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Friday

י"ט אדר ב’ התשפ"ד

Friday
י"ט אדר ב’ התשפ"ד

חיפוש בארכיון

Mitzvah 3) To not eat the “Displaced Sinew” (Sciatic nerve)

Torah Portion: Vayishlach

Therefore the Children of Israel are not to eat the displaced sinew on the hip-socket to this day, because he struck Jacob’s hip-socket on the displaced sinew (Bereishis 32:33).

It is a negative commandment to not eat the sciatic nerve, as it says:Therefore the Children of Israel are not to eat the displaced sinew. And the wording are not to eat [which, in the Hebrew could be read as “they do not eat”] is not meant as a mere story—that since this happened to their forefather, therefore his descendant refrain from eating it—rather it is a warning of Hashem, may He be blessed, that the Children of Israel may not eat it.

 Among the roots of the commandment: This is a hint to the Children of Israel, that even though they will suffer many troubles while they are in exile, in the hands of the nations and in the hands of Eisav, they should nevertheless be confident that they will never be lost. Rather, their seed and their names will stand forever, and a Savior will come for them and he will deliver them from the hands of enemies. By constantly recalling this idea through this commandment, they will remain steadfast in their faith and righteousness forever. The way this is all alluded is that according to the tradition received by the Sages, the angel that fought with Yaakov was the ministering angel of Eisav who sought to destroy Yaakov from the world, but he was unable to, so instead he caused Yaakov distress by injuring his hip. Similarly, the offspring of Eisav causes distress to the offspring of Yaakov, but in the end Israel will be rescued from them. And just as regarding our forefather Yaakov the sun shone for him to heal him and he was saved from further suffering, so too shall the sun of Moshiach shine upon us and [Hashem] will [at that time] heal us from our suffering and He will redeem us, speedily and in our days, Amen.

This commandment applies in all places and at all times. It applies to both men and women.