Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut/2

Purpose of the Laws of Kashrut

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Health Benefit

The laws of Kashrut were instituted in order to protect the health of the members of the nation.

Sources:RashbamVayikra 11:3About R. Shemuel b. Meir, Rambam Moreh Nevukhim3 48About Rambam Moreh Nevukhim, RambanVayikra 11:13Devarim 14:3About R. Moshe b. Nachman #2, Sefer HaChinukhSefer HaChinukh Commandment 73Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 148,¹

Why these animals? According to this approach, all the prohibited animals are unhealthy, while the permitted animals are not. For example, Rambam notes that pigs are particularly unhygienic² and if they were permitted to be eaten they would introduce filth into the community, further spreading disease.  Bavli Shabbat 86b states that non-Jews "דאכלין שקצים ורמשים חביל גופייהו".

The signs – Rambam maintains that there is nothing intrinsic in the signs which provide a health benefit to the animal.  They are only necessary so as to differentiate between the various animals.³

Validity of health benefit claims – Many commentators question the above claims:

• Akeidat Yitzchak⁴ argues that this position is not supported by scientific evidence, as many non-Jews eat the forbidden foods with no unfortunate consequences.⁵ 
• Abarbanel further notes that if the Torah's goal was to keep the nation healthy, one would expect it to include a complete list of damaging foods, yet there are many other foods which are detrimental to the body that are not mentioned.

Sefer HaChinukh defends this position, claiming that Israel can trust Hashem to know better than any scientist which foods are healthy and which are not.

Can laws be utilitarian in nature? Akeidat Yitzchak and Abarbanel further question this position by pointing out that the purpose of Torah is not to teach medicine but rather to instill good character and deeds.  As such, it does not make sense that the laws of Kashrut would have been instituted for their health advantages. These sources would argue that Akeidat Yitzchak's fundamental assumption,  that laws cannot be utilitarian in nature, is simply wrong. Rambam, for example, gives practical explanations for several commandments, including Shemittah and the incense altar.⁶

Why is the purpose not stated? Sefer HaChinukh claims that had the health reasons been relayed, individuals would assume that they have enough knowledge to decide for themselves what is healthy and what is not, rather than relying on Hashem's list.  R. D"Z Hoffmann argues against this logic, asserting that since people tend to want to observe commandments which are beneficial to them, including the reasoning behind the ordinance would have increased observance, not diminished it.⁷

Context in Vayikra:  laws of purity – Though, at first glance, it is difficult to find a common denominator between this understanding of the laws of Kashrut and the other laws of impurity, this approach might view all forms of impurity as related to disease.  See, for example, Ralbag on Tzara'at.

Context in Devarim: תועבות הגויים – In Devarim, the laws of impure animals follow laws that relate to the abominations of other nations.⁸  If the commandment is health-related it is difficult to see how the two sets of laws are connected and why they appear together. This approach might suggest that actually the directives really are unrelated and no significance should be read into their juxtaposition.

"וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים" – The conclusion of "וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים" (Vayikra 11:44-45) suggests that Kashrut laws enable the nation to become holy.  However, if the purpose of the laws is simply utilitarian (good health), it is not clear why, of all laws, these should be said to promote "holiness".  These sources could suggest that the verse is a general statement, not related specifically to the laws of Kashrut, but to general observance of Hashem's ordinances.⁹

Comparison to laws of other prohibited foods – The Rambam explicitly writes that the same reasoning applies to the similar prohibitions of eating an unslaughtered animal (נבילה), a torn beast of prey (טריפה), and fat, pointing out that they are all difficult to digest.¹⁰  Sefer HaChinukh, following Ramban, also notes that the fact that the animal became a "טריפה" proves that the animal was sick and therefore has the potential to transmit its disease to any who eat of it.¹¹

Polemical motivations? Rashbam prefaces his explanation of the laws of Kashrut by writing: "ולפי פשוטו של מקרא ותשובת המינים," suggesting that his words are a response to non-believers.  M. Lockshin¹² explains that Christian claims that dietary restrictions were not necessary¹³ led Rashbam to defend them and point to their utility.  This might have also motivated him to offer an explanation that displays the laws' universal benefit (rather than one limited to Jews).

Spiritual Benefit

The prohibition helps man perfect his character and elevate his soul.  This approach subdivides regarding the specific benefit received and how this is achieved:

You Are What You Eat

Since what you eat affects who you are, Hashem forbade Israel from consuming animals with negative traits. The laws of Kashrut thereby aid to both purify the soul and prevent men from becoming cruel.

Sources:PhiloThe Special Laws IV 100-104About Philo #2, Ibn EzraVayikra 11:43About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorVayikra 11:2Vayikra 11:34Vayikra 11:45About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RambanShemot 22:30Vayikra 11:13Devarim 14:3Devarim 14:21About R. Moshe b. Nachman,¹⁴ Sefer HaChinukhSefer HaChinukh Commandment 73Sefer HaChinukh Commandment 148,¹⁵ RalbagVayikra 11Vayikra Toalot 11:45About R. Levi b. Gershom,¹⁶ Akeidat YitzchakTorah 60About R. Yitzchak Arama #2, AbarbanelVayikra 11, Question 8Vayikra 11:1Vayikra 11:13About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoVayikra 11:2-46About R. Ovadyah Seforno,¹⁷ NetzivVayikra 11:44-45About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin,

Why these animals? These sources offer several reasons why these particular animals were selected:

• Invite cruelty - Almost all of the animals¹⁸ and birds¹⁹ which are forbidden are predatory.²⁰ Since a person's character is developed by what they eat,²¹ Hashem prohibited these carnivores to ensure that humans don't similarly become beasts of prey.²²
• Defile the soul/ intellect - Hashem further prohibited repulsive animals whose material make-up affects the soul and intellect negatively. Ramban and Ralbag explain that animals who are "עב החומר" (lit. of thick material) tarnish the soul / intellect, making it difficult to attain holiness and comprehend Hashem.²³
• Used for idolatrous rites – Abarbanel additionally suggests that the prohibited animals are eaten by idolaters as part of their worship of foreign gods.²⁴

The signs – The signs of the animals are indicative of their nature:²⁵

• "מַפְרֶסֶת פַּרְסָה וְשֹׁסַעַת שֶׁסַע"‎²⁶‎ – Split hooves are signs of herbivorous animals.  Carnivores instead have claws used for killing their prey.
• "מַעֲלַת גֵּרָה" – This, too, is a sign of an herbivore.  Since plants are not easy to digest, such animals regurgitate their food so as to chew it a second time.
• "סְנַפִּיר וְקַשְׂקֶשֶׂת" – As many scaled fish are still carnivorous, the permitted status of such fish is somewhat inconsistent with this approach.²⁷

"וְלֹא תְטַמְּאוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם" / "וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים" – Akeidat Yitzchak and Abarbanel²⁸ assert that the verses use the language of holiness and purity rather than healthy / unhealthy because they speak of a spiritual state rather than a physical one.  Hence, too, the emphasis on the law's effects on the soul: "וְלֹא תְטַמְּאוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם".

Context in Vayikra: laws of impurity – These sources offer two different explanations to understand the placement of the unit:

• Sub-unit of impurity laws – R"Y Bekhor Shor and Seforno²⁹ view the laws of Kashrut as a sub-unit of the other laws of purity and holiness discussed in the surrounding chpaters.  R"Y Bekhor Shor asserts that all the laws delineate those who are not worthy of approaching Hashem due to their contaminated state. Since eating "detested" species defiles the soul, a person who does not abide by the laws of Kashrut has a status similar to that of other impure people.
• Unit is a tangent – Ramban explains that the laws of Kashrut appear here only tangentially.  The main focus of the chapter are the ordinances dealing with the status of those who come in contact with impure animals³⁰ (which are clearly related to the surrounding discussions of impurity), while the laws regarding Kashrut are only secondary.³¹ 

Laws necessary only post-sin – Seforno includes Hashrut among a list of laws which he maintains were only introduced in the aftermath of the Sin of the Golden Calf. After the sin, Hashem initially no longer wanted His presence to reside among the nation at all, but when Moshe's prayers attained a compromise which allowed for the Mishkan, it was necessary that the people elevate their souls to be worthy of it.³²  Thus, Hashem introduced the laws of Kashrut to purify the people (and the laws of emissions and a birthing mother to purify their seed).³³

Context in Devarim: תועבות הגויים – Ramban points out that the verse states: "לֹא תֹאכַל כׇּל תּוֹעֵבָה" because impure animals are an abomination for the soul; thus, their placement right after a discussion of other "abominations" is fitting. According to Abarbanel, who associates the non-kosher animals with idolatrous rites, the juxtaposition of the two sets of laws is even more understandable.

Comparison to other prohibited foods – Other foods are similarly understood to be prohibited to ensure spiritual health:

• The original prohibition to eat meat – Several commentators³⁴ assume that before the flood, all meat was prohibited,³⁵ because its consumption has deleterious effects on man's moral fiber.³⁶ After the flood Hashem made concessions to human nature, allowing them to eat meat, but nonetheless limited its consumption to the least harmful of species.
• Prohibition of milk and meat – This approach could follow the Rambam who suggests that the practice of cooking a goat in its mother's milk has idolatrous roots and was thus forbidden.  Alternatively it could agree with R. Bachya who asserts that the combination of meat and milk fats muddles the heart and introduces coarseness into the soul.³⁷ 
• Prohibition of blood – Sefer HaChinukh explains that eating the life-source of an animal tarnishes a person, and leads to cruelty.³⁸

Limits Teach Self Control

The dietary laws limit the number of animals one can eat in order to train people to control their desires.

Sources:4 Maccabees4 Maccabees 1:33-34, PhiloThe Special Laws IV 100-104About Philo #1,³⁹ R. BachyaVayikra 11:44About R. Bachya b. Asher⁴⁰, Akeidat YitzchakTorah 60About R. Yitzchak Arama #1,⁴¹ ShadalVayikra 11:1,43HaMishtadel Vayikra 11:1Yesodei HaTorah 42 (p. 48)About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto #2,⁴²

Why these animals and signs? These sources disagree regarding whether or not there is significance to the list of animals chosen and the signs given to identify them:

• Significant – Philo notes that swine is considered to be the "nicest of all meats", and fish which lack scales are the "most delicate" of fish, suggesting that Hashem chose to prohibit the most desired of animals.  The signs are perhaps indicative of how palatable the food is.⁴³
• Insignificant – Alternatively, Shadal suggests that there is nothing inherent in the animals chosen to be prohibited⁴⁴ and really it would not matter if others had been listed in their stead; the purpose was simply to pick a select few to be off-limits for consumption.⁴⁵

"וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים" – R. Bachya maintains that being holy first and foremost entails controlling one's desires and curbing one's appetite.⁴⁶ The root "קדש" means to separate,⁴⁷ expressed here by abstaining from certain foods. Practicing abstinence and setting limits enables people to strengthen the rational mind so it can override one's natural sensual cravings and impulse to sin.⁴⁸ Moreover, such limits make one constantly think of Hashem, instilling fear of Heaven and wariness from transgression.⁴⁹

Why not prohibit all meat? Philo claims that Hashem looked to find  "a middle path," neither being overly strict in his restrictions, nor excessive in what He permits.

Context in Vayikra:  laws of purity – The laws of impurity as a whole serve a similar function, as they, too, set objects off-limits, restricting contact with defiled objects and movement of the defiled into certain areas.

Similar prohibitions

• R. Bachya asserts that other laws such as fast days and prohibited sexual relations similarly serve to curb man's desires.⁵⁰
• Akeidat Yitzchak goes a step further to suggest that all laws whose reason is unclear (such as the prohibition to wear linen and wool together) need have no other purpose other than the fact that they restrict man.⁵¹ The very existence of guiding laws forces man to control himself and recognize that he is meant to live according to Hashem's desires and not his own.⁵²

Separation

The laws of Kashrut are intended to distinguish and distance Israel from the other nations.

Sources:ShadalVayikra 11:1,43HaMishtadel Vayikra 11:1Yesodei HaTorah 42 (p. 48)About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto #1,⁵³

"וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים" – This phrase expresses the purpose of the mitzvah – that Israel should be separate from others. Vayikra 20:25-26 says even more explicitly: וִהְיִיתֶם לִי קְדֹשִׁים כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי י"י וָאַבְדִּל אֶתְכֶם מִן הָעַמִּים לִהְיוֹת לִי."

Context in Devarim – The introductory verses to the unit in Sefer Devarim similarly emphasize Israel's distinct status: "בְךָ בָּחַר י"י לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעַם סְגֻלָּה מִכֹּל הָעַמִּים", further supporting this reading of the purpose of the commandment.

Attaining priesthood – Shadal points out that in abiding by the laws of Kashrut, the nation elevates itself and becomes "a kingdom of priests". In other cultures, too, the priests had certain individual restrictions which distinguished them from laymen. Israel, being the priest among the nations, thus, does the same.

How does Kashrut serve to separate? The very fact that Jews have a unique diet, not shared by their neighbors, marks them as different. In addition, from a practical perspective, the dietary restrictions make it more difficult to socialize and celebrate with Gentiles, as many aspects of people's interactions revolve around food.

Why these animals and signs?

• No significance – According to Shadal, there is nothing intrinsic in the choice of animals or their signs which led to their being forbidden / permitted.  Any animals that would have been chosen could have achieved the same goal of differentiating the people.
• Unworthy of priests – Alternatively, since the nation is a "kingdom of priests," it is possible that only those animals which are worthy of being sacrificed were also permitted to be eaten. This would explain the choice to refer to these animals as "pure" and impure" rather than "permitted" and "forbidden".⁵⁴  The forbidden birds and fish, on the other hand, might instead be prohibited since "שֶׁקֶץ הֵם לָכֶם;" they are "detestable" and thus, unworthy of those of higher stature.⁵⁵

Similar prohibitions

¹ Sefer HaChinukh combines this approach with the one below which speaks of the spiritual benefits of observing the laws of Kashrut.  He claims that the prohibited foods harm the body, but as the body is the platform for the soul, when the body is harmed, the soul is affected as well.

² See Bavli KiddushinKiddushin 49bAbout the Bavli which claims, "עשרה קבים נגעים ירדו לעולם ט׳ נטלו חזירים".

³ This is consistent with Rambam's tendency to view the details of laws as not necessarily having intrinsic significance. For instance, he suggests that there might not be any reason why a specific sacrifice necessitates a lamb and another a ram, or why one holiday is one day long and another lasts for seven days. See his discussion in Moreh Nevukhim 3:263 26About Rambam Moreh Nevukhim: "שכלל ה׳מצוה׳ יש לה סיבה בהכרח ומפני תועלת אחת צווה בה אבל חלקיה הם אשר נאמר בהם שהם למצוה לבד." 

⁴ See also Abarbanel who follows him on this point.

⁵ Shadal even notes that the camel's meat is known to be very healthy.

⁶ See also Ralbag's understanding of the laws of Tzara'at.

⁷ As such, he brings the lack of an explicitly stated reason as a proof against this understanding of the commandment.

⁸ In fact, there, the laws are introduced by the statement, "לֹא תֹאכַל כׇּל תּוֹעֵבָה".

⁹ See R. Yosef KaraVayikra 11:44About R. Yosef Kara who explains the verse this way.

¹⁰ Rambam also notes that combining meat and milk results in heavy and filling food, not ideal for the best health.

¹¹ Despite these examples, these commentators are not consistent in explaining all prohibited foods in this manner. For instance, RashbamShemot 23:19About R. Shemuel b. Meir on Shemot 23:19 explains the prohibition of cooking a goat in its mother's milk to be related to eliminating gluttony and cruelty, while Rambam associates it with idolatrous practices.

¹² See his edition of Rashbam's commentary (Jerusalem, 2004) and his notes on Vayikra 13:3ץ

¹³ See, for instance, Matthew 15:10-11, "Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them."

¹⁴

¹⁵ Sefer HaChinukh combines this approach with the one above which speaks of the physical benefits of observing the laws of Kashrut. He claims that the prohibited foods harm the body, but as the body is the platform for the soul, if it is harmed the soul will be affected as well.

¹⁶ Ralbag also assumes that some of the prohibited foods might be bad for the body and not just the soul.

¹⁷ Seforno relates the laws to the sin of the Golden Calf, and suggests they were only needed to perfect the people after they sinned.

¹⁸ Abarbanel notes that even though pigs, camels, and hares are herbivores (or omnivores), they have a bad nature, and thus they, too, are prohibited.

¹⁹ See Mishnah ChulinChulin 3:6About the Mishna.

²⁰ See Philo who points out that Hashem permitted herbivorous animals since their nature is tame and they feed on gentle food.

²¹ See the words of R. Yitzchak Arama: "ומכל מקום נתבאר מה שכווננו אליו מהתפעלות האדם מהדברים אשר גדל עליהם אל תאותיו ואל דעותיו עד שהיו המזונות עקר גדול באיכות האנשים".

²² R. Bachya points to Yirmeyahu 49:22 where the prophet compares the wicked and cruel to impure birds.

²³ Ramban writes, "המאכלים האסורים גסים יולידו עובי ואטימות בנפש".  Ralbag says similarly: "מה שהיה עב החומר הוא נותן עכירות לשכל ומכבה אורו."

²⁴ He does not elaborate on the point, saying only, "ובארצות אחרות אוכלות מאכלות אסורות מפני עבודת אלהיהם ולכך נקראו המאכלים האלה תועב׳ כמו שנקראת הע״א תועבה".

²⁵ See Abarbanel who speaks about this at length.  See also several modern scholars such as L. Landau, Olam HaTanakh Devarim (Tel Aviv, 1994): 124, and R"E Samet "פרשת שמיני – בין החיה הנאכלת ובין החיה אשר לא תֵאכל" who further develop the idea.

²⁶ Bavli Chulin 59a-b adds two additional signs that are shared by all the Kosher animals: lack of upper front teeth and the presence of horns. Being herbivores their teeth are adapted for  grinding rather than tearing prey. Instead of claws and sharp teeth, they have horns used to defend themselves against their attackers.

²⁷ Ralbag asserts that these signs relate to a different set of criteria; as fins help the fish swim, they are an indicator that the fish moves a lot, which correlates with a "thin material make-up".  This is more compatible with man's nature and intellect and thus more appropriate for consumption. 
Cf. L. Landau (cited above) who attempts to account for all the exceptions to the "predator" understanding of the signs (fish, camels, hare, badger, and pigs) by suggesting that a second set of criteria  apply to these: any species which is "abnormal" is prohibited.  Thus, fish lacking fins and scales are exceptional and prohibited.  Similarly, those non-predatory animals with but one of the two usual signs, are also forbidden.

²⁸ See also Seforno.

²⁹ For an elaboration of his specific position, see the next point.

³⁰ It was necessary to distinguish between pure and impure animals for these laws.

³¹ If so, this could explain why Vayikra suffices with giving the signs of kosher animals, but does not list them individually as does Devarim (whose main focus in the prohibitions of consumption).  In addition, this explains why the command is  addressed to both Moshe and Aharon.  As contact impurity is in the realm of the priesthood, Aharon is involved in relaying the directives as well.

³² For elaboration onSeforno's position, see Purpose of the Mishkan and Purpose of the Sacrifices and his מאמר כוונות התורהMaamar Kavvanot HaTorah 5-6About R. Ovadyah Seforno.

³³ He thereby explains the ordering of Sefer Vayikra, which begins with laws related to the holiness of the Mishkan and then moves into those dealing with the holiness of the nation.  According to him, the laws of virtually the entire book were necessary only due to the sin. 

³⁴ See the opinions of Ibn Kaspi, R"Y Albo, and Tzeror HaMor in Permission to Eat Meat.

³⁵ They assert that originally man was meant to be vegetarian and that only in the aftermath of the flood was meat permitted.

³⁶ They assert both that the act of killing an animal for it's meat leads man to become cruel and that the very consumption of animals tarnishes the soul and intellect.

³⁷ Alternatively, it might explain like IShemot 23:19About R. Shemuel b. Meirנמ Ezra who sees in the practice an act of cruelty.

³⁸ In contrast, R"Y Bekhor Shor distinguishes the reasoning for this prohibition from the explanations given for Kashrut. While non-kosher animals are forbidden due to their impure status, blood and fat, in contrast, are banned for the exact opposite reason; they are "too" holy. Since they are sacrificed on the altar, a regular layman cannot partake of them.

³⁹ Philo also mentions the idea that the animals might be forbidden because of their carnivorous and cruel nature.

⁴⁰ In his discussion of forbidden birds, R. Bachya also mentions the aspect of disassociating one's self from cruelty.

⁴¹ See above that he also notes that abiding by the laws will improve man's moral character.

⁴² See below that he also speaks of the role that Kashrut plays in distinguishing Israel from other nations.

⁴³ He only states this explicitly with regards to the signs of fish, but the idea could theoretically be applied to animals and birds as well. That said, it is difficult to see why an animal with split hooves and who chews its cud should be less tasty than one without these signs.

⁴⁴ The signs, too, are simply a convenient way to choose a category of animals to be permitted / prohibited.

⁴⁵ He writes, "כי מה איכפת לנו אם המאכל האסור יהיה זה או זה, אחרי שהמכוון הכללי הוא שיהיו קצת המאכלות אסורות לנו"

⁴⁶ It is, thus, not surprising that the same term introduces the list of forbidden sexual relations in Vayikra 20.

⁴⁷ See the Sifra20:26About the Sifra Vayikra: "כשם שאני קדוש כך אתם הֶיו קדושים. כשם שאני פרוש כך אתם הֶיו פרושים."

⁴⁸ See also 4 Maccabees who points out that practicing the laws of Kashrut trains one's "reason" to "rule over appetites."

⁴⁹ See Shadal who elaborates on this point.

⁵⁰ R. Bachya also says that prayer, charity, and other acts of kindness further curb one's lust.  Perhaps the act of giving counters the desire to consume.

⁵¹ Even if one can find no innate value in the law, the very fact that it is limiting gives it value.  This might be the meaning behind the statement in Bereshit Rabbah44:1About Bereshit Rabbah: "לא נתנו המצוות אלא לצרוף בהן את הבריות".

⁵² See Shadal who similarly notes that having many commandments accustoms man to rule over his spirit.

⁵³ Shadal notes that this only explains the need for the laws when the rest of the word is idolatrous, had all believed in Hashem there would be no need for separation. Therefore, Shadal writes that there is an additional purpose to the laws, to teach man his limits and constantly remind him of Hashem who commanded them. [See approach above.]

⁵⁴ If so, one might suggest that when Noach is told to distinguish between "pure" and "impure" animals, the verse is not implying that the laws of Kashrut were known, but that society had already distinguished between animals fit and unfit for sacrificing.  Noach was told to take more of those to be sacrificed.

⁵⁵ This theory would explain why it is only by animals that the verse emphasizes "טְמֵאִים הֵם לָכֶם", whereas by birds and fish it states, "שֶׁקֶץ הֵם לָכֶם". Devarim, however, speaks of all of the categories in terms of "pure" and "impure" rather than "detestable", weakening the argument.