Klal Yisrael’s singular approach to global events
“B
ut these you shall not eat… the camel, because it brings up its cud, but does not have a [completely] cloven hoof… And the pig, because it has a cloven hoof that is completely split, but will not regurgitate its cud…” (Shemos 11:4-7)
Often in the Tanach, Klal Yisrael and the other nations are compared to animals.
In the words of Yirmiyahu Hanavi (50:17): “A scattered sheep is Israel…” Eisav’s likened to a pig, as it says in Tehillim (80:14): “The boar from the forest gnaw at it.” And the Midrash compares Yishmael to a camel.
Each of these three animals have at least one sign of kashrus: the pig has split hooves and the camel chews its cud, while the sheep has both simanim, making it the only one that’s kosher. (Rav Y. Schwartz, Sefer Yemos Ha’olam)
Recently, I celebrated a milestone — my baby had his chalakah, his upsheren. I know by definition a three-year-old’s no longer a baby, but I’m not quite ready to relinquish this term of endearment.
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