Permission to Eat Meat/2/en
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Permission to Eat Meat
Exegetical Approaches
Never Prohibited
Meat was permitted from the beginning of time. Even Adam was never prohibited from eating animals.
"הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לָכֶם אֶת כׇּל עֵשֶׂב זֹרֵעַ זֶרַע ... לְאׇכְלָה" – R. Saadia argues that in these words Hashem never intended to limit man's food to vegetation. Hashem mentioned only grasses and fruits because these are mankind's major food source while meat is a luxury eaten much less often.
"כׇּל רֶמֶשׂ אֲשֶׁר הוּא חַי לָכֶם יִהְיֶה לְאׇכְלָה"
Prohibited After Adam's Sin Until the Flood
Adam was initially allowed to eat meat but after sinning in the garden, he lost this privilege until the flood atoned for his sins.
Sources:Rashba, Tzeror Hamor #2
Permitted After the Flood
Man was not given permission to eat meat until after the flood. Commentators differ in their understanding of the reason for the change.
Permission was granted as a reward
As a reward for caring for the animals on the ark, Noach and future generations were given permission to eat meat.
Permission was a concession
After the flood, mankind was allowed to eat animals as a concession to human frailties.
Original prohibition was a practical necessity
Adam was not prohibited from eating meat for any fundamental reason, but rather due to the scarcity of animals at the time or lack of knowledge regarding how to cook them.
