THE TORAH ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

Volume I: Wild Animals/ Chayos

Sample Chapter: The Leopard

RABBI NATAN SLIFKIN The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdomis a milestone in Jewish publish- ing. Complete with stunning, full-color photographs, the final work will span four volumes. The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom includes: • Entries on every mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, insect and fish found in the Torah, Prophets and Writings; • All scriptural citations, and a vast range of sources from the Talmud and Midrash; • Detailed analyses of the identities of these animals, based on classical Jewish sources and contemporary zoology; • The symbolism of these animals in Jewish thought throughout the ages; • Zoological information about these animals and fascinating facts; • Studies of man’s relationship with animals in Torah philosophy and law; • Lessons that Judaism derives from the animal kingdom for us to use in our own daily lives; • Laws relating to the various different animals.

The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom is an essential reference work that will one day be commonplace in every home and educational institution. For more details, and to download this chapter, see www.zootorah.com/encyclopedia.

Rabbi Natan Slifkin, the internationally renowned “Zoo Rabbi,” is a popular lec- turer and the author of numerous works on the topic of Judaism and the natural sciences. He has been passionately study- ing the animal kingdom his entire life, and began working on The Torah Encyclopedia of the Animal Kingdom over a decade ago.

© Natan Slifkin 2011. This sample chapter may be freely distributed provided it is kept com- plete and intact. No text or photographs may be extracted for use elsewhere.

Zoo Torah is an educational enterprise offering books, lectures, safaris, and a unique miniature Jewish zoological museum in Israel. For more details, see www.ZooTorah.com Leopard נמר Leopard Namer ברדלס and Cheetah Bardelas

The Leopards of Israel leopards of this size are known to be man-eaters in other parts of the world. As a result, they were hunted, and the he strikingly beautiful leopard is the most wide- last specimen was killed by a shepherd near Hanita in spread of all the big cats. It lives in a variety of 2 different habitats in much of Africa, the Middle 1965. Another leopard subspecies was the Sinai leopard, TEast, and Asia. In former times, leopards were abundant Panthera pardus jarvus. It was hunted by the Bedouin throughout Israel, especially in the hilly regions: upon whose goats it preyed, and is now extinct. With me [you will be exiled] from Lebanon, O bride, with Today, the Arabian leopard, Panthera pardus nimr, is me from Lebanon until you will return, then look from the only subspecies of leopard to be found in Israel. It is the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, one of the smallest subspecies of leopards, weighing only from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. up to about seventy pounds. The Arabian leopard usually (Song of Songs 4:8). preys on ibex and hyrax, and rarely attacks livestock. But The leopard of the mountains was the Anatolian leop- it, too, faces extinction. Some leopards of this subspe- ard, Panthera pardus tulliana. This was still recorded in cies formerly inhabited the popular Ein Gedi area, and the Carmel region in 1866, and was found in the Galilee learned that an easy source of food was to be found in the until as recently as the 1960s.1 These were one of the larg- dogs and cats of the local kibbutz. As a result, two females est subspecies of leopards, weighing up to 170 pounds, were trapped and taken into captivity, causing the col- and preying on wild boar, porcupines, hyrax, and live- lapse of the leopard population in that area. A DNA study stock. They were also undoubtedly dangerous to humans; of leopard droppings, performed in 2006, showed an esti-

This Arabian leopard is poised on a hill in the Judaean Desert

PHOTOGRAPH: EYAL BARTOV refer to its ears; but evenas an exaggeration, it would be to term the explain Ila’i?Some Bei of lion the of “lobes” extremelybeing large: Hebrew,ern instead of Mod in tiger the for term correct more the also is this But there can be little doubt that the mountainousregion.a “of to refermay high”thus it and Scripture. in discussion of subject the therefore be not would They Asia and are not found anywhere near the Land of Israel. tiger. the for used commonly term nimr guages; in andAkkadian Arabic, the leopard is known as lan cognate from leopard the for evidence also is There leopard. the describes perfectly this translation,rateand accu more a is “blotched”later,perhaps see shall we as the of coat The leopard. lions, bears,and wolves, status the is which indeed of the with along Israel, of Land the in predators great as one the of Scripture in cited often is animal This leopard. the vs. Tigers Leopards leopard the hasZev), never received such an honor. have long been popular as Jewish names (Aryeh, Dov and relate may to leopard;the but although lion,the and bear wolf name Nimrod’s people, of names to regard With Nameri. and Namer named cities to refers The Talmud (leopards).Nimrim as Moabreferredto in region a was Tribe the ofnamed Gad Nimrah (leopardess), are derived from the leopard. There was a fortified city of polar bearstoo!” about leopards, somebody once scribbled, “Watch out for visitorswarning sign the on that, slim so aretoday Gedi in Ein leopard a encountering of chances The regions. desert Judaean and Negev the in leopardArabian the of mated population size of just five males andthree females between the ears. However, the term may perhaps mean perhapsHowever,may ears. term the the between strange feet tiger the as measuring thirteen to describe However, today there is some confusion regarding the regardingthe confusion some However,is there today Thereboth is a strongtradition and thatevidenceclear that Scripture in places of names some also are There Nine cubits is alittle over feet, but thirteen what are the Ila’i meaning; Ila’i uncertain Bei meansof name is The tigerThe is, however, mentionedthe in Talmud: namer (plural, of lion the Ila’i. of Bei (Ibid.) Rav Kahana said: There are ninecubits between the lobes lin Rabbi Yehudah said… namer 59b) f citr (pronounced Scripture of . In Modern Hebrew, this word was originally nimrin ). namer namer Tigris 8 ). The). 7 is the lion of Ila’i.Bei ( u tgr ae aie of natives are tigers But is described as spotted; is described tigris tigris nah-mehr is tiger the (and is described as is described 3 and there ) is the the is ) 6 Chul - - - - 5 4

hourover distances.shortHorses swifter arefact, not,in an miles seventy to up of speeds reaching faster, much far slimmer inbuild than leopards, but are able to run are Cheetahs leopard. the than cheetah the to apply ter “swifter,”bet means probably would It accuracy. which terror of Chaldeans: the ard.Itcontext the in occurs ofprophecy a describing the would perhaps match better cheetah than the leop the Cheetahs and Leopards approach feet. thirteen English as its length “between the pegs.” in described often is which tail, its of tip the to nose its it would refer to length the of tiger the from tip the of its extremities,” “between i.e. “from endtoend.” As such, horses being even “lighter” than leopards means “more means leopards than “lighter” even being horses but times, lical it inIsrael was last seen in1959. jubatus venaticus for chases. Thetheir high-speed Asiatic cheetah, arecheetahswhereas renowned shortand rush, fast very a making then and range close a within to it stalking by or ambush by either prey their catch Leopards leopard. verse is likely to refer to rather the swift cheetah than the this Thus, them. than being faster even as described horses poetically the with animal, swift very a of example the But cheetahs. than The term “lighter” is a little difficult to pinpoint with to pinpoint difficult little a is “lighter” term The the to reference one is There However, it possible is that also description the of Their horses are lighterthan This 1500-year old mosaic of a leopardfromis the ancient Maon synagogue at Nirim in Israel. , was found of Land inthe Israel inBib 10 namer is used in this verse inthis as an is used namerim namer in Scripture that Scripture in … (Habakuk 1:8) 9 Thiscan indeed Acionyx - - - 5 LEOPARD - - - - as Oth 12 , elsewhere , elsewhere Thus, this par this Thus, 13 namer chabarbarusav , “wound,” and explains , “wound,” ]? So too, can you, in whom evil is chaburah , is conventionally translated as “spots,” chabarbarusav , which is used elsewhere to refer to a stain. to used, which is refer to elsewhere Can the Cushite change his skin, or the leopard his his the leopard skin, or his change Can the Cushite [ spots do good? 13:23) (Jeremiah ingrained, Although Although the cheetah may well generally be included Cheetahs and leopards are basically similar in terms The word used to describe the leopard’s markings, blotching of the leopard rather than the more perfect cir the more than rather the leopard of blotching a cheetah possesses. that cular spots in term the Scriptural thewith leopard This is in the leopard. Mishnah from a is it differentiated as dangerous, classified are which discusses that animals such that the owner is already considered warned about they do: that damage any for fully liable thus them and of their coloration; although cheetahs have spots and and spots have cheetahs although their coloration; of certainly both bewould markings, blotchy have leopards is it However, their in described coloration. variegated as that verse the famous of the wording note to interesting markings: the leopard’s to refers chabarbarusav but this is not a precise translation. Amongst the tradi translate some commentators, tional kesem the term to it relate ers wound. a by left mark the to refers it that ticular verse seems to specificallyrefer to thebruise-like that do that ) 11 3:2 is a generic a generic is namer Pe’ah namer could not refer exclusively exclusively refer not could as being brazen, which can can which brazen, being as namer namer ”—he sows in various places in the field, like like field, the in places various in sows ”—he : to describe someone who sows his field in field his who sows describe to someone Hamenamer namer leopard. It possesses spots possesses It leopard. than blotches. rather The cheetahThe slenderhas a to the compared build “ the appearance of skin, a which leopard’s is blotched…” Mishnah, Commentary(Rambam, to

It It seems most likely that the term Inany case, thename hamenamer be to based the explained on is which patches, uneven word The very name of the leopard in Hebrew appears to refer refer to appears Hebrew veryThe inof the leopard name also which would coat, its of coloring the variegated to be to the applicable cheetah. TheMishnah uses theterm term for both leopards and cheetahs. In fact, due to their cheetahs known were formerly as leopards,” “hunting be hunt. to can trained that creatures being leopard-like only only refer to the leopard; cheetahs, being weak relatively wary shy. and are animals, to the leopard, there are references to the to references are there the leopard, to not match the cheetah at all. As we shall seedescribesthe Mishnah later, the to cheetahs. Aside from the strong tradition that it refers refers it that tradition to the cheetahs. from Aside strong this verse may well be referring to the leopard. And even And theto bewell leopard. referring this may verse very their for known are leopards speed, to refer does it if distances. short over charges fast agile.” Leopards are certainlyLeopards are very able to agile creatures, agile.” such, As prey. their on pounce and trees up bound lightly

WILD ANIMALS 6 was given toit.”was given a bird;four had and also beast heads, the dominion to aleopard, which its upon had back four of wings “Afterwards and was another, there Ibeheld, similar in Scripture is inaprophetic vision of Daniel: The GreekLeopard on is called cheetah the this, in this Mishnah refers tothespecifically cheetah. gest that it ageneric became termfor spotted cats, which since the list, this in leopard the to refer Yetcannot Greece). it in referred to leopard the (since cheetahs were unknown word Greek identical almost mongoose. a or hyena a to refer variously to Talmudappear the in One of the most intriguing appearances of the leopardappearances the intriguingofmost the of One What is the saw adream and vision he wrote then inhis mind inbed; Daniel Babylon, of King Belshazzar, of year first the In warned. (Mishnah, the leopard, the and snake, the are rated all as animals about one which is bear, the lion, the wolf, The namer 14 But the word the But bardelas is listed separately. Some therefore sug thereforeseparately. listedSome is Bava Kama Bava ? Other mentions of the the of mentions Other ? bardelas bardelas pardalis 1:4; see too too 1:4;see can be traced to the traced can be in Modern Hebrew. wih originally which , Sanhedrin bardelas 15 bardelas Based Based 1:4) - ,

after Alexander’s after Cassander, Seleucus death: Lysimachu, fourthe generals whom empire between the was divided into four regions. death Alexander’s after empire the of division the sent fourall corners of world; the to empire Greek the of expansion rapid the symbolize of parallel the People leopardThe was subjected. have been Jewish the which to exiles four the representiel’s vision and Ptolemy. n lsia Jws togt te or ess n Dan in beasts four the thought, Jewish classical In Yavan— and dominion was given to it...” (Daniel 7:1–6) back four wings of abird; had four also beast the heads; was another, similar to aleopard, had which upon its there and beheld, I Afterwards bear... a to similar one, first was like a lion...andbehold, anothersecondbeast, a each differentfrom the other, emergedfrom the sea... The beasts, mighty Four sea. great the up stirring heaven of the following: “In my vision at night, I saw the four winds down the dream, and related an account of it. Daniel told Ancient Greece. Ancient 18 The four the leopard heads of refer to 16 The four wings on its back its on wings four The 17 alternatively, they repre alternatively, they - - 7 LEOPARD - - - 21 , “strength,” , “strength,” az But it is usu is it But 20 , brazenness, is based on the word Azus on several mentioned is leopard of the brazenness This earlier, earlier, “With me [you will be exiled] from Lebanon, O bride… from the dens of lions, from the mountains of (Song leopards” of Songs 4:8) as referring to a variety of history: in our nations and people but it relates to an inner rather than outer strength. strength. outer than rather inner an to relates it but Theterm could perhapsrefer to energy. ally understood as referring to “brazenness” “boldness,” or Leopards “chutzpah.” are often described as “boldly but marked,” their boldness is not limited to their col oration; it is their fundamental Leopards nature. are not especially yet large predators, they brazenly take on ani the of words the In them. than stronger times many mals former curator of the Hai-Bar nature reserve in Israel, Bill Clark: “Theyhave the don’t speed of acheetah, nor can they claim the brute force of a rely lion. on their wits. smart, They’re and, Instead, poundfor pound, they the they’re of scrappiest the big cats... No other predator fury.” rampaging victims such with its confronts of some shall explore We literature. Rabbinic in occasions these but for later, now we shall cite just one instance of mentioned we that verse the expounds Midrash The this. - - - (whether leopard or or (whether leopard namer 5:20) Another explanation is that, as we have seen ear seen have we as that, is explanation Another 19 lion to fulfill the will of your Father in Heaven. (Mishnah, (Mishnah, Heaven. in Father your of will the fulfill to lion Avos Pirkei Yehudah ben Yehudah Teima said: Be as brazen as a as a powerful as and leopard, gazelle, a as as swift as vulture, a as light “No other predator confronts its its confronts predator other “No fury.” rampaging such with victims The Mishnah describes the fundamental character But But what is the inherent similarity of leopards to traits of various animals, including the leopard: the leopard: including animals, various of traits The Brazen Leopard Brazen The ingly ingly rapid expansion of empire. But, Alexander’s as we shall now see, they may be a more fundamental reason Greece. Ancient represents the leopard why Yavan. lier, Scripture highlights the cheetah) for its swiftness. Thismay representthe amaz ingly ingly beautiful animals. Greece, too, was renowned for its aesthetic itself values; speaksand the of Torah beauty was whose descendants of one Japeth, to being promised third third oppressive empire? There may also be similarities between symbolic leopards and Ancient Greece. One strik are leopards that this is for explanation possible Ancient Ancient Greece? Is it just that the leopard was the third greatest predator in Biblical Israel, and Greece was the

WILD ANIMALS 8 discouraged by natural their limitations. and His God were fighting for they notwere they Torah, away. Knowingscared being never beliefs, their by firm stood they but army, Greek gigantic the by numbered Such was the trait of the Hasmoneans. They were far out natural limitations. its confined by feelnot It it. does ber stands unafraid of creatures that outweigh it or outnum quered enemy, the is which really enemy the within. evil trait and uses it for the good. Then one hastruly con conquest;ideological it means that one takes the enemy’s even or military mean just not does victory thought, ish Jew mystical In Greeks. the over victorious were neans either used way,can be and punctions about sinning before his Creator: com no has person brazen The sin. from him keep to Jew’s the withat odds ofshame, supposedsense is which something that is a danger for all of us. Brazenness stands Good and Brazen Torahtheir lifestyle: Temple, the forcedJewish Peopleand the they discardto defiled Greeks The measures. cruel with along Judaism promulgatedwho various decrees against practiceof the Epiphanes, IV Antiochus with ended Jews the towards tolerance The last. to not was this Judaism, vis-à-vis ant toler relatively were III, Antiochus King of dynasty cid Seleu Syrian the and Egypt, Ptolemaic of kingdom tic Israel. of nation the and Prague as symbolizing the clash Ancientbetween Greece of Maharal by presented is leopard the of defiance zen bra The something. “contend”with or oppose” “to ing but is anegative trait for mani of good the too all us, so The evil of evil The Azus Just sideof as evil the it that is leopard’sbrazenness the of perspective One The Greeks used is Yettrait character no 13:5 World(Midrash the Come!” toin share Israel:“Writehaveyoutoldnothat ox an ofhorn the on 7:1,6) “I saw in my vision... another, like aleopard” (Daniel (Joshua 8:17).( Israel” after out go not did who Beth-El in or Ai in left ites had chutzpah. This is as it written,is “Not a man was ites. Just as the leopard has chutzpah, too the Canaanso “From the mountains of leopards”- These arethe Canaan Pirkei Avos Gehinnom. (Mishnah, for destined is person The brazen also carries the connotation the carries also of defiance, mean 23 ) —this refers to Greece, which set up decrees and decrees up set which Greece, to refers —this azus 5:20) azus azus a nt iie t Atohs i is it Antiochus; to limited not was Midrash Shir HaShirim Rabbah HaShirim Shir Midrash in a negative way. But the Hasmo azus 22 entirely Although the early Hellenis early the Although azus azus was not limited to Greece, to limited not was is no exception. good or bad. All traits All bad. or good 24 Vayikra Rabbah Vayikra 4:19) ------

bos beyond his natural ability. He should brazenly pur brazenly should ability.He natural his beyond bos strengthen himself in the commandment to honor Shab topoor afford delicacies for Shabbos: Talmud, inthe discussed discussing is aperson who too implementedcan be by all: festation of uralist Pliny as referring to a cat of unclear identity. It was any big cat, and appears in the writings of the Roman nat on the Greek or panther term antiquity, the jaguar.However, in or black leopard a black describe to used often is panther” “black term the cougar,while American the to refers usually today “panther” term The leopard. the InfidelityLeopard should not intimidated. be right thing: the doing from him dissuade would who those by dated ben intimi be Yaakovto not person a for need the to refer Rabbi to Asher authority halachic century teenth animalsto tackle much larger than itself. ard, which boldly exceeds its limitations in its willingness something small, in honor albeit of Shabbos. This is analogous tothe leop means, his beyond something chase Rashi explainsRashi that Talmud the is urging aperson to An example of this positive application of brazenness is There is a curious background to the English name of name English the to background curious a is There Just as leopard the is not intimidated, aperson too so The brazenness the leopard of explainedis the by four you as the fear of flesh and ( blood... May it be His will that the fear of Heaven should be upon Similar,Rabbi Yochanan said to his students, Zakkai ben mitzvah. the doing from refrain not should he and him, mock who those all against brazenfaced be should son per a that instructs Therefore, it him. mocking are who but he refrains from doing it, there because are people mitzvah, a do to desires person a when times are there for it is a great principleof the Creator. in the service leopard,” For the as brazen as “Be with begins it and He, is It specifies four areas inthe service ofthe Creator, blessed taught: Be as brazen as a leopard... to fulfill the will of your Father inHeaven.will ( the fulfill to leopard... a as brazen as Be taught: Rabbi ben Teima Yehudah as is flour. This with oil own is “something small”? Rav Pappa said: It is fishfried in its one’sWhatin Shabbos. honor small to somethinghome do should one charity, receive to than rather weekday a one’slike make Shabbos to better is it that says Akiva Rabbi though taught: Even Eliyahu Rabbi of School The Pirkei Avos lion to fulfillthe will of your Father in Heaven. (Mishnah, light as a vulture, as swiftas as aleopard, gazelle, and asa powerful asas a brazen as Be said: Teima Yehudah ben azus párdos 5:20) was not limited to Hasmoneans, the but and Latin Pesachim pardus 112a) ) was freely used for Tur , Orach ChaimOrach pard (based (based 1) ------9 LEOPARD ------, is , is Divrei Divrei u’lekach u’lekach marozi s.v. s.v. 27 28 Siyum HaShas, Siyum , ad loc.) Rashash of the Tashbatz, in reference to the Mishnah in reference the of Tashbatz, ) Likutei Ma’amarim , The boarrepresents the kingdomof thus Edom…leopard; the the by king represented is Greece Ancient of dom Avos Magen of “Be as brazen as states a that leopard,” the leopard is for boar, wild the and lion the of offspring illegitimate the the lion is Babylon… (Rabbi Tzaddok HaKohen, Sofrim parashiyos This is something novel and bizarre, and according to his his to according and bizarre, and novel something is This it words would be sterile; and I have not seen this in the ( nature. books on ...One type cannot bear offspring withanother type;and offspring, produce can which natures similar of those even not shall they for off, cut seed their have will mules, as such Commentary Leviticus birth... (Ramban, to give 19:19) This explanationof origins theis leopard’s queried by there is It creatures. different vastly are boar and Lions the leopard of the notion interpret others However, Nor are such hybrids necessarily limited to artificial cir artificial to limited necessarily hybrids such are Nor …and he proceeds with a deeply profound explanation explanation profound deeply a with proceeds he …and Although, in a biological sense, leopards do not origi being a hybrid of the lion and boar as Thus a metaphor. Lublin: of HaKohen Tzaddok Rabbi of the explanation is fectly suited to its lifestyle. A lion is a carnivore with its whole body perfectly suited to hunting and eating other animals, such as pigs! Even if a very confused pig mated with an equally confused lion, their genes are incompat offspring. be any not would so there ible, others: fore inconceivable that they could produce offspringat all, let alone fertile offspring.This acknowledged is authorities: by rabbinic other leopardess, leopardess, producing and “pumapards,” a tiger with a A in facility the US first a “tigard.” producing leopardess, a mated jaguar with a giving birthleopardess, to a single lion, male a by mated turn in was which “jagulep,” female “lijaguleps”! of a litter producing cumstances. A spotted rare lion, known as the crossbreed natural of example an be to many by thought other although the leopard, and between theing lion of of how Greece was the synthesis of Babylon and Edom. TheTalmudic lionrepresents knowledge theof theJew ish in community Babylon. The boar represents the wis dom of the Edomite Empire, Rome. The leopard there Greece, fore represents which caused the of adulteration Rome. of the wisdom with Torah of the wisdom nate from interspecies hybridization, they do seem have a to propensity for interbreeding with other big cats. Koshien Zoo in bred Japan a leopard to a lioness, which subsequently gave birth to a with a puma mated a in Hamburg Tierpark Hagenbeck litter of “leopons.” The

------25 ). Kiddu Namer = ) said, “I said that spells leopard. spells Adon pard AdoN Immer AdoN 3:4) 5:20; also Rabbi BenShimon ), and they set themselves as a Keruv Magen Avos Magen Pirkei Avos Pirkei , the cherubic statues that were on the on were that statues the, cherubic But others give a different explanation: a different give others But 26 , and this is how the leopard received its name: name: its received the leopard this how is , and 70a) keruvim the forest thickets and roars to summon a mate, and the and a mate, summon to roars and thickets theforest with her;boar cohabits her and hears voice the offspring MiBartenura, Ovadiah (Rabbi leopard... the is pair this of commentary to Duran, Tzemach The leopardis born from a wild boarand a lioness. For head into her pokes the lioness heat, into come when lions about the mate of its friend. (Rashi, commentary ad loc.)ad friend.(Rashi,commentary its of mate the about shin “As a leopard”—like this animal, which does not care Israel Israel should be considered before Me as the cherubs (a play on the word leopard (apparently a play on Another version: Rabbi Avahu said, The though “Even Master they put themselves as a leopard, they said, are considered before Me as the (Talmud, cherubs.” “Theseare theones whoTel- went up Tel-melach, from (Nechemiah 7:61). and Adon, Immer…” charsha, Keruv, TheMaster (aplay on the word pard (Latin for lion) combined with with combined lion) (Latin for This statement is difficult understand.to Needless to Other by two sources, recorded fifteenth-centuryRab The What does it mean that the Jewish People “set them “set People the Jewish that mean does it What The notion of there beingcrossbreeding and infidel and lions because they are genetically very different from from verydifferent genetically are they because lions and A each pig is other. a with its herbivore whole body per one one can crossbreed horses, donkeys and zebras because all are (although the of these offspring closely related are mostly sterile). But it is impossible to crossbreed pigs sible; sible; the species are simply too different.It is possible dogs, and wolves as such animals, some crossbreed to because they are genetically closely related. Likewise, zoos from other leopards. Furthermore, there is no record record no is there Furthermore, leopards. other from zoos of any leopards being hybrids of lions From and a wild biological boar. standpoint, it would appear impos say, there of being of plenty are leopards records born in say, binic binic authorities, indicate that the very ancestry of the infidelity: in such rooted is leopard and loyalty. and But loyalty. the Jewish People acted as the leopard, this. of thewhich exact is opposite Ark Ark of the Covenant, were in the form of a boy and girl embracing each other. Theywere the symbolof fidelity with sinners. with selves as a leopard”? Some explain that just as the leopard leopard the as just that explain Some leopard”? a as selves spotted People the Jewish so spots, too were fullis dark of as as alluding to a dark period in the history of the Jewish People: ity ity in the ancestry of the leopard is also found in Jewish sources. TheTalmud expounds a seriesof place-names believed that the leopard was a hybrid of the lion with this leo

WILD ANIMALS 10 brazenness. shall return to this Mishnah’s linkage of the authority.or tradition respect not does fore guished lineage, and has nothing to live up to. He there a that is Mishnah this mamzer character certain traits possess by of virtue hisnature: “A nature.very The Mishnah statesthat this person also will label for of legalities; it purpose the is adescription of his and sister, etc., is known as a bidden relationships, such as amother and son, brother leopard’s the to some by progeny The brazenness.for of threatthe of hybridization, symbolizedby leopard. the ing influence theupon Jewish religion. Judaism was under to kill the Jewish nation, but there was a creeping Helleniz to resentment and persecution. led nations other from apart keeping forpreference Jews’ the how see we Diodorus, historianGreek the of writings the In thought. mystical Jewish in andDaniel’s prophecy in empire Greek the represents it why reason another is the leopard is a symbol of hybridization and infidelity. This imagery, mystical or cats, big other with ability breeding on abdomens. their reports of some large leopards area inthe with striping were there cause, the was hybridization that established leopard the between and tiger. the Although it wasnever as the knew they animal an of spoke regularly natives Indian 1900s, early the in And offered. been haveexplanations hy o b rmiig eaae b rtiig their retaining by separate, remaining by culture. won Hellenistic They into merging with hybridization, hte i acet da aot t acsr, t cross its ancestry, its about ideas ancient in Whether h Jw wr traee b Acet ree with Greece Ancient by threatened were Jews The linked inherently also is leopard the of infidelity The doglas is brazen”is ( A rare photograph of aleopon (ahybrid of , which was claimed to be a natural hybrid natural a be to claimed was which , a leopard with alioness) Maseches Kallah Maseches mamzer mamzer 29 does not does have a distin The not wantThe Greeks did 2). The idea behind idea The 2). . This is not a mere a not is This . mamzer 30 Later, we Later, with with - - - - - between Torahbetween and Greek philosophy: symbol of Greece and hybridization. leopard, the over victory symbolizes also thereby nukah Talmud withJews the which resisted Hellenism. Cha Babylonian the of tractates thirty-six the represent also Chanukah over total in lit are that lights thirty-six The uniqueness. Torah, their retained Oral they the with but Israel; from stolen and Greek into translated Torahwas significant a culture, numberof JewsTorah. toremainedthe true Greek The Written to succumb than Rather olivethe oil that is lit menorah: inthe of symbolism the of part is This Jews. as identity unique hybridized Jewish-Greek culture not will last. a too, So, itself. perpetuate cannot it sterile; is mule a But twothe cultures inorder to have of best the worlds. both Judaism—hybridizing modernized Hellenized, a like just It’sworlds. both of best the have to seem we horse, the of ease, and long-lived. By taking elements of the donkey and wonderful animal; it is strong, sure-footed, resistant to dis horseanddonkey.ofa a At like seems the first sight, mule offspring hybrid the mule, a of afterbirth the use should they that replied Yehoshua Rabbi popularity. its ensure and day the of spirit the in it keep to order Torah,in the of the Jewish People. It was time, said the Elders, to change preservative Torah, the to referring were they salt, about The Talmud records a story which relates to the battle the to relates which story a The records Talmud identity.Jewish of singularity the represents oil Olive t s ugse ta we te les f tes spoke Athens of Elders the when that suggested is It An artist’s rendition of the legendary marozi, believed by some to be anaturally-occuring hybrid of aleopard with alion Te les f tes se Rbi eoha ben Yehoshua Rabbi salt one can what asked with spoils, salt “When Athens Chananyah:] of Elders [The RabbahShemos spoil?” (Talmud,spoil?” salt does “And Yehoshua:] Rabbi [Replied afterbirth?” an have mule a does “But Elders:] the mule.”[Asked a of afterbirth the “With replied: Yehoshua] [Rabbi it?” So, too, Israel is separate from other nations... ( nations... other from separate is Israel too, So, Other liquids mix together, but olive oil remains separate. 36:1) Bechoros 8b) Midrash - -

11 LEOPARD ------when dis , 1) , which also enabled David to to David enabled also which , azus Orach Chaim , that is required: is that Tur azus This quality of quality This 35 from the heathens, he strengthened his Torah and stud and Torah his strengthened he the heathens, from ies, even though they were mocking him. (Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, Yehudah ben Yehudah Teima said: Be as brazen as a leopard, as as swiftas light a as vulture, aandas gazelle, powerfulas speci It Heaven. in Father your of fulfill will the to lion a He, blessedis in the areas service of four Creator, the fies and it begins with “Be as for brazen it as is the leopard,” a great principle in the service of the For Creator. there are times when a person desires to do a mitzvah, but he who are people are because there it, doing from refrains should person a that instructs it Therefore, him. mocking be brazenfaced against all those who mock him, and he should not refrain from doing the mitzvah. In this vein, ben Rabbi ZakkaiYochanan said to his students, May it be His will that the fear of Heaven should be upon you as the fear of fleshand blood. Similarly, he is speaking is a person sometimes, that embarrassment; regarding the before is he that people of in front embarrassed more bra be should person a that warns he Therefore, Creator. ashamed. be not and him, mock who those of front in zen I shall David statutes speak said, Similarly, “And of Your in front of kings, and I shall not be ashamed” (Psalms 119:46). Even though he was pursued and was fleeing King King David spoke that which he felt to be the truth, As we noted earlier, Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher ben Yaakov Rabbi earlier, noted we As and and was to ashamed not do Thisofisso. one reasons the Oral the of quintessence the describedbeing is as he why Torah. stand in combat against the giant Goliath, was his heri Boaz Ruth. and ancestors his from tage cussing cussing the maxim that one should be brazen as a leop of example quintessential the as David King presents ard, the type of is is an analogy here. Adulterations of that Torah begin with hybridizations with other cultures, distortions of religion, and can end up small losing any and all Judaism. to resemblance - - - 2:5) Avos is an essential tool tool essential an is Can the Leopard’s Spots Disappear? Spots Leopard’s the Can Azus

32 enables them to stick it out in out it stick them to enables is is also integral to the Oral Torah 33 azus Azus Azus 25b) But others explain precisely the opposite: that Can the Cushite change his skin, or the leopard his his the leopard skin, or his change Can the Cushite spots? So too, can you, in whom evil is ingrained, do good? 13:23) (Jeremiah 31 A bashful person cannot learn... (Mishnah, learn... (Mishnah, A bashful cannot person It It was taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: Why was the Becausegiven to Israel? they brazen. (Talmud, are Torah Beitzah 34 Yet Yet although a leopard cannot change its spots, it A lion has spots at birth, which quickly fade. So does cally, cally, if we recall the idea that the leopard symbolizes hybridization with other cultures, and that a leopard’s there sin, with “spotted” being person a represent spots but but they are mostly obscured by the dark color of the coat. rest of Irregularities no the longer stand animal’s them. Homileti resembles area when the entire out does have a way of making them effectively disappear. With melanistic (black) leopards, which are a variety color of normal leopards, the spots are still present, its spots: its the Florida panther. But a leopard never, ever, changes Another Another explanation is that when one learning Torah, Although Although a sense of shame is usually a virtue, and one Some Some explain this to mean that Torah was given to As we mentioned earlier, brazenness does have its posi its have does brazenness earlier, mentioned we As to accept an explanation he has reason to feel is incor is feel to reason has he explanation an accept to rect. over the correct understanding of a section of Talmud, a sectionTalmud, of of understanding the correct over each must be concerned only submission into cower never must with person A explanation. reaching the true must always seek the truth. When two people are arguing arguing are people two When truth. the seek always must doubts doubts and ignorance. A person needs to be courageous understand, does which he not that about ask to enough will he learn. never or (in excess) in the study of Torah. One explanation of this of explanation One Torah. of in the study excess) (in is that someone who is afraid to ask fearfulquestions, of with will remain being his ignorance, always mocked for of the hallmarks of the Jewish people, it is not desirable desirable not is it people, the Jewish of the hallmarks of other nations would give up. give would nations other in Torah: success for in line. the Jewish Peoples’ whereas the Torah, truths of and the depths plumbing the brazen Jews in order to temper them and keep them positive applications relates to Torah study: Torah to relates applications positive tive applications. applications. tive these of One philosophy. Greek conquered we which with Brazenness in Torah

WILD ANIMALS 12 of your Father your of will tothe fulfill aleopard...as “Be brazen as in Heaven” 13 LEOPARD ------Vayi

of the of , “in him azus Midrash 1) Bo–az 9:4) In any case, it is to interesting 36 Midrash Gurion Aba Pesikta d’Rav Kahana d’Rav Pesikta 27:5; “God “God seeks the pursued” (Ecclesiastes 3:15) …It is even so with offerings.The Holy One said: The ox pursued is by the lion, the goat is pursued by the leopard, the lamb is pursued by the wolf; do not bring offeringsMe before ( hunted… the from only hunters, the from kra Rabbah …On every step there were kosher animals facing non- lion; a opposite, and ox, an step, first the On ones. kosher a goat the third, on a wolf; facing a lamb the second, on ( a leopard… facing Thewolf alsoshall live with the lamb,and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young shall child lead a little together;and the fatling and lion 11:6) them. (Isaiah But the prey animals in these pairs are not only the pre the only not are pairs these in animals prey the But There is a dispute as to whether these verses are intended intended are verses these whether to as dispute a is There In the statues of animals on the throne of King Solo These pairings can be simply explainedas referring to In In a prophecy concerning the utopia of the Messianic domestic domestic goats, but also wild goats (ibex), since, unlike lions and wolves, they are agile enough to chase ibex in terrain. their steep ferred prey of each In predator. all these cases, the rep pair each in two animals Both way. another in related are resent the same attribute. The lionand ox both express in groups. live sheep both and wolf The pride. of trait the both brazen: are goat and theleopard And as as literal description of biological changes, or if they are a for the metaphor of theharmony future repre nations sented by these animals. lion the presented: always are pairings same the that note with the leopard and the lamb, with the wolf cattle, with the goat: made: were pairings the same mon, Lions are the preferred prey. only preda each predator’s settle must while wolves cattle, take on to enough big tors only goats—not upon prey habitually Leopards sheep. for of of the animals around them. Boaz had the leopard within him—hence the name is And brazenness.” Ruth herself was the product of an illegitimate incest relationship—Lot’s with his daughter earlier, noted As Ruth. of the ancestor rise gave to Moab, to prone are children illegitimate that states Mishnah the tendency a had David descendant their Thus, brazenness. to brazenness based upon both lines of his ancestry. He him the good, which enabled for this trait implemented all opposition. against in Torah triumph to Goats and Leopards comradery unexpected some of description a is there era, their prey: and between predators - - - - - ) like a meshu chash ): An Ammonite, and an not ): An Ammonite, ) the law. bi’ar 48b) nischadshah Yevamos ) from sin; sin; ) from rather, rather, “From his wife he Ba’arah bore” (since she was law a her, through that means it Rather, mentioned)! just ( innovated was Ammonitess; a Moabite, and not a Moabitess. (Talmud Yerushalmi, in front of him…” (Genesis 46:28); him…” of in front “…Chushim and Ba’ara his wives…”—But can a might the verse reading a literal (as wives his father son per imply)? Rather, it means that he pounced ( ( explained and leopard It should not “From his say, wife Chodesh but he bore,” “…Shacharaim…”—this is Boaz,“…Shacharaim…”—this who was free ( chrar “…fathered children in the fields of he Moav…”—that the Moabitess; married Ruth the was from he away…”—that them had sent he “…after Judah sent “he written, is it whom about tribe Judah, of “And Shacharaim fathered children in the fields of Moav, Moav, of fields thein children fathered Shacharaim “And (were) Ba’arah and Chushim away; them sent had he after Tzivya, his his wives. From wife Chodesh he bore Yovav, I 8:8-9). (Chronicles Malkam” and Meisha, enter enter into the congregation of God forever. (Deuteron 23:4) omy An An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the con not theyshall generation tenth their God; to of gregation This snow leopard is preparing to pounce upon its prey its upon pounce to preparing is leopard snow This Boaz “pounced like a leopard.” Boaz It is not “pounced like by chance a that leopard.” Yet Boaz proposed that one must take into account the account take into must Boaz one that proposed Yet Boaz wished to marry Ruth, but faced opposition. it it is due to the Sages’ exquisite sensitivity to the nature the Talmud picks the leopard here as its metaphor; rather, rather, metaphor; its as here the leopard picks the Talmud ing ing about a Moabite, and not a Moabitess. The Midrash expounds a verse as alluding to the story of Boaz terminology: with particularly appropriate precision precision of the thewording; law was specificallyspeak For For Ruth was from the nation of Moab. As such, it was marrying from her: Boaz that prohibited was thought

WILD ANIMALS 14 of a place: Assyria, which is the native home of the the of home native the is which Assyria, place: a of ture is its vigilance: The Vigilance theLeopard of Ancient Greece. as ametaphorused for Ancient Greece: ard on the way of Assyria.”of way leopa the on ard “as read, is verse the Thus, leopard. Anatolian It therefore comes as no surprise that the goat is also also is goat the that surprise no as comes therefore It Some understand the word the understand Some Scrip in highlighted leopard the of attribute Another leopardrelating the to brazenness of the see Again,we The goat is the brazen one of the domesticated animals. domesticated the of one brazen the is goat The readily eat other hoofed small animals When goats are not available, leopards (Hosea 13:4-7) ( watching be will I way the on leopard a as lion; a as them to be will I Therefore forgottenme. have they therefore exalted; was heart their and filled, were they full; became they pasture, their to Accordinggreat drought. of land the in wilderness, the in you knew I Me. beside savior no is there for Me; but god no know you And I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt, and And the rough goat is the king of Greece… (Daniel 8:21) (Talmud, Beitzah 25b) 37 But others explain it to be be to it explain others But ashur to refer to name the ashur ). - - defeat Ancient Greece. The combination ofthese two properties enabledthem to ofacteristic actually to has be trait without the zeal of of quality the possess to well very all is leopard’sIt brazenness. the to lance with term the Torah withword: aspecific family.cat the of member widespread most the being their to tory contribuperhaps prey,is ofand variety wide a catch to ing and ambushing its prey. This technique enablesthem stalk stealthily of leopard’s nature the to refers thus It observe shall him ( “I in as observation, vigilant describing This verse refers to the leopard’s alertness and vigi and alertness leopard’s the to refers verse This able (Jeremiah 5:6) great. are apostasies their andmany, are transgressions goes outwho there torn be shall in pieces; their because [ alert poised is leopard the them, destroy shall deserts the of wolf the and them, slay shall forest the from lion the Therefore ashurenu to stand up against the threat of an enemy—onean of threat the against up stand to 39 This vigilance is referred to elsewhere in the in elsewhere to referred is vigilance This azus azus ), but not from near” (Numbers 24:17). (Numbers near” from not but ), do only benefit withthe their of namer shokeid namer so. The Hasmoneans utilized the char the so.The Hasmoneans utilized , but one might not make of use this shekeidah shekeidah . This is inherently linked linked inherently is This . ] over their cities; every one every cities; their over ] . It is not enough to just shekeidah 38 - - - - .

15 LEOPARD , , , . HaChai HaChai baheros 1:4). . , p. 45. , p. 5680. 5:20. . Avos 107b, which , vol. 13 p. 40. p. 13 vol. , Dover Tzedek to , Malbim. Mikeitz parashas Terumah parashas az panim , 167; (Harvard University University (Harvard Shabbos , p. 1060, apparently is described is feeling as Pirkei Avos Pirkei 79b he retracts, where , p. 64; Avraham Ofir- 14 (5764) pp. 70-80 14 (5764) pp. Mei Marom ; Menachem Dor, Dor, Menachem ; (Boston: Little, Brown and . Mo’ed Ruach Chaim Ruach Chullin 11:546. mamzer with the term with Metzudas Tziyon Metzudas (London: Hutchinson, 1936), p. 189. p. 1936), Hutchinson, (London: 2:6. 8a) that they could not interbreed , Shem MiShmuel Shem az , Chanukah 5, 6. , Chanukah nekudos 12:1, takes the position that the verses verses the that position the takes 12:1, ad loc. Tzidkas HaTzaddik Tzidkas The Hellenistic World World Hellenistic The 13:5. The Even-Shoshan Dictionary Even-Shoshan The p.16. The word “brazen” also refers to Mussaf Ha-Aruch Mussaf Bechoros , questions Rabbi Ovadiah’s statement based statement Ovadiah’s Rabbi questions , Mo’adim in Ancient Rabbinic Literature: A Test Case of A Test in Rabbinic Ancient Literature: , The Unwin Encyclopedia of Mammals of Encyclopedia Unwin The and Malbim. Cf. Talmud, , Chanukah 5673, sixth night; Rabbi Gedalyah The Tiger Hunters Tiger The Metzudas David Metzudas ad loc. A Dictionary of the Talmud the of A Dictionary Bardelas Kometz HaMinchah Kometz Metzudas David Metzudas Ner Mitzvah Ner High Hills and Wild Goats Wild and Hills High Hilchos Melachim Yad Chanoch Yad 1; Ohr Gedalyahu Midrash Yalkut ShimoniMidrash Vayikra Yalkut Shem MiShmuel Shem Metzudas Tziyon Metzudas Sefer haMakneh. Sefer Pnei Yehoshua Midrash Vayikra Rabbah Midrash Vayikra Cf. Cf. to alluded directly not is leopard the however, Rashi, to According (1884-1943), R. Chanoch David Henoch ben Teitelbaum R. Yosef Rashah of see to But the comments Walbank, William Frank a why of explanation mystical a For Rashi ad loc. to Ovadiah ad loc. Rabbi and MiBartenura In the words of Rabbi Chaim of “It Volozhin: is forbidden for a The “lion of Bei Ila’i” is further discussed in the chapter on lions. is further discussedchapter in the of Ila’i” Bei “lion The has which edition, Kapach accurate more the per as is This Radak and These shall bediscussed in their respective chapters this in 7:6. Daniel to Malbim Rav Saadiah Gaon. Genesis 9:26, 10:2. See Jastrow, Bill Clark, Maharal, See Binyamin Mussafia, Mussafia, See Binyamin Rabbi HaKohen, Tzaddok Rambam, Cf. Malbim, who explains that this alludes to Ancient Greece Rashi, Radak, Bertram, Brian in to commentary Hirsch, Raphael Samson Rabbi Bornsztain, Shmuel Rabbi Cf.

Avraham Even-Shoshan, Even-Shoshan, Avraham SeeBurton, R.G.

something something made out of brass, a strong alloy of Maharal copper. also by represented was Greece vision, prophetic another in that out points copper. 23 24 Schorr, 25 infidelity. used of a symbol simply instead is but in the verse, 26 27 in Responsa ( dictum the Talmudic on since their gestations periods are not equal. He claims that there is a printing error and that Rabbi Ovadiah was actually talking about a leopard. or a tiger with interbreeding lion 28 in part, least this objection. at 29 222-223. 1982), pp. Press, 30 Charlap, Moshe Yaakov Rabbi see shame, no 31 32 33 34 with difficulties has he when teacher his of words the accept to student as just is This student. the with lie will truth the sometimes, And them. ( one” a larger ignite can a small branch to be describing the be leopard. to describing 8 9 10 11 12 13 used a wound. the term as to in this verse relates 14 encyclopedia. 15 VeHaTalmud HaMishnah HaMikra, BiYemei “TheShemesh, Hebrew), (in Identification” Geographic 16 17 18 19 20 term the unqualified contrasting 21 110. p. 1990), Company, 22 35 asei Mitzvos 36 allegorical. are 37 Israel. the Land of entering 38 39 40 the Menorah. regarding 41 whereas the regular edition has has edition the regular whereas - - - , the shekei 41 1:14:6 translates 2:14) Perek Shirah Fauna Palaestina: Palaestina: Fauna PHOTOGRAPH: N. SLIFKIN PHOTOGRAPH: (London 1883), p. 113. p. 1883), (London . This is because the Sefer HaBris Sefer 1, p. 62) 1, p. Pirkei Avos Avos Pirkei toward Torah is therefore a therefore is Torah toward shekeidim ] in learning Torah, and know what to to what know and Torah, learning in ] Nesivos Olam Nesivos shekeidah p. 225. p.

shokeid 40 The Natural History of the Bible the of History Natural The 55a. as “tiger,” but he describes its coat as blotched and thus appears appears thus and blotched as coat its describes he but “tiger,” as Be vigilant [ vigilant Be (Mishnah, a heretic... answer philoso Greek to regard with stated isThis undoubtedly (Maharal, phy... And And you shall make a menorah...three cups made like on almonds like bowls four each branch... on almonds 33) 25:31, (Exodus the candlestick... are are integral to the menorah, the symbol of the Cha Notes It It is with zeal and vigilance that we must approach An An attitude of Almonds Almonds are called Bechoros See Eliezer ben Yehudah’s dictionary. Much See Rabbi earlier, Pinchas Eliezer ben Yehudah’s Numbers 32:3. In Numbers 32:36 it is referred to as Bet-Nimrah. as to referred is 32:36 it Numbers 32:3. In Numbers Nimrim.” of the “waters 48:34, describing Jeremiah 15:6 and Isaiah The leopard is also conspicuously absent from H. B. Tristram, Tristram, B. H. Heinrich Mendelssohn and Yoram Yom-Tov,

Eliyahu Eliyahu Hurwitz of Vilna (d. 1821) in namer Midrash which records the “songs” of various creatures and elements and elements of creatures various theMidrash which “songs” records world. the natural of 7 3 4 5 6 1 2 Israel, of Mammalia that that one can withstand it. The vigilanceof the leopardis ◆ the victorythe to key Chanukah. of Ancient Ancient Greece. The threat of assimilation only is It beliefs. is Jewish of foundations the at one away gnaws that values Torah to dedication vigilance and constant with the Torah the if Torah it is going to help us tackle the ideology of prerequisite for dealing with Ancient Greece: Ancient dealing with for prerequisite assiduousness assiduousness and zeal. Thatis whywe find that dim victory:nukah almond almond tree is the very first treeto blossom each year, as soon as the rains ease Theoff. thus represents almond

WILD ANIMALS 16