha Berger]

RRW just posted the following on Nishma's blog
<http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/2012/07/rav-kook-your-kitchen-is-serving-seudat.html>

    Rav Kook: "Your kitchen is serving a se'udat mitzvah."
    from NishmaBlog by Rabbi R Wolpoe

    Tisha B'Av: The Poel Mizrachi Kitchen

    Mr. Avraham Mavrach was a founding member of the Poel Mizrachi,
    established in 1922 for religious pioneers in Eretz Yisrael. One of
    the most important decisions made during the first assembly of the
    Poel Mizrachi was to open kosher kitchens for new immigrants and
    workers. ...

    ... He suggested turning to the Chief Rabbinate; perhaps the rabbis
    would find a leniency that would permit the new customers to eat
    meat so that they would not go back to eating in the non-kosher
    kitchens. The other members laughed at this suggestion. ...

    Rav Kook turned to Avraham. "Do you think that some of the workers
    who eat there will end up going to a non-kosher kitchen?"

    "Yes," Avraham responded. "They ate there beforehand."

    "If that is the case," Rav Kook pronounced, "your kitchen is serving
    a se'udat mitzvah. 'Let the humble eat and be satisfied' (Ps. 27:22)."

    Astounded, Avraham remained frozen to his spot. Rav Kook smiled. "Do
    you have another question?" Avraham replied that he was uncertain
    about the Rav's decision. Did this mean that everyone could eat meat
    there? Rav Kook repeated his words, and explained that everyone -
    even those who would not be tempted to eat at a non-kosher kitchen -
    could eat meat in the kitchen because it would be serving a se'udat
    mitzvah. Despite his amazement, Avraham managed to steal a glance
    at the other rabbis in the room. It seemed that they, too, were
    surprised by the Rav's decision, but they raised no objections.
    ...

-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Zion will be redeemed through justice,
micha at aishdas.org        and her returnees, through righteousness.
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