I would like to conclude this essay with a novel teaching from the Chasam Sofer, zy”a, in Toras Moshe. He reveals his great affection not only for HKB”H and His Torah but also for all of Yisrael. He expresses his love for even the simplest of Jews, even though they may not rise to the level of tzaddikim. This teaching is related to the passage we began with with the addition of one more passuk:
“When Hashem, your G-d, will expand your border as He promised you, and you say, ‘I would like to eat meat,’ for it is the desire of your soul to eat meat, as all the desire of your soul you may eat meat . . . But as the deer and the gazelle are eaten, so may you eat it, the tamei and the tahor may eat it together. Only be strong not to eat the blood, because the blood is the soul, and you shall not eat the soul with the meat.”
The Chasam Sofer applies these pesukim to consummate tzaddikim such as Rabeinu hakadosh, who do not derive pleasure from the mundane affairs of Olam HaZeh. He learns from these pesukim that aside from the kedushah of eating with proper intent, they must take care not to belittle or disrespect those who have not achieved the same elite status. Hence, the passuk encourages them to eat together: "הטמא והטהור יחדיו יאכלנו"—the tamei and the tahor should eat it together. Failure to do so might lead to disgrace and the spilling of blood. Hence, the Torah continues: “You shall not eat the soul with the meat”—alluding to the blood and soul of those who have not achieved an elite status.
He explains that a person’s holy life-source desires meat in order to elevate the sparks of the animal being consumed. It believes that that desire emanates from Hashem just like the malach in charge of desire was sent to Yehudah and Tamar (to sow the seeds of the future Mashiach). Furthermore, when a person satisfies his appetite, he isn’t always totally content, because he may be troubled by the financial expenditure or the time spent. This is not true of the tzaddik. Since he is certain that his desire was decreed from the heavens to fulfill the will of the Creator, blessed is He, he can eat to his heart’s content without any trace of regret.
Yet, when he prepares to eat meat intending to elevate its holy sparks, he should take care not to drive away members of his family whom he deems unworthy. This applies all the more so to members of his household who are not learned and who are unsophisticated. In fact, the Gemara (Pesachim 49b) teaches that they are prohibited to eat meat, because they cause the animal’s sparks to descend rather than ascend. Thus, he embarrasses them and figuratively spills their blood.
Therefore, the Torah admonishes the tzaddik not to alienate them or embarrass them. Instead, “the tamei and the tahor should eat it together.” Thus, when you eat meat intending to elevate its holy sparks, you should not eat the blood of this lesser individual also. This is the implication of the passuk: “Only be strong not to eat the blood, because the blood is the soul, and you shall not eat the soul with the meat.”
