Difference between revisions of "Purpose of the Laws of Hybrids/2"
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<h1>Laws of Hybrids – כלאיים</h1> | <h1>Laws of Hybrids – כלאיים</h1> | ||
<div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | <div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | ||
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<point><b>What is wrong with mixing species?</b> All these sources emphasize that since Hashem created each species "according to its own kind," mankind, too, must not mix species. Yet, they disagree regarding the specifics of why this is problematic:<br/> | <point><b>What is wrong with mixing species?</b> All these sources emphasize that since Hashem created each species "according to its own kind," mankind, too, must not mix species. Yet, they disagree regarding the specifics of why this is problematic:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Hubris</b> – 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.<fn>The Maharal questions this, pointing out that in many areas of life man "improves" upon God's creation, turning wheat into flour, baking bread, and circumcising a child. He quotes Bereshit Rabbah 11:6 which states, "כָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּבְרָא בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית צְרִיכִין עֲשִׂיָה, כְּגוֹן הַחַרְדָּל צָרִיךְ לְמִתּוּק. הַתּוּרְמוּסִים צָרִיךְ לְמִתּוּק. הַחִטִּין צְרִיכִין לְהִטָּחֵן. אֲפִלּוּ אָדָם צָרִיךְ תִּקּוּן".  One might point to Hashem's command to Adam "מִלְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁהָ" as evidence that we are actively meant to take the world and work with it to innovate and produce on our own.</fn></li> | + | <li><b>Hubris</b> – 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.<fn>The Maharal questions this, pointing out that in many areas of life man "improves" upon God's creation, turning wheat into flour, baking bread, and circumcising a child. He quotes Bereshit Rabbah 11:6 which states, "כָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּבְרָא בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית צְרִיכִין עֲשִׂיָה, כְּגוֹן הַחַרְדָּל צָרִיךְ לְמִתּוּק. הַתּוּרְמוּסִים צָרִיךְ לְמִתּוּק. הַחִטִּין צְרִיכִין לְהִטָּחֵן. אֲפִלּוּ אָדָם צָרִיךְ תִּקּוּן".  One might point to Hashem's command to Adam "מִלְאוּ אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁהָ" as further evidence that we are actively meant to take the world and work with it to innovate and produce on our own.</fn></li> |
| − | <li><b> | + | <li><b>Harming creation</b> – Both R"Y Bekhor Shor and Ramban<fn>See also Ralbag.</fn> further point out that Hashem created a world that can perpetuate itself, but hybrids can't reproduce on their own. As such, in creating such hybrids, man reduces the goodness of Hashem's creation.</li> |
| − | <li><b> | + | <li><b>Introducing disorder into the world</b> – Tzeror HaMor and R. Hoffmann also emphasizes how Hashem had desired an ordered world, while mixing of species introduces chaos.</li> |
| + | <li>Less recognition of Hashem–</li> | ||
</ul></point> | </ul></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Crossbreeding vs. Planting</b> – Even though planting seeds of different species one next to another will not create a cross-breed it too is prohibitted.  R"Y Bekhor Shor claims that this is a precaution, since it is possible that accidentally the mixed seeds will combine and create a new plant. Rashbam, Ibn Ezra and R. Hirsch, in contrast, assert that the mixing itself (even if nothing is created as a result) is problematic since it represents a mxing of species and veering from the natural order.</point> | ||
| + | <point><b>"שַׁעַטְנֵז"</b></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>"לֹא תַחֲרֹשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו"</b> – Ramban asserts that this is prohibitted as a precaution, lest</point> | ||
<point><b>Meaning of "כִּלְאָיִם"</b></point> | <point><b>Meaning of "כִּלְאָיִם"</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"פֶּן תִּקְדַּשׁ הַמְלֵאָה"</b></point> | <point><b>"פֶּן תִּקְדַּשׁ הַמְלֵאָה"</b></point> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
<point><b>Biblical Parallels</b></point> | <point><b>Biblical Parallels</b></point> | ||
<point><b>Exceptions</b></point> | <point><b>Exceptions</b></point> | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Preventing Inappropriate Sexual Acts | <opinion>Preventing Inappropriate Sexual Acts | ||
| − | <p>The prohibition against mixing species is meant to | + | <p>The prohibition against mixing species is meant to teach people not to engage in similarly inappropriate pairings and sexual relations.</p> |
| − | <mekorot>Philo, Josephus#2, Akeidat Yitzchak</mekorot> | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV-208-217" data-aht="source">Philo </a><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV-208-217" data-aht="source">The Special Laws IV: 203-217</a><a href="Philo" data-aht="parshan">About Philo</a></multilink>#1, Josephus#2, Akeidat Yitzchak</mekorot> |
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
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Caring for the Land & Animals | Caring for the Land & Animals | ||
<p>Mixing of species harms one or both members of the mixture, and in the case of produce, also the land in which they are sown.</p> | <p>Mixing of species harms one or both members of the mixture, and in the case of produce, also the land in which they are sown.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot><multilink><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV-208-217" data-aht="source">Philo</a><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV-208-217" data-aht="source">The Special Laws IV: 208-217</a><a href="Philo" data-aht="parshan">About Philo</a></multilink> # | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV-208-217" data-aht="source">Philo</a><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV-208-217" data-aht="source">The Special Laws IV: 208-217</a><a href="Philo" data-aht="parshan">About Philo</a></multilink> #3, <multilink><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews48-20" data-aht="source">Josephus</a><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews48-11" data-aht="source">4 8:11</a><a href="JosephusAntiquitiesoftheJews48-20" data-aht="source">4 8:20</a><a href="Josephus Antiquities of the Jews" data-aht="parshan">About Josephus Antiquities of the Jews</a></multilink> #1,</mekorot> |
</category> | </category> | ||
</approaches> | </approaches> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> | ||
Version as of 03:22, 23 April 2019
Laws of Hybrids – כלאיים
Exegetical Approaches
Preserving Natural Order
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? All these sources emphasize that since Hashem created each species "according to its own kind," mankind, too, must not mix species. Yet, 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
- Harming creation – 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. As such, in creating such hybrids, man reduces the goodness of Hashem's creation.
- Introducing disorder into the world – Tzeror HaMor and R. Hoffmann also emphasizes how Hashem had desired an ordered world, while mixing of species introduces chaos.
- Less recognition of Hashem–
Crossbreeding vs. Planting – Even though planting seeds of different species one next to another will not create a cross-breed it too is prohibitted. R"Y Bekhor Shor claims that this is a precaution, since it is possible that accidentally the mixed seeds will combine and create a new plant. Rashbam, Ibn Ezra and R. Hirsch, in contrast, assert that the mixing itself (even if nothing is created as a result) is problematic since it represents a mxing of species and veering from the natural order.
"שַׁעַטְנֵז"
"לֹא תַחֲרֹשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו" – Ramban asserts that this is prohibitted as a precaution, lest
Meaning of "כִּלְאָיִם"
"פֶּן תִּקְדַּשׁ הַמְלֵאָה"
Biblical Parallels
Exceptions
Context
"את חקותי תשמורו"
Preventative Measure
Distancing from Idolatry
The prohibitions were instituted as a reaction to idolatrous customs, in an effort to keep the nation from imitating them.
Preventing Inappropriate Sexual Acts
The prohibition against mixing species is meant to teach people not to engage in similarly inappropriate pairings and sexual relations.
Sources:Philo #1, Josephus#2, Akeidat Yitzchak
