Spiritual Surrender - Part 22
“Welcome to the Tannery”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, April 14, 2024

Few workplaces enjoy as foul an odor as a tannery. It's because of this that the tannery, where animal hides are processed into leather, has a unique place in Jewish law. 

In original halachic zoning law, a tannery must be situated to the east of the city, past its outskirts, so that its odor should not disturb the city residents. A tannery is not to have a mezuzah on its doors, due to it having a similar status as a bathroom. And a synagogue that is in disuse may not be repurposed as a tannery; that is simply too far a downgrade.

Yet, the mystics are fond of employing the tannery as a metaphor for the internal work that each of us is called upon to do. Our Divine soul is tasked with working, softening and reshaping our body and animal soul, like the tanner who labors to make the hide usable. This is the very why and wherefore of our being, our central purpose.

In this remarkable session of Kabbalah Café we explore life inside the tannery, and discover real-life lessons for making our own inner animal more of a mensch.

Spiritual Surrender - 22 - Welcome to the Tannery

Daily Power Parsha 9.11.20 (Nitzavim-Vayelech)
A Quick Daily Dose of Torah Inspiration
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live on September 11, 2020

Daily Power Parsha 9.11.20 (Nitzavim-Vayelech)

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Spiritual Surrender - 22 - Welcome to the Tannery

The Torah Center ATL

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