Shemini 2018: You Can't Understand If You "Can't" Understand
Parshas Shemini 2018 You Can’t Understand If You “Can’t” Understand Shemini is the first place in the Torah where we find the laws of Kashrus (keeping kosher ) as it pertains to specific species. Listing them by name, the Torah spells out exactly which animals are OK to eat and from which we should refrain. Back in Parshas Mishpatim we were taught the prohibition of “cooking a calf in its mother’s milk” whereas, this week the physical identification markings are given as well as a list of creatures permitted. Hashem’s laws of kashrus are to prevent us from eating impure products and only allow those with unique marks. The kosher identification signs include split hooves and chewing cud for animals, while fish must have fins and scales. Birds on the other hand, need to be specifically from the list mentioned in the parsha (and cannot be birds of prey). Taking this along with the previous prohibition of mixing milk with meat, we start to understand what it me...