Parshas Shmini (5769)

Bs”d

Parshas Shmini (5769)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

Every iota of the Creation calls out kavod shomayim.  Sometimes we are especially inspired by …
The “keres”, the largest first stomach, breaks down ingested materials by microbial action, which causes the food to rot and decay.  This is necessary in order to digest grass and hay, which are composed of cellulose, an otherwise indigestible material.  In a nursing calf, however, there is no need for the milk to undergo this extra step of digestion.  In fact, having the milk rot in the “keres” is undesirable.  To circumvent this problem when a calf nurses, it generates electrical stimulation to the reticular groove that causes it to harden and seal off the opening of the esophagus into the stomachs.  As a result, ingested food is prevented from continuing forward in the “keres” and is instead diverted through the reticulum (second stomach) and into the third stomach, which leads directedly to the “kaiva”, the fourth and final stomach.  This ingenious mechanism thus completely bypasses the first stomach of the nursing calf.

Absolutely awesome!  How are we better humans from this observation and how does this upgrade our avodas Hashem?  The maaleh gerah, the four stomachs allow the consummation of difficult grasses.  The splitting of the hooves brings the animal to these difficult places.  The sign of kashrus is that they must work together.  What is the lesson?\

Have a wonderful Shabbos.