While reviewing many salient points of hilchos Basar B'Chalav this summer I came across a siman that discusses eggs. I was struck how this is an excellent metaphor for chizuk and growth.
Yes, eggs.
You see, the egg starts off as part of the mother chicken - but at some point is fully formed and gets laid out. Everyone agrees that once they are ready to come out of the chicken, eggs are pareve, while before they are fully formed ( distinct yolk and albumen (eggwhite) ), they are fleishig. At what stage of the egg development does it become pareve ?
( The applicable case is when a chicken is slaughtered and there is a partially formed egg in there - does one have to treat it like meat or not ?)
Two of the answers are : If it is still connected to the chicken (with sinews - ewwwwww ) then it is fleishig - if it is already separate then it is not. Answer two : If the shell has hardened - then it is pareve - otherwise fleishig.
"This is a great analogy to students," thought I. "If they still see themselves as part of their schools - even during vacation - then they are considered connected !" OR "If they wish to be disconnected and still be kosher ( be considered fully developed bnei or bnos torah ) they must have a hard shell !
So, as strange as it may seem, we can take inspiration from anywhere. If we still see ourselves as current students ( as if we were inbetween classes - or on a long weekend ) then you will be able to keep up your chizuk. But, if you are no longer a student ( an alumni, perhaps) you must keep a hard shell between you and the outside world of influences and shtus.
'till next time - be good eggs !
R' Druyan
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