Going Kosher: My Curious Lenten Project

Last updated on: March 8, 2011 at 1:13 pm by Lisa Hess

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Going Kosher: My Curious Lenten Project 2011-03-08T13:13:25+00:00 Lisa Hess

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The love of a rabbi can change your life.

I am a Christian practical theologian who is embarking on a curious quest: I want to know what it’s like to maintain a kosher home—what it requires, for what reasons, at what cost, etc. The web of motivations for this exploration will unfold in due time, but here I would like to describe the project, articulate some original goals for it, and invite you into the learnings that come over its duration of about 40 days. Never forget, however: the impetus comes from being a Christian theologian who has been loved by rabbis. Unbeknownst to any of us, I was sought, then welcomed, invited in, listened to, challenged, nurtured…loved. My faith and hope have been stretched, enlivened, grown in ways I could never have foreseen. I believe in a fashion more deeply rooted and vibrant than previously available to me before. The love of a rabbi—in my words and worldview, a Rabbi—can change your life.

Today begins the first days of preparing to maintain a kosher home, with the completion of koshering preliminaries anticipated by March 9th, Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent in the Christian liturgical year. I have had several months of periodic discernment about engaging kashrut practices, of course. If you’re not Jewish and have no intention of becoming Jewish, then what’s the point? If you’re not at least open to the possibility of becoming Jewish, does engaging such a Jewish practice have any legitimacy at all? These are fine questions, understandable within notions of ‘religion’ and the increased, sometimes problematic interaction between historical faith traditions today. Purposefully, the discernment has been gradual, rooted in a careful, listening wariness. I know this work will be misunderstood by many, even as I struggle to understand all my own motives for engaging it.

For instance, I am well aware of the horrific history of Christians over and against Jews. This can never be forgotten, nor even forgiven, perhaps. I often lament the prospect or threat of diffused Jewish identity today, amidst indifferent or hostile cultures. I get angry when Christians attempt to celebrate a Jewish Passover, a holiday which is historically/etymologically related to the Christian Holy Week and Easter but is irreparably distinct, inaccessible to Christians (in my view). So how is exploring kashrut for 40 days different from either Christian imperialism or intentional diffusion of difference(s)? For some looking in, I realize it won’t appear different at all. I regret the pain and anger that will arise there.

But my rabbi friends have assured me it’s different. They have encouraged me. In conversation with them, I have begun to think of the main goals of the project as

Exploration of Christian habits of mind in the sacred, shaped by public liturgies in accessible (i.e. culturally dominant), public sanctuaries
Encounter of rabbinic traditions surrounding “the table” and the sacred kept holy within the home and family
Heightened awareness of my own family’s eating habits, food production and consumption, as Christians surrendering to Jewish wisdom
Listening to relationships with other Christians amidst the distinctive practice(s) of kashrut

Logistics of the Project: The project consists of three main phases: Preparation, Practice of Kashrut, and then Release from Kashrut. Given the extensive rabbinic traditions surrounding kashrut, not to mention the communal and rabbinic dimensions of the practice, preparing to “create” a kosher home as a Protestant Christian is an oxymoron. Impossible and inauthentic, in any Orthodox view. Nonetheless, public guidance is available and compelling on www.chabad.org, the reference-site for all Preparations. The second phase will occur over four weeks, the first four weeks of the Christian Lenten season (March 9th-April 6th). Practicing kashrut for the entire season of Lent was considered, but a crucial element of Christian faith and practice is “freedom from the law.” Balance between Christian commitment, surrender to Jewish wisdom, and re-encounter with Christian faith/practice would best be served by four weeks of kashrut, followed by two weeks of Christian scriptural study leading into Holy Week and Easter. Release from Kashrut therefore marks the final two weeks of Lent (April 7th-24th). Having thoroughly enjoyed the movie, “Julie and Julia,” the text of this project will unfold in regular blog-posts about what I’m learning. See http://experts.patheos.com/expert/lisamhess/blog/ for updates.

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