Purpose of the Laws of Hybrids/2
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Laws of Hybrids – כלאיים
Exegetical Approaches
Preserving Natural Law
When Hashem created the world, He made each plant and animal according to its species, and mandated that each species should reproduce according to it own kind. Crossbreeding and other mixing of species is prohibited because it goes against Hashem's plan of creation and the natural order He set in the world..
Sources:Philo #1, Rashbam, Ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, Chizkuni, Ramban, R. Bachya, Tur, R. Yosef ibn Kaspi, Ralbag, R. Avraham Saba, Maharal, R. S.R. Hirsch, R . David Zvi Hoffmann
What is wrong with mixing species? Though all these sources emphasize that since Hashem created each species "according to its own kind" mankind, too, must not mix species, they disagree regarding the specifics of why this is problematic:
- Hubris – R"Y Bekhor Shor points out that there is a certain hubris in crossbreeding, as if one is trying to turn one's self into Creator, usurping the role of God. Ramban adds that in so doing it is as if one is questioning the perfection of Hashem's world and suggesting that it needs improvement.1
- Inability to bear offspring – Both R"Y Bekhor Shor and Ramban2 further point out that Hashem created a world that can perpetuate itself but hybrids can't reproduce on their own, proving that the original mixing is unnatural and undesired.
- Order in creation – Ralbag and Tzeror HaMor also emphasizes how Hashem had desired an ordered world, while mixing of species introduces chaos.
Meaning of "כִּלְאָיִם"
"פֶּן תִּקְדַּשׁ הַמְלֵאָה"
Crossbreeding vs. Planting
"שַׁעַטְנֵז"
"לֹא תַחֲרֹשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו"
Biblical Parallels
Exceptions
Context
"את חקותי תשמורו"
Distancing from Idolatry
The prohibitions were instituted as a reaction to idolatrous customs, in an effort to keep the nation from imitating them.
