BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA 5774 Parshas Shemini: Kosher Fish

In this week's Parsha we learn about the various kosher and non-kosher animals. The Torah discusses the laws of kashrus immediately following the episode of the erection of the Mishkan, and with it, the shechina that resided upon it. The Sefer Divrei Yosher writes that we can explain this sequence of events as follows. Our sages teach us that the purpose of the Mishkan was in order for Hashem's shechina to dwell both among the Jewish nation as a whole, and, more importantly, within each individual Jew. The Sefer Mesilas Yesharim (Chapter 11) writes that although each and every sin causes the shechina to distance itself from us, the sin of eating non-kosher foods causes it the most. Therefore, after discussing the erection of the Mishkan, the Torah went on to discuss the precautions that one must make so that one doesn't lose one's personal connection with the shechina.(AUDIO HERE) PRINT VERSION HERE.