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Why Pigs are Forbidden
TANAKH
Pigs are explicitly identified in the Torah as impure animals, forbidden to eat or touch, due to their specific physical characteristics. The Torah, in the book of Leviticus, outlines the criteria for animals that are considered impure, using the pig as a prime example.
Mercy Among Animals
TALMUD
Even a pig, often seen as an unclean animal in Jewish tradition, can show mercy by nursing the offspring of another species. In the Talmudic tractate Bekhorot, Rabba bar bar Ḥana discusses animal behavior, using the example of a pig to illustrate the potential for interspecies compassion.
The Prohibition Against Swine and Greek Literature
MIDRASH
The prohibition against rearing swine and teaching Greek literature is rooted in a historical event during the Hasmonean civil war, highlighting the cultural resistance to Hellenistic influence. Ein Yaakov, a compilation of non-legalistic portions of the Talmud, recounts these historical events and rabbinic teachings.
Permissible in Extremis
HALAKHAH
In extreme circumstances, such as during wartime, Jewish law permits the consumption of otherwise forbidden foods, including pig meat. Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, a 12th-century comprehensive code of Jewish law, addresses the practical allowances made for Jewish soldiers in dire situations.
The Persecution Under Antiochus
SECOND TEMPLE
Antiochus IV Epiphanes went to extreme lengths to force Jews to abandon their religious laws, including compelling them to sacrifice swine's flesh upon the altar. Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, provides a detailed account of the persecution of Jews under Antiochus IV, which led to the Maccabean Revolt.
The Impurity of a Pig's Mouth
HALAKHAH
The extreme impurity of a pig's mouth is so severe that even washing does not purify it enough to recite the Sh'ma in its presence. The Shulchan Arukh, a 16th-century code of Jewish law, addresses the daily rituals and prayers, including the recitation of the Sh'ma.
Permissibility of Hysterectomized Animals
TALMUD
The Sages in Yavne ruled that animals, including pigs, that have undergone a hysterectomy are not considered tereifot. The Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin discusses various judicial rulings, including the permissibility of animals with removed wombs, supported by practices in Alexandria.
The Unquestionable Commandments
REFERENCE
Rabban Jochanan ben Zakkai believed that certain fundamental commandments, like the prohibition of eating pig flesh, should not be rationalized or debated. This narrative highlights the importance of accepting some commandments as divine decrees beyond human reasoning.
Why Swine is Unclean
TARGUM
The consumption of swine's flesh is associated with impurity and abominable practices, defiling those who partake in it. The Targum Jonathan, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, provides a historical and exegetical perspective on Jewish dietary laws and ritual purity.
The Deceptive Symbol
MUSAR
In the 17th-century work Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz employs the pig as a metaphor to illustrate hypocrisy and false piety. He likens the pig's refusal to chew the cud despite appearing outwardly pure to the deceptive nature of Edom, symbolizing false homage to God.
The Kosher Puzzle of the Pig
HALAKHAH
The pig is unique among animals in having split hooves but not chewing the cud, making it non-kosher despite its appearance. Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, a comprehensive 12th-century code of Jewish law, details the specific signs that determine whether an animal is kosher.
Two Pigs in a Sty, Paulus Potter, 1649
Two Pigs in a Sty, Paulus Potter, 1649
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