Difference between revisions of "Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut/2"
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<p>All the animals that the Torah prohibited are unhealthy for the human body.</p> | <p>All the animals that the Torah prohibited are unhealthy for the human body.</p> | ||
<mekorot><multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:3</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim348" data-aht="source">Rambam Moreh Nevukhim</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim348" data-aht="source">3 48</a><a href="Rambam Moreh Nevukhim" data-aht="parshan">About Rambam Moreh Nevukhim</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh</a><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 73</a><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment148" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 148</a></multilink>,</mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamVayikra11-3" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:3</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim348" data-aht="source">Rambam Moreh Nevukhim</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim348" data-aht="source">3 48</a><a href="Rambam Moreh Nevukhim" data-aht="parshan">About Rambam Moreh Nevukhim</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh</a><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 73</a><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment148" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 148</a></multilink>,</mekorot> | ||
| + | <point><b>Why these animals?</b> 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.</point> | ||
<point><b>The signs</b> – 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.</point> | <point><b>The signs</b> – 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.</point> | ||
<point><b>Context in Vayikra – laws of purity</b> – 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 <a href="http://alhatorah.org/Tzara'at/2" data-aht="page">Tzara'at</a>.</point> | <point><b>Context in Vayikra – laws of purity</b> – 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 <a href="http://alhatorah.org/Tzara'at/2" data-aht="page">Tzara'at</a>.</point> | ||
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<point><b>"וְלֹא תְטַמְּאוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם"</b></point> | <point><b>"וְלֹא תְטַמְּאוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם"</b></point> | ||
<point><b>"וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים"</b> – 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.</point> | <point><b>"וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים"</b> – 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.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Prohibition of נבילה and טריפה</b> – The Rambam explicitly writes that the same reasoning applies by the נבילה and טריפה which are hard to digest | + | <point><b>Prohibition of נבילה and טריפה</b> – 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.</point> |
| − | |||
</category> | </category> | ||
<category>Spiritual Benefit | <category>Spiritual Benefit | ||
<opinion>Learning Limits | <opinion>Learning Limits | ||
<p>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.</p> | <p>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.</p> | ||
| − | <mekorot><multilink><a href="4Maccabees1-33-34" data-aht="source">4 Maccabees | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="4Maccabees1-33-34" data-aht="source">4 Maccabees</a><a href="4Maccabees1-33-34" data-aht="source">4 Maccabees 1:33-34</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV100-104" data-aht="source">Philo</a><a href="PhiloTheSpecialLawsIV100-104" data-aht="source">The Special Laws IV 100-104</a><a href="Philo" data-aht="parshan">About Philo</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakTorah60" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakTorah60" data-aht="source">Torah 60</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>,</mekorot> |
| + | <point><b>Why these animals?</b><ul> | ||
| + | <li>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.</li> | ||
| + | <li>In contrast, Akeidat Yitzchak seems to suggest that there is no meaning to the specific animals which were chosen to be prohibited for eating.</li> | ||
| + | </ul></point> | ||
| + | <point><b>Eating meat</b></point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
<opinion>Perfecting Personality | <opinion>Perfecting Personality | ||
| − | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:13</a><a href="RambanDevarim14-3" data-aht="source">Devarim 14:3</a><a href="RambanDevarim14-21" data-aht="source">Devarim 14:21</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 73</a><a href=" | + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:13</a><a href="RambanDevarim14-3" data-aht="source">Devarim 14:3</a><a href="RambanDevarim14-21" data-aht="source">Devarim 14:21</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh</a><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment73" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 73</a><a href="SeferHaChinukhCommandment148" data-aht="source">Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 148</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AkeidatYitzchakTorah60" data-aht="source">Akeidat Yitzchak</a><a href="AkeidatYitzchakTorah60" data-aht="source">Torah 60</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Arama (Akeidat Yitzchak)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Arama</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelVayikra11-1" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra11Question8" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11, Question 8</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra11-1" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:1</a><a href="AbarbanelVayikra11-13" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:13</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SefornoVayikra11-2-46" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoVayikra11-2-46" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:2-46</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>,<fn>Seforno relates the laws to the sin of the Golden Calf, and suggests they were only needed to perfect the people after they sinned.</fn> <multilink><a href="ShadalVayikra11-143" data-aht="source">Shadal</a><a href="ShadalVayikra11-143" data-aht="source">Vayikra 11:1,43</a><a href="R. Shemuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto</a></multilink>,</mekorot> |
| + | <point><b>Why these animals?</b> The animals which are prohibited are cruel animals and own traits that Hashem didn't want humans to learn.</point> | ||
</opinion> | </opinion> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 02:46, 18 April 2018
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.
