Shabbat Shalom! My parashah Shemini is about the beginning of kashrut. In my parashah G-d tells Aaron and Moses, “Speak to the Israelite people and tell them thus…”  He then goes on to the explaining and specifying of which animals the Jewish people can and cannot eat. Then I ask myself  “Why would G-d only want us to eat some things and not others?   Why can’t we eat what we want to eat, when we want to eat it?”       The word that comes to mind is “Thought”. We have to stop and think every time we want to eat something. We need to put thought into what we are going to do. That not only differentiates us from every other animal, but it brings us closer to G-d. It elevates man from the animal state to a holy being. But what does it mean to be holy? In my torah portion G-d says, “For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your  G-d, You shall be holy for I am holy.” To me being holy is to separate one’s common actions and elevate them into more meaningful and special occasions.         Kashrut is a perfect example of this.           Kashrut offers an opportunity to transform the act of eating into an encounter with holiness, defining who we are, turning our kitchens and our dining room tables into sacred altars, and our meals into reminders of our deepest values as Jews. For thousands of years, the dietary laws served as a way for strengthening Jewish identity, for creating a link with Jews throughout time and across the globe as well as for reinforcing the connection between Jews and their Judaism.     When my family and I were in Rome, we went to the kosher restaurant in the old Jewish quarter where the Ghetto used to be.  As I was in line for the bathroom, my mom began a conversation with an American lady, her name was Diana Miller, just like my mom’s!!! She asked us where we were from and when we told her Tiburon, she had a huge smile and told us that she was Rabbi Chai’s best friend, and that she was finishing her studies to become a Rabbi herself. To me this really shows how the Jewish world is just like one big family. Where ever you go you can always find somebody that knows somebody you know!        I feel that I can go anywhere in the world and find a Jewish community, and feel welcome and at home, because our customs, our traditions and language are the same. Jewish meals create a strong bond, linking family and friends into communities, and also the commitment to a more humane order on Earth.            The practice of kashrut, at its core, recognizes the holiness of every living creature, instills sensitivity to the suffering of animals and of our responsibility to other forms of life. It’s true that the practice of the dietary laws is not an easy one. It requires commitment and self-discipline, but mostly, striving to become a holier person on Earth. As I become a Bat Mitzvah I become more aware of the responsibility and the importance of the link that I am in the long chain of our Jewish traditions and Jewish values. The responsibility of doing my little part in making our world a better place. Shabbat Shalom! Daphne Nhuch