Often enough when discussing Essene dietary laws I find myself
talking to a vegetarian. They naturally want to know how kashrut
applies to them. Do they have to observe this Sacred Law? Is vegetarianism
Biblical? My vegetarian friends will be interested to know that they
do and it is.

In Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden) Adam, Chava and the animals were
all in a state of perfect peace. The world was in a state of
perfection and unity. Animals and the first humans coexisted in the
peace of our Abba and Imma. In Genesis 1: 29-30 we find that Elohim originally
gave us only the fruits and vegetables that grew on the plants in
the Garden to eat.

"Then God said, "I give you every seed bearing plant on the face of
the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They
will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all
the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground-
everything that has breath of life in it-I give every green plant
for food."

This vegetarian, or Edenic, diet is the original diet for humans and
animals alike. So we were obviously created with the idea of
vegetarianism in mind. It was only after the Flood that humanity was
given permission to eat meat.

" The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the
earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves
along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given
into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for
you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you
everything." - Genesis 9: 2-3

Why the change? The earth had become a veritable disaster area. The
flood had killed off much plant and animal life, had probably made
farming extremely difficult, and had limited what was left of
humanity to the animals they took with them on the ark and the fish
in the waters. Elohim was making sure they would survive! Later
Elohim instituted His Law of Kashrut to further guide us not only in
good health, but obedience to Divine mandate. However, vegetarianism
continued to be highly regarded and is the highest ideal for humanity.

Many Biblical personages were vegetarian. Tradition tells us that
Ya'akov, the brother of Yeshua, Matityahu (Matthew) and Kepha (Peter) were
vegetarians. That is pretty good company to be in, I would say! The
Essene's of Qumran and Mt.Carmel (possibly the audience for which
the Good News according to Yochanan was written for, or written BY
those converted to the Essene Netzarim Edah) were also vegetarians.

Now I don't want my fellow vegetarian friends to get too prideful in
their choice of diets. It is an illusion to think that we are more
spiritually advanced simply by virtue of the fact that we eat only
vegetables. We can keep kosher and eat strictly vegetarian (yes the
Law of Kashrut applies to vegetarians as well) and still not have
the proper consciousness.

"Well, my food doesn't require me to kill anything.", the vegetarian
may say.

Though I agree that vegetarianism is the original ideal for humanity
and that it is the best method for controlling the tongue, if it
were simply a matter of not taking a life for sustenance we should
remember that vegetables have life too. If eating vegetarian made us
holy or more spiritually advanced, then the monkeys should be miles
ahead of us in wisdom, and they clearly aren't. The point is that
vegetarianism is completely Biblical and is the original diet for humanity. So
enjoy that veggie burger! But only after you offer thanks to our Heavenly Mother and Father.

Preparing, Offering and Sharing Food

Every facet of the Essene talmid's life should be centered
on the Divine. Each moment is an opportunity to bring our
consciousness to focus on transcendental matters. This is no less
true of eating. The preparation, serving and eating of food offered
to Elohim, especially in the association of other talmidim, is
extremely important to the devotional life of any believer and has
its roots in the ancient Essene community. Yeshua always ate
in the presence of His disciples and sometimes shared these meals
with those who were seeking the Truth. We are to be imitators of
Messiah and do the same. The Essene should strive for the
highest devotion in all activities, including eating. Even in the
preparation of our meals, our careful attention to detail and
cleanliness trains us in the servant mindset preparing us for the
Kingdom of Heaven. Not to mention it is a wonderful way for us to
serve each other as well.

The eating and cooking process may be essentially the same for
talmid and non-talmid alike, yet the consciousness in which it is
done is very different. Thanking our Abba and Imma for our daily food was one
of the things Yeshua included in His model prayer for us. Not to be
thankful or, not to offer it for blessing is to rob oneself
of a spiritual gain. It is tantamount to insult if we do not
recognize the Provider, but only our own hunger and desire.

Why act as if Elohim had no part in our provision? Anything we do that
is not done to honor Elohim and offered for blessing can only
serve to entangle us in the illusions of a fallen world and move us
further from the proper consciousness of Divine Presence. Not to
mention that food that is not offered feeds only the body.
However, food offered to Eyn Sof (the Eternal One) nourishes both
body and soul. This is why it is so important to offer
everything we eat and drink.

When we offer our food we consciously connect our need for
sustenance to Elohim who provides it. We show our gratitude for
Aba and Imma's gifts bestowed on us in love and devotion and Elohim
blesses it so that it will also serve as a method of keeping our
consciousness at the proper platform. Not to mention that those who
share our food also share in some measure the benefit of that
blessing.

Can one come into contact with that which is blessed by Elohim,
touched by Divine Energy, and not be affected by it? Nothing
that Elohim blesses can be considered mundane or normal. To suggest
otherwise is to reveal an ignorance of the holiness of Elohim. The
food we eat that is offered is in a sense spiritualized.
Thus it becomes a vehicle for Divine "khaila"(power) which in turn has
the potential to spiritualize our consciousness.

"Why should I offer every meal or snack I have?" you may ask. "
God doesn't need food so what's the big deal?"

That is true.

Elohim doesn't need our food. It isn't your food that Elohim accepts
when it is offered for blessing. It is your devotion our Heavenly Father and Mother
desire-your love.

"Yeah, but God knows I love Him."

This is true as well. However, if we never vocalize it, if we never
demonstrate it we must ask ourselves if we truly understand the
action of love. Love for Elohim makes one want to offer their meal.
Food offered should be recognized as Elohims mercy. In mercy
and love the provide for us healthy, nourishing and spiritually
beneficial sustenance. And in our devotion and love we thank Elohim for
it.

When you really think about it, what is not to be thankful for? How
many times have you sat down to a meal and without one thought of
offering your thanks just dug in? I know I have. Does this show we
are grateful for the blessings bestowed on us? No way! It
says we are ungrateful gluttons taking for granted the gifts from
our Creator. Any good Buddhist will tell you that to be mindful and
thankful for every bite they have is their duty and goal. And many
of them achieve that very well. Why can't those of us who follow the
Messiah, do the same?

" And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Master Yeshua, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through
him." - Colossians 3: 17

By offering our food and giving thanks to Yahweh we demonstrate to
Him that we truly appreciate all of the blessings and gifts He has
bestowed on us, and that we look forward to every opportunity to
develop a consciousness of His Presence in our daily lives.

pila if you can can you please convert the passage from hebrew bible lection into gosple lection. much thanks

Aloha Red



What would you like to know?

Hello Essene  and welcome to this part of Beliefnet. As you may know Beliefnet is a multi-faith forum and not all of us may know the meaning of the words you are using. I wonder if you would be willing to explain the meaning of some of your words?

My very limited understanding of the laws of kashrut suggest that they address much more than just the preparation of food. Do you care to go into this in more detail?

Again welcome.