Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 3/11/2011

Question
Hi!

I am doing a study on the Clean & Unclean animals and I am confused by Leviticus 11:27 "And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, amoung all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you".  Doesn't that eliminate all the animals with cloven feet that chew cud that were mentioned in the previous verses?

Don't all of them, except maybe the rabbit who all walk on all fours? or is it the difference between hooves and paws?

Thank you for any insight you can shed. God Bless You!

Answer
Dear Jamiyla,

Thank you for writing.

There are two major sections describing kosher/permitted animals: Leviticus 11:3-8 and Deuteronomy 14:4-8, plus incredible amounts of commentaries

To begin with,  that portion of Leviticus is describing animals whose carcasses conduct "ritual impurity." In other words, stay away from them, alive or dead.

Animals that are "ritually pure/clean" and are kosher have both a hoof - not a paw - that is truly cloven, and is also a ruminant, an animal that chews its cud.

Four specific animals are indicated in both sections of Leviticus and Deuteronomy:camel, for being a ruminant without their hooves being divided,  hyrax, for being a ruminant without cloven hooves, hare/rabbit for being a ruminant without cloven hooves, and pig, for having cloven hooves without being a ruminant.

Alos please keep in mind that "kosher" in the Jewish tradition means far more than just which animals are permitted. But that is another subject, available in the Jewish Encyclopedia online and the Encyclopedia Judaica in the library.

Good luck in your studies.

Rabbi Dov