FacT A DaY
8. The blue strands on the fringes
15. The
Torah men-
tions four
kinds of dif-
ferent
vul-
12. While the Torah makes no men-
tures, includ-
tion of cats, the animals certainly
9. The Tanach speaks of a crea-
ing the griffin
were not unknown in biblical times.
ture called the re'em — but no
vulture. With
In fact, rabbis of the Talmudic peri-
one is truly certain what it was.
its wingspan,
od speak with much respect for the
Cited in Psalms 92:11, it may be
it can reach
creature. Cats were used to catch
I an antelope, various species of
as
long as
mice and snakes, and those fami-
which could be found throughout
10 feet. This
: lies wishing to observe the mitzvah
This lappet-faced
-
the Land of Israel in biblical
odd
creature,
vulture
lived
in
the
(commandment) of feeding one's
times. (Not so today; antelopes
Tel
Aviv
zoo.
which is
animal before himself were encour-
I are no longer extant anywhere in
described
aged to take a cat as a pet. Cats
Israel.) Some specifically identify
ominously in
also were admired for their cleanli-
the re'em as the oryx, a genus of
39:27
as
being
"where
the
Job
ness. One rabbi observed, "If the
I antelope with straight, sharp
slain are," has no feathers on its
I Torah had not been given, we
I horns. Others say it was a wild
neck. Another kind of vulture cited
I could have learned modesty from
ox. But what is known about the
in the Torah is a raham, which,
the cat."
odd creature is that it was a
I
according
to legend, will sit on
favorite subject of ancient artists,
the ground and chirp (which vul-
13. Four insects may be eaten as
who liked to draw it in profile.
kosher: the bald locust, the locust, I tures never do) as one sign the
Often, the re'em featured what
Messiah is on his way.
the
cricket and the grasshopper.
appeared to be a single horn in
So what is so unique about these
the middle of its forehead, treat-
16. One of the most frequently
tasty morsels? According to the
' ing the myth of a magical crea-
mentioned
animals in the Torah' is
Mishnah, one may eat an insect if i
ture called the unicorn.
• the lion (often, God is said to be
the following are true:
like a lion, strong and awesome).
• the creature has four wings
10. Among the laws of Shabbat
There
is also the Tribe of Judah,
• it has four legs
is one directing Jews to give their
whose symbol is a lion. Interest-
• its legs are jointed
animals a rest on this day. Exodus
ingly, however, the Tribe of Judah,
the
wings
cover.
most
of
the
120:10 and 23:12, and Deuteron- I •
and the astrological sign Leo the
insect's body
omy 5:14 state, "Thou shall not
Lion, are associated with the
do any manner of work ... nor
I month of Av, which also saw one
14. Jewish texts are filled with
thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of
tales
of
incredible
creatures.
One
1
of the Jewish People's greatest
thy cattle; but on the seventh day
tragedies: the destruction of both
of the most amazing of these is
thou shalt rest; that thine ox and
the First and Second Temples
the
shamir
(remember
former
thine ass May have rest." And
(Tisha b'Av, marking the occa-
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak
yet, interestingly, Jews are permit-
Av) s, is, of course, on the 9th of
Shamir?). The shamir was createdIi sion.
: ted this form of labor on the Sab-
I of a tallit originally came from a
I gland found only in purple snails,
called murex.
1
include the prohibition against
murder and the admonition not to
eat the flesh of a living animal.
l
I
bath: if they see an animal strug-
gling with a burden, they are to
help the creature by removing the
I objects. Furthermore, a Jew may
ask a gentile to milk his cows
even on Shabbat — because oth-
erwise the cow would be in great
pain (Halacha strictly forbids a
Jew causing an animal to suffer).
I
I
I
.,
1 11. While the vast majority of the
I Torah is, of course, directed to
I Jews, there are seven laws, called
I the Noachide Laws, to which
I gentiles are obligated. These
1f. •
3/3
2000
98
lasagna and wine — but whatev-
er you do, pass on the fish and
melons! According to Jewish folk-
lore, dairy foods make one feel
quite romantic, while fish —
especially salted — will put a
damper on a romantic evening.
19. During the time of the Mish-
nah, bears could be found
throughout
the Land
of Israel,
and it
was for-
bidden
for Jews
to sell one
to a gen-
tile.
(While
Relatives of this bear
bears no
are now rare in the
Middle East.
longer
roam the
wilds of Israel, supposedly it's still
possible to find one or two in
nearby Lebanon and northern
Syria).
20. The Torah makes only scant
reference to bees; they are men-
tioned just four times, and then
only once
in conjunc-
tion with
honey. So
if you're
wondering
how Israel
became
known as
on twilight just as Shabbat
the
"Land
began. It was supposedly a
of Milk
17. The dove was not the first
I worm-like animal that could chew
and
bird Noah sent to check for dry
its way through any substance,
Honey,"
land. In fact, his first choice was
I even a diamond, without leaving
Busy bees making
look no
the raven, known for its intelli-
honey, which never
so much as a speck of dust
further
goes bad.
gence. The raven whined, "Why
; behind-. Tradition says the shamir,
than
i which King Solomon found in Par- I do you have to send me?" but
I dates. This reference to honey
adise, was used to cut stones finally went out — only to lazily
actually was a sweet, sticky sub-
I used to design the breastplate of I circle the ark without fulfilling its
stance made from fermenting
I the High Priest. Apparently, how- mission.
dates. (Incidentally, did you know
I ever, the shamir was around only
that bee honey never spoils? It
18. If your spouse is looking
I for a short while: Not a one has
may get rather sugary, but it will
been seen since the destruction of • especially alluring these days,
never go bad.)
consider offering him or her some
the Temple.