Parashat Shemini (“Eighth [Day]”) sets out the events of the eighth day following the erection of the Mishkan, from the beginning of the preparation of the Kohanim for the fulfillment of their mission. As you know, on this day Aharon and his sons began their service in the Mishkan for the first time. The date was the first of Nissan of the second year after the Jews left Egypt, in the year 2449 after the Creation of the Universe. Aharon offered all the sacrifices required by the law and blessed the people, but he did not light a fire on the Altar. The fire on the Altar descended from Heaven, testifying that the Shechinah of the Almighty had entered the Mishkan. The Jews were overjoyed.
The first part of the parashah relates these events. However, at the inauguration of the Mishkan, a tragic event took place: Two of the sons of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu, perished. Without asking Moshe, they had brought up fire and incense in their censers and offered them on the Altar. This was a serious mistake and G-d immediately punished them with death. The Almighty forbade Aharon and his remaining sons to show grief outwardly, so as not to darken the joy of the opening of the Mishkan, and He commanded them not to interrupt the service. These incidents are related in the second part of the parashah.
The third part is devoted to the laws of kosher foods — the distinction between kosher and non-kosher animals. A summing up of those laws appears at the end of Parashat Shemini: This is the law regarding animals, birds, all living creatures that move in water and all creatures that creep on the ground, to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten (Vayikra 11:46-47).
These words summarize the contents of the final part of the parashah (Vayikra Ch. 11), which discusses the species of animals that Jews are permitted or forbidden to eat. Parashat Shemini discusses separately land animals, aquatic animals, and winged fowl. For each group, the Torah indicates the tokens or signs that distinguish the kosher from the non-kosher — the permitted from the prohibited.
Of the land animals, we are permitted to eat only ruminants (animals that chew their cud) that also have cloven hooves. Animals with only one of these characteristics are forbidden for consumption. The chapter specifically names four species of animals whose meat is not allowed: three species of ruminants with solid hooves and one non-ruminant with cloven hooves. Whether an animal chews its cud can be determined only by observing it for a while. But the hooves can be identified right away. The pig is an animal that has one external kosher sign — cloven hooves — but it does not chew cud. Therefore, it is prohibited as food for a Jew.
Animals that have both characteristics, that is, those that we are allowed to eat, are not named. The permitted animals are listed in the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy). The Torah names only ten species of permitted animals: three of them domestic — cow, sheep, and goat — and seven of them wild — deer, fallow deer, chamois, and so on. Note that only herbivores are permitted, and all predators — lion, tiger, wolf, lynx, and others — are found among the prohibited animals.
The Talmud (Chullin 59a) cites an oral tradition that says: If a hitherto unknown mammal with cloven hooves is found somewhere and it is impossible to find out whether it chews cud, we can safely slaughter it and eat it as long as it is not from the family of pigs. The Master of the Universe knows how many species He created and which ones. He conveyed through Moshe Rabbeinu that there is only one animal with cloven hooves that does not chew cud — the pig — and you need not be concerned about the rest.
The Talmud also says that a mammal that does not have incisors among the upper teeth certainly chews cud and also has cloven hooves. (A camel calf falls into this category until its teeth grow in, but its meat may not be eaten, like the meat of an adult camel). This oral tradition was also received from Moshe Rabbeinu. Bold statements! How could Moshe Rabbeinu know that the pig is the only animal with cloven hooves that does not chew its cud if Hashem had not told him? Rabbi Akiva notes that Moshe Rabbeinu did not hunt (Sifra 11:), and hence could not have had a comprehensive knowledge of the regional fauna.
The Torah was given in the Sinai Desert, over 3,300 years ago. The fauna of Europe, Siberia, the Far East, America, and Australia were at best only partly known to the Jews and other peoples of the Middle East. Is the Talmud too categorical? What if there is another animal — besides the pig — that has cloven hooves but does not chew cud? In the last century, the British government dispatched several naturalists and explorers, at least one of whom was assigned to find out if at least one more animal exists on the globe with only one kosher sign, like a camel, a hare, or a rabbit that chews cud, or like a pig with cloven hooves.
Well, the naturalist did not find any specimens to be added to the list given in the Torah! But Moshe could not survey the entire globe! As it is said in the Sifra (an ancient collection of Jewish laws concerning the sacrifices): Let those who say that the Torah is not from G-d ponder over this!
Another interesting statement of the Sages says that any mammal with branched horns (antlers) will certainly be a ruminant with cloven hooves. Israeli scientist Dr. Menachem Dor, upon learning of this statement, expressed bewilderment: It is difficult to see the connection between horns, hooves, and chewing cud. Nevertheless, being a true scientist and naturally industrious, he searched through all available lists of horned mammals and verified that all known ruminants with branched horns have cloven hooves.
Of all the creatures that live in water, the Torah allows us to eat only fish with scales and fins. The Talmud adds to this: Fish with scales certainly have fins. So, if you have in front of you a piece of fish with scales, but its fins are not visible, you may safely eat the fish as kosher! A truly amazing statement! How many animal species are there in the oceans? Great multitudes! Moreover, scientists discover new species every year. Who can guarantee that a creature will not be found that will serve as a refutation of what the Sages said? Only the Creator.
But, on the other hand, maybe all fish have scales and fins, so perhaps there is nothing special to talk about? Not at all! The catfish, a river fish much prized by gourmets of the American South, has fins but no scales. There is also the moray eel, for example — a dangerous sea predator up to three meters long — which has neither. So, not every fish has both fins and scales. And what scales have to do with fins is not clear to scientists either.
Rabbi Yitzchok Zilber, zt"l, dedicated his life to teaching Torah, and his impactful writings continue to inspire Jews worldwide. Copyright© 2023 by The LaMaalot Foundation. Conversations on the Torah, by Rabbi Yitzchak Zilber is catalogued at The Library of Congress. All rights reserved. www.LaMaalot.org
Parashat Shemini: The Kashrut Laws – A Divine Guide for Healthy Living
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