Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut/2
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Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut
Exegetical Approaches
Health Benefit
All the animals that the Torah prohibited are unhealthy for the human body.
Why these animals? According to this approach these specific animals are unhealthy for the human body. In contrast, many commentators note that this does not match reality, where we see many non-Jews eating these foods with no consequences. In addition, Abarbanel notes that there are many other unhealthy foods which are not mentioned, and if the Torah's goal was to keep us healthy one would expect it to include a complete list. Sefer HaChinukh defends the position saying that we can trust Hashem who knows better than any scientist which foods are healthy and which not.
The signs – Rambam explains that there is nothing intrinsic in the signs which provide a health benefit to the animal. The signs are only necessary so as to differentiate between the different animals.
Context in Vayikra – laws of purity – According to this position, it is not clear how these laws are connected to the laws of purity and impurity. However, it is possible that other laws of impurity are also realted to disease. See for example Ralbag on Tzara'at.
Context in Devarim – laws of idolatry
Why is the purpose not stated? Sefer HaChinukh claims that had the reason been given individuals would think they know better and decide for themselves what is healthy and what not. R. D"Z Hoffmann in contrast argues that it would have been better to include the reason, because people tend to want to observe commandment which are beneficial to them.
"וְלֹא תְטַמְּאוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם"
"וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים" – The reasoning given in the Torah does not correspond to this approach's understanding. Presumably they would suggest these verses as being the general aim of many commandment and not specifically Kashrut.
Prohibition of נבילה and טריפה – The Rambam explicitly writes that the same reasoning applies by the נבילה and טריפה which are hard to digest. Sefer HaChinukh notes that the fact the animal became a טריפה proves the animal is sick.
Spiritual Benefit
Learning Limits
The purpose of the commandment was to limit us in the number of animals we can eat, in order to train us in controlling our desires.
Why these animals?
- Philo notes that the swine is admitted to be the nicest of all meats, and the fish with no scales are the most delicate of fish, suggesting that Hashem chose to prohibit the most desired of animals.
- In contrast, Akeidat Yitzchak seems to suggest that there is no meaning to the specific animals which were chosen to be prohibited for eating.
Eating meat
Perfecting Personality
Why these animals? The animals which are prohibited are cruel animals and own traits that Hashem didn't want humans to learn.
