Does the purity-impurity, tahara/tuma, construct have any relevance in our world today?
In fact, some feel that they are looking to purify their bodies from radical and poisonous elements. The idea that we should move toward a diet of natural foods that grow from the earth is profoundly Jewish. The so-called new fad – the Mediterranean diet – is traceable in the Tanakh and Talmudic sources! Fruits, vegetables, olive oil, beans, whole grains, and fish from the nearby seas are all highly recommended.
Speaking of the seas, Fisk Johnson, CEO of SC Johnson is a champion crusader against plastic ocean waste and purifying the Earth’s oceans. He is concerned about the devastation of plastic pollution in the seas of the world. He’s measured the density of microplastics in remote corners of the planet. After 47 years of diving he has personally witnessed the pressures on ocean ecosystems, and he is looking to reduce his industry’s use of plastics to purify our waterways. You can read an article about the issue and consider the data here: Fisk Johnson, CEO of SC Johnson: A champion in the crusade against plastic ocean waste
May we sense the purity of the divine part of our souls on Shabbat. Come separate the week that was from the Sabbath that is about to begin.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bolton