The Lesson I Learned on My Visit to Cuba

As we mark the Nine Days, we feel deprived at not being able to eat meat. But a Jewish man in Cuba hadn’t tasted a piece of meat in over eight years because of his kashrus standards. That taught me a lesson for life.

By Rabbi Eliyahu Ezagui – International Traveling Shochet

For several years now, I have been traveling around the world visiting remote communities and shechting in locations that often have no local source of kosher meat. I have taken many excursions to shecht in far-flung locations, and have personal experience traveling to various countries helping communities access kosher meat.

Some time ago, I arrived in Cuba to do a shechita round there after there hadn’t been kosher meat shechted in Cuba for decades. There, I met a local Yid at the Shabbos table he was eating at who casually shared some surprising information.

The Yid mentioned that he hadn’t had the taste of meat in his mouth for over 8 years, because he only eats strictly kosher. I sat there and felt what a powerful reminder this was to appreciate what we have. It’s essential to recognize the struggles others face in maintaining kashrus.

As we approach the nine days which we abstain from eating meat, we can use the time to reflect on the destruction of the בית המקדש, and feel a sense of appreciation for all the things we oftentimes can take for granted due to the ease of access and abundance we enjoy in our daily life B”H.