The Ramban Rewind: Parshat Re’eh The Unkosher Bloody Mary

Parshat Re’eh:  Devarim 12:22-24

"You may slaughter any of the cattle or sheep that Hashem gives you, as I have instructed you; and you may eat to your heart’s content in your settlements….. But be strong (Chazak) make sure that you do not partake of the blood"

Serious question, when was the last time you were at a meal and had to hold yourself back from wanting to wash it down with a literal Bloody Mary Cocktail, a nice warm glass of freshly poured bovine blood. Chances are never.

Yes, in China, they cube duck blood like tofu. In India, lamb’s blood gets stir-fried. And in Italy, they swirl pig’s blood into chocolate for dessert. But with our seemingly natural Jewish aversion towards blood consumption, the Ramban brings up this seemingly unrelateable mitzvah and begs two important questions.

Question #1: Why the prohibition of Blood?

Even, if we did have a craving for sipping blood, why does it get such a bad reputation in the Torah?

Question #2: Why the extra warning?

The Torah forbids many foods: pork, certain fats, the sciatic nerve. Yet only blood comes with an added “be strong” prompt.

The Pull of Imitation

As usual, the Ramban doesn’t beat around the bush. As hard as it to believe, many Jews of Mitzrayim were in fact, as the Torah and Midrashim explain, not disgusted by blood. Many actually used it in idolatrous practices. The added emphasis in the mitzvah comes from a well-known truth: when non-Jews are obsessed with something, our desire for it likely grows, not from an innate craving, but from the natural pull of imitation of our surroundings.

Throughout Tanach, we see a recurring theme: we are drawn to copy what the surrounding nations do. The Jews came out of Egypt, a culture where slaughtered blood was tied to demonic pagan practices. Somehow that left an appetite for it. It’s a kind of spiritual osmosis: surround yourself with what others are infatuated with, and you start wanting it too.

To deny the powerful gravitational pull of the non-Jewish world on the Jewish world, even in the most “frum” communities, would be willful blindness. Just look at the striking similarities between architecture and decorations with local non-Jewish designs in the synagogues of Rome, the Knis’ of Syria and the Kenissas of Iran.

Even more noticeable is the mode of “Jewish” dress code. Many would be offended to be reminded that black fedora hats, lapel suits, and even braided ‘challah’ breads are not inherently Jewish traditions but were adopted from our non-Jewish neighbors.

It seems there is nothing inherently wrong with borrowing productive or aesthetic elements from the outside world. But there’s a strong red line between adopting neutral cultural expressions and absorbing practices rooted in dark spiritual worship that stands completely opposite to the Torah’s framework.

Modern Parallels in L.A.

While few Angelinos today openly indulge in demonic blood worship, plenty of negative influences still surround us. Who can honestly claim they’re untouched by the media’s glorification of gossip, the sexualization of women on billboards, or the normalization of lying and trickery in corporate boardrooms?

With this message we can make the seemingly impractical to practical. The mere exposure to the “LA LA Land” we call home should not be taken lightly. Bluntly put, what our eyes and ears consume should not be channeled toward negative self-serving practices, even if “everyone is doing it”.

Looking deeper, it is interesting to note that the Rambam writes in Moreh Nevuchim that, in Torah thought, blood is inherently pure and carries the potential for deep kosher spirituality. It was sprinkled on the priests’ garments, dashed on the altar, and poured as part of the sacrificial service. It’s clearly central to the Temple’s worship. In the same vein (pun intended), our words we speak, the sights we take in, and the thoughts we entertain are inherently pure and have the potential to be abused towards negativity or to be dedicated to holy positivity. This is the precise reason why we need to be so strong…. because the pull to abuse is so strong and the stakes are so high.

R’ Eman Chayim, a Los Angeles native and UC Irvine graduate in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management, is professionally active in manufacturing and fintech startup investing. He also serves as a Chatan teacher, and shares insights as a writer and speaker on a variety of Jewish topics.