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Chapter 23

Sheratzim

כג - שרצים

In this chapter (18)
  1. 1. The Prohibition of Sheratzim
  2. 2. The Mitzva to Distance Oneself from Repulsive Things
  3. 3. The Prohibition Applies to Sheratzim That Can Swarm
  4. 4. A Complete Creature Is Not Nullified
  5. 5. The Obligation to Check
  6. 6. The Dispute over Tiny Sheratzim
  7. 7. The Halakha Follows the Lenient Opinion
  8. 8. The Practical Halakha and the Approach of the Mehadrin
  9. 9. Leafy Vegetables: The Stringent Approach
  10. 10. The Halakha and the Middle Path for Leafy Vegetables
  11. 11. Cauliflower and Broccoli
  12. 12. Corn on the Cob, Strawberries, and Green Onions
  13. 13. Fruits with a Concern
  14. 14. Grain, Rice, and Legumes
  15. 15. Flour and the Sieve
  16. 16. The Law of Flour Today
  17. 17. Meat
  18. 18. Fish
23:1

The Prohibition of Sheratzim

איסור שרצים

It is a Torah commandment that we not eat sheratzim (swarming creatures), as it is stated (Vayikra 11:43–44): “You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not make yourselves impure with them, that you should be defiled by them. For I am the Lord your God; sanctify yourselves and be holy, for I am holy; and you shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that creeps upon the earth.” There are three types of sheratzim: sheratzim of the water, sheratzim of the land, and sheratzim of the air (flying swarming creatures), and the Torah added a separate command regarding each of them.

Sheratzim of the water, as it is stated (ibid. 10–11): “And all that do not have fins and scales in the seas and in the rivers, of all that swarm in the water and of all the living creatures that are in the water, they are detestable to you. They shall be detestable to you; you shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall hold detestable.” Sheratzim of the water include crabs, leeches, worms in the water, and even seals. But a creature that looks like a fish and swims in the water like a fish, if it has no fins and scales, is forbidden as a non-kosher fish and not as a sheretz of the water (Rambam, Hilkhot Ma’akhalot Assurot 2:12).

Sheratzim of the land, as it is stated (Vayikra 11:41–44): “And every swarming thing that swarms upon the earth is detestable; it shall not be eaten. Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on four, or whatever has many legs, among all swarming things that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable… and you shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that creeps upon the earth.” Sheratzim of the land include worms, spiders, ants, beetles, lizards, snakes, scorpions, and mice. But a creature that looks like a wild or domesticated animal, if it does not have the signs of a kosher animal, is forbidden as a non-kosher animal and not as a sheretz of the land.

Sheratzim of the air, as it is stated (Devarim 14:19): “And every flying swarming thing is impure for you; they shall not be eaten.” These include flies, mosquitoes, gnats, bees, wasps, non-kosher locusts, and the like. But a creature that looks like a bird and flies like a bird, if it is not one of the kosher birds, is forbidden as a non-kosher bird and not as a flying sheretz.

From the fact that the Torah repeated the prohibitions of sheratzim many times and in different wordings, the Sages learned that the punishment of one who eats a sheretz of the water is four sets of lashes; a sheretz of the land, five sets of lashes; a flying sheretz, six sets of lashes (Makkot 16b). In this respect the prohibition of sheratzim is more severe than other food prohibitions, for one who eats a non-kosher fish, or a non-kosher animal such as a pig, or a non-kosher bird such as a raven, is liable to one set of thirty-nine lashes, whereas one who eats a sheretz is liable to several sets. In addition, generally only one who eats the measure of a kezayit (olive’s bulk) is liable to the punishment set by the Torah. But with a sheretz there is a special stringency: since it is a complete creature (beriya), anyone who eats even a small sheretz is liable to the punishment set by the Torah (Mishna Makkot 13a; Shevu’ot 21b).¹

Notes (1)
  1. “Lashes” means a set of thirty-nine lashes. In practice, this punishment was intended mainly as a deterrent, since it is carried out only when the act was done intentionally, before witnesses, and after a warning; but we learn from it about the severity of the sin. One who eats a whole sheretz, even a small one, is liable to lashes. For a crushed one, he is liable only if he ate a kezayit, since it is no longer a complete creature and its law is like that of other forbidden foods. One who touches a sheretz does not become impure; however, there are eight sheratzim that after their death render impure one who touches them: the weasel, the mouse, the tzav, the anaka, the koaḥ, the lizard, the ḥomet, and the tinshemet (Vayikra 11:29–30). Since with regard to impurity the measure of a lentil’s bulk of their flesh renders impure, the same law applies to eating: even if one ate a lentil’s bulk of their flesh he is liable to lashes (Me’ila 16b). Many sheratzim are small and tiny; however, it seems plain that the Torah forbade a sheretz whose taste or swallowing can be perceived, but a tiny sheretz whose taste and swallowing are not perceived is not forbidden by Torah law (as explained below, n. 14).
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