Parsha Shmini: Day 6

(Part 1: Leviticus 11:1-12)

After offering the sin offerings and the burnt offerings, Moshe then goes into the laws of kashrut, or the laws of those animals that can and cannot be eaten.

(Leviticus 11:1-8)

In Leviticus chapter 11 verses one through eight, Moshe discusses the land animals.

We learned that the animals that can be eaten are those that have true hoofs and that also chew the cud. Moshe defines a true hoof as one that has a cleft through the hoof. This means that the hoof is completely divided. It is separated into two parts.

Both of these requirements and laws, hearkens Genesis and and Hashem’s original design for animals. In Genesis 1 and 2, we learn that animals were given the green herb to eat. Thus, the animal that chews the cud is an animal who only eats the green herb or grass. Having a divided hoof also hearkens Hashem’s design in all of creation. He repeatedly separates and divides: light from dark, good from evil, Jews from Gentiles. Thus, the meat that Israelites can eat are animals that follow Hashem’s original design of complete separation.

Land animals that do not follow this design are considered unclean, and Jewish people are not allowed to eat them. These animals are those that might have a true hoof, but do not chew the cud. They might chew the cud, but do not have a true hoof. Or they do not have either a true hoof nor chew the cud.

Moshe gives a list of four specific prohibited animals, though the list of prohibited animals is greater.

The animal specified specifically as unclean by Moshe are:

• First, the camel because it chews the cud, but does not have a true hoof.

• Second the daman because it chews the cud, but does not have a true hoof.

• Third the hare or the rabbit because it chews the cud, but does not have a true hoof.

• And fourth, the pig because it has a true hoof, but it does not chew the cud.

Moshe commands that these animals are unclean, and therefore they shall not be eaten, and they shall not be touched if they die.

(Leviticus 11:9-12)

In Leviticus chapter 11 verses nine through 12 Moshe discusses the water animals.

The clean water animals that may be eaten by Jewish people are those that have fins and scales. Water animals that do not have fins or do not have scales are an abomination. The flesh of the unclean animals cannot be eaten, and their carcasses cannot be touched.

If we think of the types of the unclean water animals, many of these water creatures are either

• Bottom feeders  (meaning they eat the literal scum of other water animals, which make them unclean).

• Or, they, in some way, resemble an unclean land animal or reptile.

  • For example, the eel much resembles a snake, which is unclean.

• Also if we think of animals like sharks, they are predatory and often eat unclean animals themselves, making them unclean for the Israelite people to eat.

Other unclean water creatures have defense mechanisms that could literally kill a human if touched or eaten:

• the ink of an octopus (who has many legs and is unclean),

• the tentacles of a jellyfish or stingrays (which both have multiple extremities, making them unclean),

• crabs and lobsters have pincher-claws, which hurt like the dickens when used (both the crab and lobster have multiple legs, which alone makes them unclean),

• shellfish contain a substance that causes severe anaphylaxis allergies in many people (these creatures do not have scales, nor fins making them unclean).

• These are just a few examples. Can you think of others? Write it in the comments!

Am Yisrael Chai!

Kimberly Davis