Chullin 93 · Parenting voice, Bite-sized

The Anatomy of "Good Enough"

In parenting, we often obsess over the "surface"—the perfect schedule, the pristine home, or the flawlessly behaved child. In Chullin 93, the Sages navigate complex, technical rules about what is "covered" by flesh and what is exposed, distinguishing between what is forbidden and what is permitted. The big insight here? Sometimes, the most important work happens beneath the surface, where things are "covered." We don't always need to expose every flaw or strip away every imperfection to have a "kosher," meaningful family life. Just as the Sages debate which fats are permitted because they are tucked away, we can permit ourselves to let some of the "messy" parts of parenting stay tucked away, provided the core is healthy and loving.

Text Snapshot

"The fat that is covered by the flesh is permitted... The Merciful One states in the Torah that the fat that is upon the loins is prohibited, but not the fat that is inside the loins." — Chullin 93a