Torah Portion: Shemini

“את זה לא תאכלו ממעלי הגרה וממפריסי הפרסה” (ויקרא יא ד-ז)

It is a negative commandment to not eat non-kosher species of domesticated and non-domesticated animals, as it is written, But this is what you shall not eat from among those that bring up their cud or that have split hooves…the camel… the hyrax… the hare… and the pig (Vayikra 11:4-7). Other species of non-kosher animals, though not singled out explicitly, are included in what the Torah instructed, Everything among the animals that has a split hoof, which is completely separated into double hooves, and that brings up its cud — that one you may eat (ibid. v. 3); from that we may infer that anything that does not have both of these signs together is forbidden to be eaten. Furthermore, this can be deduced a fortiori: If the pig and the camel which have one of the signs are forbidden to be eaten, than all other animals that do not even have one sign are most certainly forbidden to be eaten.

Among the roots of the mitzvah is the idea that God knows that all the types of food He distanced from His People whom He chose have negative effects on the body, which is the vessel for the soul so it can accomplish good deeds and be elevated therefrom. He therefore banished them from us so that the souls can do their tasks without hindrance of unhealthy bodies and coarsened hearts.

This mitzvah applies in all places and at all times, to both men and women.