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Unkosher Birds in Leviticus
TANAKH
The Torah explicitly identifies certain birds as abominable and prohibits their consumption. Leviticus, the third book of the Torah, details the types of birds that are forbidden to eat, including the eagle, vulture, raven, ostrich, owl, pelican, stork, heron, hoopoe, and bat.
Sending Away the Mother Bird
TANAKH
The Book of Deuteronomy includes an idiosyncratic commandment about birds that many interpret as a lesson in compassion. Deuteronomy 22:6 forbids taking a discovered mother bird along with the young or eggs that she is brooding on, but rather to send her away before taking the fledglings or eggs.
The Enigmatic Vision
KABBALAH
The Zohar presents a mystical vision involving a man, a bird, and a leaf, leaving observers puzzled and curious about its meaning. The Zohar, a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, delves into esoteric interpretations of the Torah.
The Loyal Hoopoe and the City of Kitor
MIDRASH
The hoopoe's loyalty to King Solomon and its discovery of the city of Kitor, ruled by the Queen of Sheba, offer a glimpse into Jewish folklore. Louis Ginzberg's early 20th-century work, Legends of the Jews, weaves together a rich tapestry of midrashic stories and imaginative elements.
The Changing Colors of Dependency
TALMUD
The metaphor of a bird changing colors vividly illustrates the emotional turmoil and loss of dignity experienced by someone who becomes dependent on others. The Babylonian Talmud, a central text of Rabbinic Judaism, in tractate Berakhot uses the imagery of a bird named kerum, which changes colors with the sunrise, to convey this powerful message.
Purification Ritual for a Metzora
MISHNAH
The purification process for a metzora is a fascinating and intricate ritual featuring two birds. The Mishnah, the first codification of Jewish law from the early third-century land of Israel, details this purification process in Tractate Negaim.
Noah's Caution and Divine Command
COMMENTARY
Noah's meticulous and deliberate process before leaving the ark, involving sending first a raven and then a dove multiple times, illustrates his cautious approach. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, in his contemporary Torah commentary, explores the story of Noah from the Book of Genesis, focusing on Noah's character.
Birds and Human Interaction
SECOND TEMPLE
Philo of Alexandria explores the relationship between birds and humans, giving a glimpse into first century understandings of nature. In his work 'On Providence,' Philo, influenced by both Jewish and Hellenistic wisdom, explains why certain birds live among humans while others avoid them.
The Eagle's Care
TARGUM
The Shekhinah, or divine presence, is likened to an eagle nurturing and protecting its young, symbolizing God's care for Israel. The Targum Jonathan, an Aramaic translation and interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, expands upon the metaphorical description of God's care for Israel found in Deuteronomy 32:11.
The Eagle and the Dove
MUSAR
The eagle and the dove symbolize the deep, reciprocal love and devotion between G-d and the Jewish people. In his 17th-century work, Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz explores this symbolic relationship, drawing on Kabbalistic texts.
Wisdom from the Birds
TANAKH
What can you learn from birds? In the Book of Job, Job tells his companions that nature and animals, including birds, can provide wisdom and understanding about the world and God's relationship to it.
The Swallow's Song of Praise
LITURGY
The voice of the swallow in Perek Shirah expresses eternal gratitude to God, reminding us to praise and be thankful. Perek Shirah is an ancient text where various elements of creation, including animals, plants, and natural phenomena, each 'sing' a verse from the Hebrew Bible.
Offerings of the First Fruits
HALAKHAH
The bringing of the first fruits in the summer was a colorful and celebratory element of the ancient Temple rite. In the Mishneh Torah, Rambam, in his famed 12th-century code of Jewish law, details the ceremonial practices associated with the offering of first fruits, including the additional offerings of birds.
Identifying Kosher Birds
RESPONSA
Determining the permissibility of eating certain birds without a clear tradition has been a contentious issue among scholars. Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg, a leading 13th-century rabbinic authority, discusses the physical characteristics that can identify kosher birds and the question of whether they are sufficient to permit their consumption.
Shelter Under the Great Tree
TANAKH
Birds are included in an extended metaphor from the prophecy of Ezekiel that likens the kingdom of Assyria to a great tree. The Book of Ezekiel, written during the Babylonian exile, uses symbolic prophecies to convey messages about the divine role in the history of nations and empires.
Turtledoves and Pigeons in Sacrificial Offerings
COMMENTARY
Turtledoves and pigeons are the two types of birds accepted as burnt offerings. Malbim, a 19th-century Jewish commentator, explains the differences between these two birds.
Blue Scribe - Menahem - The Birds' Head Haggadah - Google Art Project (cropped). The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Blue Scribe - Menahem - The Birds' Head Haggadah - Google Art Project (cropped). The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
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