Community Magazine April 2012

Kosher Imports and Exports King Shelomo teaches in Mishle (21:23), “ Shomer piv ulshono shomer missarot nafsho – He who guards his mouth and tongue guards his soul from distress.” This verse instructs that we protect ourselves from trouble by exercising discretion when we speak. So many of the problems we experience, particularly in the contexts of family and social relationships, result from a slip of the tongue, an irresponsible comment, or an improperly worded remark. Shelomo, in his great wisdom, exhorts us to be patient and discerning before we speak, and this will spare us much anguish and heartache. But it is noteworthy that Shelomo speaks here of guarding both the “mouth” and “tongue.” Some have explained these two expressions as referring to two different functions – eating, and speech. We protect ourselves from spiritual danger by watching our “mouth” – by ensuring that all the food that enters our mouth is permissible – and by watching our “tongue” – the words that leave our mouths. Baruch Hashem , the observance of kashrut has become mainstream throughout virtually all segments of the Orthodox Jewish community. Establishments catering to Orthodox Jews ensure to maintain strict kashrut standards because they know this is what their clientele demands. We can take pride in the level of kashrut observance and how seriously it is taken in the community. However, the level of caution to which we adhere regarding what goes into mouths is sorely lacking when it comes to what comes out of our mouths. There are too many people who would never put a morsel of food in their mouths unless it conforms to the strictest kashrut standards, yet fail to set appropriate standards for what exits through their mouths. The “imports” are strictly kosher, but the “exports” are pure taref . In a sense, controlling the “imports” is much easier than controlling our “exports.” We rely on the expertise of professional,well-reputedcertification agencies to assure the kosher status of the food we intake. But we cannot hire an agency to examine our words each time we want to speak. This job cannot be delegated; we have to do it ourselves. We must study the relevant halachot and exercise a healthy dose of patience and restraint when we speak. And, we must remind ourselves of just how valuable our faculty of speech is, that it has been given to us for the sublime purposes of Torah, prayer and hesed, to purify our souls and to help perfect the world. Once we appreciate the power and significance of our speech, we will ensure to utilize it the way Aharon did, to bring peace and holiness to the world, to glorify Gd and spread His Torah. By recognizing just how sacred our words can be, we will be wise enough to guard the “imports” as carefully as we guard our “exports,” to speak only words that will fill the world with holiness and peace, and not with negativity and acrimony. Visit LearnTorah.com to hear thousands of insightful lectures by Rabbi Eli J. Mansour and other prominent speakers. 10%Off Your Order of $25.00 andmore. Use promo code: 5TJT10 Dedicated inmemory of Mr.&Mrs. Jacques&Rachel Gindi  20 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE