Peshat - the plain and simple meaning

The people and organizations quoted below are in no way associated with peshat.com and views expressed here.

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From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennet

Rennet (pronounced /ˈrɛnɪt/) is a natural complex of enzymes produced in any mammalian stomach to digest the mother's milk, and is often used in the production of cheese. Rennet contains many enzymes, including a proteolytic enzyme (protease) that coagulates the milk, causing it to separate into solids (curds) and liquid (whey). The active enzyme in rennet is called chymosin or rennin (EC 3.4.23.4) but there are also other important enzymes in it, e.g., pepsin or lipase. There are non-animal sources for rennet that are suitable for vegetarian consumption.

Traditional method

Dried and cleaned stomachs of young calves are sliced into small pieces and then put into saltwater or whey, together with some vinegar or wine to lower the pH of the solution. After some time (overnight or several days), the solution is filtered. The crude rennet that remains in the filtered solution can then be used to coagulate milk. About 1 gram of this solution can normally coagulate 2 to 4 litres of milk.

	The fat referred to in Lev 3 & 7 is Chelev - the choicest fats used in making offerings to YHWH. These fats are not to be eaten, the fat of the innards and the fat of the tail. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelev Digestive system fats There are many fats around the digestive organs such as the stomach and intestines, and one must be highly educated and trained in order to identify them. Leviticus Chapter 3 16 And the priest shall make them smoke upon the altar; it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a sweet savour; all the fat is YHWH's. 17 It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that ye shall eat neither fat nor blood. Leviticus Chapter 7 22 And YHWH spoke unto Moses, saying: 23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: Ye shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat. 24 And the fat of that which dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of beasts, may be used for any other service; but ye shall in no wise eat of it. 25 For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men present an offering made by fire unto YHWH, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.

Both Karaites and Rabbinical Jews agree chelev fats should not be consumed. Should it be consumed, the consumer risks "the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people". For most cheeses, animal rennet is used to coagulate the milk turning it eventually into cheese. Animal rennet is made from an animal's stomach which contains chelev fats. Yet, some kosher cheeses are made with animal rennet. So, how can cheese made with animal rennet be kosher?

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Solihull Synagogue, Taharas Hamishpacha International and the people and organizations quoted on www.mikvah.org, are in no way associated with peshat.com and views expressed here.

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by Rivkah Slonim

The world's natural bodies of water- its oceans, rivers, wells, and springfed lakes - are mikvahs in their most primal form. They contain waters of divine source and thus, tradition teaches, the power to purify. Created even before the earth took shape, these bodies of water offer a quintessential route to consecration. But they pose difficulties as well. These waters may be inaccessible or dangerous, not to mention the problems of inclement weather and lack of privacy. Jewish life therefore necessitates the construction of mikvahs (Mikvah pools), and indeed this has been done by Jews in every age and circumstance.

	Mikveh: The word "mikveh", as used in the Hebrew Bible, literally means a "collection" – generally, a collection of water. Genesis Chapter 1 10 And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together (mikvah) of the waters called He Seas; and God saw that it was good. Exodus Chapter 7 19 And YHWH said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds (mikvah) of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.' Leviticus Chapter 11 36 Nevertheless a fountain or a cistern wherein is a gathering (mikvah) of water shall be clean; but he who toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.

To the uninitiated, a modern-day mikvah looks like a miniature swimming pool. In a religion rich with detail, beauty, and ornamentation - against the backdrop of the ancient temple or even modern-day synagogues the mikvah is surprisingly nondescript, a humble structure.

Its ordinary appearance, however, belies its primary place in Jewish life and law. The mikvah offers the individual, the community, and the nation of Israel the remarkable gift of purity and holiness. No other religious establishment, structure, or rite can affect the Jew in this way and, indeed, on such an essential level. Its extraordinary power, however, is contingent on its construction in accordance with the numerous and complex specifications as outlined in Halachah, Jewish Law.

	An outstanding description of Jewish tradition. It is obviously a very important process and it shows a great desire to please YHWH, one very few religious Jews take lightly. The Torah specifically warns man from becoming unclean by a woman during her menstrual time (i.e. her nidda). The risk is much greater than just becoming unclean, this risk is being cutoff -- this is death. For rabbinical Jews, the mikvah is used to clean (tahor) a woman of her uncleanness. The intent of this practice should not be questioned, it is honorable. Unfortunately, the method of complying with these instructions are concerning when compared to the instructions of the Torah. These issues will be explored in depth. Leviticus Chapter 15 19 And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days; and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her impurity shall be unclean; every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sitteth upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if he be on the bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. Leviticus Chapter 18 19 And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness. Leviticus Chapter 20 18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness -- he hath made naked her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood -- both of them shall be cut off from among their people.

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My friends and I meet on paltalk to read the Torah Portion every Shabbat at 9:00 AM PST. You are welcome to join us as we discuss Torah in a room called "Reading Tanakh"... Have a great week, shavua tov.

Find us by going to "Religion & Spirituality" -> Judaism -> Reading Tanakh

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Hope to see you there.

Baruch YHWH
Benjamin

Karaite Jews of America, and the people and organizations quoted on http://www.karaites.org/, are in no way associated with peshat.com and views expressed here.

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JewishEncylopedia: New Year

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Based on the sighting of the new moon as stated in the Torah, Yom Teruah will begin at sunset on Friday, September 26, 2014 and continue until sunset on Saturday September 27, 2014.

Happy Yom Teruah!






WORK IN PROGRESS...

another good reference How the Day of Shouting Became Rosh Hashanah by Nehemia Gordon

	Confirmed on Jewish Virtual Library: Jewish Calendar: The "first month" of the Jewish calendar is the month of Nissan, in the spring, when Passover occurs. However, the Jewish New Year is in Tishri, the seventh month, and that is when the year number is increased. The year number is increased in the seventh month? The traditional Jewish New Year known as Rosh Hashannah (head of months) is not found anywhere in the Tanakh; therefore, it is tradition. On the same day that Rosh Hashannah is celebrated, Yom Teruah (day of shouting; commanded from the Torah (see Lev 23:23-25; Nu 29:1-6)) is celebrated. Both Rosh Hashannah and Yom Teruah are on the first day of the seventh month; however, the day is most recoginized for being Rosh Hashannah (or the Jewish New Year). The first day of the first month is commonly understood as the new year. The New Year, the one in the first month, is in fact, defined as the beginning of months in Exodus 12 which shows it was selected by YHWH as a remembrance for His leading the children of Israel from Egypt with a strong hand. It is defined based on the ripeness of aviv and leads to preparations for Passover. So, let's examine the tradition, commonly known as Rosh Hashannah, which starts the traditional "new year" in the fall when we are told, in Exodus 12, the first month begins in the spring. Exodus 12 deals with the exodus from Egypt, at the powerful hand of YHWH, in the spring... Exodus Chapter 12 1 And YHWH spoke unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying: 2 'This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Leviticus Chapter 23 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no manner of servile work; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto YHWH. Numbers Chapter 29 1 And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no manner of servile work; it is a day of blowing the horn unto you.

New Year
By Isidore Singer, J. F. McLaughlin, Wilhelm Bacher, Judah David Eisenstein

Biblical Data:

In the earliest times the Hebrew year began in autumn with the opening of the economic year. There followed in regular succession the seasons of seed-sowing, growth and ripening of the corn under the influence of the former and the latter rains, harvest and ingathering of the fruits. In harmony with this was the order of the great agricultural festivals, according to the oldest legislation, namely, the feast of unleavened bread at the beginning of the barley harvest, in the month of Abib; the feast of harvest, seven weeks later; and the feast of ingathering at the going out or turn of the year (; see Ex. xxiii. 14-17; xxxiv. 18, 22-23; Deut. xvi. 1-16).

	Even the American culture has an economic year beginning in the fall. It is called the corporate fiscal year. Exodus Chapter 23 14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year. 15 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep; seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib -- for in it thou camest out from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty; 16 and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labours, which thou sowest in the field; and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labours out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord YHWH. Exodus Chapter 34 23 Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord YHWH, the God of Israel. Deuteronomy Chapter 16 16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before YHWH thy God in the place which He shall choose; on the feast of unleavened bread, and on the feast of weeks, and on the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before YHWH empty;

This system of dating the New-Year is that which was adopted by the Semites generally, while other peoples, as the Greeks and Persians, began the year in spring, both methods of reckoning being primarily agricultural and based on the seasons of seed-time and harvest.

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Karaite Jewish University, and the people and organizations quoted on kjuonline.com, are in no way associated with peshat.com and views expressed here.

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Karaite Jewish University had another successful graduation and conversion ceremony...

Congratulations to class 2013!

Baruch YHWH!