THE TORAH ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

Volume I: Wild Animals/ Chayos

Sample Chapter: The Hyrax

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 2013. This sample chapter may be freely distributed provided it is kept complete 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 Table of Contents

Introductions General Introduction to Encyclopedia The Methodology of Animal Identification The History of Biblical and Talmudic Zoology Introduction to Volume One: Wild Animals

Part One: Introduction to Predators Predators Lion Bear Leopard Wolf Hyena Fox and Jackal Caracal Mongoose and Badger

Part Two: Introduction to Kosher Wild Animals Kosher Wild Animals Gazelle Deer Ibex Oryx Hartebeest Aurochs Wild Sheep Giraffe

Part Three: Hyrax Other Wild Animals Hare Wild Boar Onager Hippopotamus Elephant Monkey Porcupine Otter

Indexes Index of Animal Names Index of Citations from Scripture, Talmud and Midrash Bibliography of Works on Biblical and Talmudic Zoology

Hyrax שפן Hyrax Shafan

The Enigmatic Hyrax they are entirely different from rodents. According to LAW AND RITUAL zoological taxonomy, hyraxes are classified as being most ■ closely related to elephants (!) and are in the category of Hyraxes, also called conies,1 rock badgers, rock rab- “subungulates,” meaning that they are almost ungulates bits, and klipdas, are unfamiliar animals to most English- (hoofed mammals), but not quite. speaking people (although South Africans are familiar with them by the name “dassies”). However, they are sig- The species of hyrax found in Israel is Procavia capensis nificant animals in Scripture. They are first mentioned in (sometimes called Procavia syriaca), known in Modern the Torah in the list of four animals that possess only one Hebrew as shafan sela and in English as the rock hyrax. of the two characteristics required for an animal to be They are common in many places throughout the coun- kosher: try. One unfortunate problem with rock hyraxes is that, And God spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them: in certain parts of Israel, they have been incriminated as Speak to the Children of Israel, saying, This is the animal reservoir hosts for a species of sand fly which transmits that you may eat from all the animals which are on the the disease leishmaniasis. Nevertheless, hyraxes are pop- earth—every animal that has a cloven hoof that is fully ular animals. They are especially familiar and beloved in split, and that brings up the cud, you may eat. However, the Ein Gedi nature reserve, where they have become very this you may not eat from those that bring up the cud tame and often approach visitors. Being easy to maintain and from those that have cloven hooves: the camel, for it in captivity, these unusual animals are also often found brings up the cud, but does not have cloven hooves—it is in zoos. unclean for you. And the hyrax, for it brings up the cud, but does not have cloven hooves, it is unclean for you. And the hare, for it brings up the cud, but does not have Evidence for the Hyrax cloven hooves, it is unclean for you. And the pig, for it ■ IDENTIFICATION has cloven hooves that are fully split, but it does not bring Historically, there has been considerable confusion up its cud, it is unclean for you. You shall not eat of their with regard to the identity of the shafan of the Torah. As flesh, and you should not touch their carcasses; they are we shall discover, there is a reason why this confusion unclean for you. (Leviticus 11:1-8) developed; yet there can be no doubt that the shafan is This list is repeated, in a more concise form, later in the indeed the hyrax.2 There are several different lines of evi- Torah: dence for this. First, there are some verses in Scripture However, this you shall not eat, from those that bring up which match the hyrax perfectly: the cud and from those that have a completely split hoof: There are four in the land that are small, but are exceed- the camel, the hare, and the hyrax; for they bring up the ingly wise… The shefanim are not a strong people, but cud, but they do not have split hooves; therefore they are they place their home in the rock. (Proverbs 30:24, 26) unclean to you. And the pig, because it has split hooves, Being relatively small animals, hyraxes are preyed upon yet it does not bring up the cud, it is unclean to you; you shall not eat of their meat, nor touch their carcasses. by eagles, jackals, hyenas and snakes. They are indeed (Deuteronomy 14:7-8) “not a strong people.” The verse further states that they place their homes in More Elephant than Guinea Pig the rocks. A similar description is given elsewhere: ■ NATURAL HISTORY The high hills are for the ibex, the rocks are a refuge for Hyraxes (the plural form is sometimes written as the shefanim. (Psalms 104:18) “hyrax” or “hyraces”) are small furry mammals that some- There are different species of hyrax, but the species what resemble very large guinea pigs or woodchucks. found in Israel always lives in rocky areas (and hence is However, anatomically, physiologically and behaviorally called the “rock hyrax”). They have a multitude of tun- dence for identifying animals in Scripture.in animals identifying for dence of EinGedi. region the in especially Sea, Dead the surrounding hills the in together living seen be can hyrax and imity. Ibex prox in live noticeably hyraxes and ibexes both indeed and two, the between connection a suggests This goat). wild of species (a ibex the after immediately described the of identity the regarding evidence tant Midrash:highlighted inthe upon them almost exclusively. Verreaux’s eagle is the major predator of hyraxes, feeding eagles. principally but hyenas, leopards, including tors, of hyraxes. boom population a to led has construction to due Israel from them. In fact, the recent increase in piles of rocks in mately connected with rocks that they are never found far hiding. into dart all they threatens, nels and hiding rocks, places inthese and danger when dialect of Arabic (Sabean) the hyrax is called called is from rootthe hyrax the (Sabean) Arabic of dialect These refuges serve to protect the hyrax from preda from hyrax the protect to serve refuges These As Ibn Ezra states, Arabic names provide strong evi strong provide names Arabic states, Ezra Ibn As impor further provides verse aforementioned The Abraham! ( mal, how much more didHe so create it for merit the of ani non-kosher a of behalf on way a such in world His created One Holy the if And them. eat not should they that overhead, flying birds from outcrops rocky under “The rocks are a refuge for hyraxes”—Thesehyraxes hide 4 “The “The hyraxes are not a strong people, but they place their home in the rock.“ thafan Midrash Bereishis Rabbah , which is related to Hebrewthe 6 This predation by birds is 3 Hyraxes are so inti so areHyraxes 12:9) 7 In the Ehkili Ehkili the In shafan thufun . It is It . ------5 ,

ya. codn t sm cmetre, h Trh is Torah the commentaries, some to According hyrax. notes that hyrax-meat much “is prized by Arabs.” the the in people area. by eaten commonly were that animals non-kosher those eatingagainst warn wanted to cifically name similar the by known is it Arabia Southern in that notes likewise Israel, of Land the of fauna and flora the of cler word Various other descriptions of the rabbinicSeveral authorities explain that the Torah spe enclosure, just asthey live together in the -“The wild high hills are for the ibex, the rocks are arefuge for the hyrax.” At the Bronx Zoo, ibex and hyrax are kept in the same 10 shafan thofun Hyraxes are indeed a popular food item; Tristramitem; food popular a Hyraxes are indeed . . 8 9 Tristram, the nineteenth-century chroni nineteenth-century the Tristram, (Proverbs 30:26) shafan also match also the 11 - -

ED GAILLIARD CHARLES KINSEY 41 HYRAX N. SLIFKIN N. , ------13 being a chyrogrillius shafan or “bristly ani as 15 It has been vari 14 shafan ; it does not do anything that shafan presumably refers presumably to the hyrax. If the 17 Both of these terms could theoretically refer to chyrogrillius 16 In the fifth century, Hieronymus, who lived in the Land Land the in lived who Hieronymus, century, fifth the In The Septuagint—the ancient Greek translation of name creature creature that makes its home inside rocks. Instead, the word means “grunting pig,” this would be a pig,” word means fair “grunting descrip grunt makes and squat is pig, a like hyrax, the since tion, ing noises. If it means it “bristly would animal,” refer to the long, stiffhairs that emergeat intervals allover the in way its feel to uses whiskers like which it body, hyrax’s tunnels. dark of Israel (and was thus familiar with its wildlife) and Hyraxes Hyraxes are tremendously agile creatures which spec habitats. theirnative in rock to rock from tacularlyleap Scripture, adapted from a translation originally by made the Jewish Sages—translates interpret. to word a difficult which is ously explained to pig” mean “grunting m a l .” sub readers European many how is which hedgehog, the sequently understood it. However, the hedgehog is not the for a candidate does nor be the cud, and could described up bringing as it match the Scriptural description of the - Thismatches the 12 , which means “jumper.” Thisis , a which means “jumper.” does not possess split feet, while feet, possess split does not When a hyrax walks, it does so with its body raised high from the ground, unlike rodents unlike ground, the from high raised body its so with does it walks, a hyrax When tafza possess upper teeth. possess upper shafan as shafan

shafan

IDENTIFICATION The Aramaic translation of the Torah, Targum Onkelos, Onkelos, Targum Torah, the of translation Aramaic The The Talmud states that, unlikemost ruminants, the

vague vague term that could theoretically describe a variety of hyrax. the describe well also certainly would but animals, ■ renders The Hyrax in Antiquity in Hyrax The hyrax, which possess large upper incisors. Later, we shallwe Later, which incisors. upper possesshyrax, large description discuss of the the Torah’s hyrax chewing its cud. encase the foot—just as with the nails of the camel. of the nails with as encase the foot—just hare and are are thick nails. Although some zoological texts describe be rated not they would hooves, as thick nails the hyrax’s do not these since nails in the Torah, animals hoofed as the hind feet possess three longer toes that are more more are toes that possess feet longer the three hind divided, but there is a solid sole. At the end of the toes hooves hooves at all. Both match interpretations the hyrax. The rub a with shape solid peculiarly a of are hyrax the of feet bery texture. The frontfoot has four stubby toes, while saying saying that the according to others, it is saying that it does not possess

OTHER ANIMALS 42 in southern Africa. under rocks, of genus the hide habitually which rabbits of species certain are There else. anywhere live never they that rocks with hiding in rocks. than rather earth the into tunnels dig can they rocks not does match rabbits, terrain seek where which as an animal that builds its home the and hidesamong the of description Scriptural the Furthermore, and other places, but it never lived in the Land of Israel. sequently being artificially introduced to northern Africa sub Peninsula, Iberian the to onlynative originally was Israel. rabbitThe ofEuropean Land the rabbitsin noare shafan more name specific of to with name the rabbit the times, guage inmodern was often referredstill bit. (Hence, Hebrew when was revived as aspoken lan name and the the of identity the result, a As Europe. in unknown entirely were and Asia, and Africa in only nesher tzvi name The Israel. of Land the from animals certain with mission largely occurred, people were entirely unfamiliar ■ Europe the and Hyrax the of Loss and of Land the Israel. would have been familiar with the hyrax from both Egypt and widespread Arabic name for the hyrax. name Arabic the with andbear amouse. a between cross a likemuch very looks which hyrax, the to referring undoubtedly was Hieronymus rather rocks. tunnels in than live they and Israel, of region the to ­ wood the as America in (known marmot the for name Latin the .” e s Today,rocks. the cavesin Israelin livingand ou m ar e b “ it is therefore called also that notes he mouse;” a and bear a both resembling and to refer to acreature that is “no larger than ahedgehog, Vulgate. translated Scripture,also of translation Latin his for scholars Jewish with consulted non-kosher animals, is not limited to describing ani In medieval Europe, where the chain of Torah transTorahof chain the where Europe, medieval In In the tenth century, Rav Saadia Gaon translated oe ol cutr ht o, n itn kse and kosher listing in God, that counter would Some the recognized, scholars European some as However, IDENTIFICATION a tasoe fo te ael t te er and deer, the to gazelle the from transposed was from the vulture to the eagle. Hyraxes likewise live of Scripture cannot be the rabbit. First of all, there 18 22 In correspondence, he explained he correspondence, In chuck or groundhog), but these are not native not are these but groundhog), or chuck Hyraxes, in contrast, are so closely associated closely so arecontrast, in Hyraxes, 19 shafan He describes it as being very common in very it being as He describes shafan Pronolagus was usually transposed to the rab the to transposed usually was shafan sela shafan wabr , and the hyrax was thus given the arktomys shafan . This is the most common most the is This . , but these are only found only are these but , –“rock , which literally meansliterally which , as as chyrogrillius shafan shafan 20 Rav Saadiah chyrogrillius arktomys was lost, ”) .” in the inthe shafan shafan is is 21 - - - - -

of Israel that might be a suitable candidate. In the sev the In candidate. suitable a be might that Israel of the Bible sought to learn of a different animal inthe Land rabbit, the some European investigators ofof wildlife the hiswhich audience would entirely be unfamiliar. propose that he instead is referring to an animal with to unreasonable extraordinarily is it that, precisely does that hidesunder rocks; animal there when that is alocal animal an of ingenuity the relate to seeking of context the mentions Solomon King And region. he was referring to an animal that not does live inthe Gedi, Ein in ibex the as vicinity same exact the in lives instead of referring rock-hiding to alocal animal that itibex; is unreasonable extreme inthe to propose that rock-hiding shafan same inthe verse as hill-climbing the the describes David King However, inspiration. Divine Some would still claim that these books were written with inPsalmsdescribed and Proverbs as afamiliar animal. region.mals from local the However, the mentioned Aramaic inthe Targum Onkelos. the be to understood also was jumpingit animal,a scholars; non-Jewish and Jewish several by adopted tification the of lexicon. Copto-Arabic fourteenth-century a of authority the on based jerboa, Septuagint’s term of the it lives in rocks, thus matching Scripturalthe description impression(mistaken) that the under was he but jerboa, for jumping and tiny forelimbs. Bochart had never seen a jerboa. the that Scripture—argued in mentioned zoïcon the of author Bochart, Samuelcentury, enteenth Aware of the problems with identifying the the identifying with problems the of Aware —the first comprehensive study of all the animals the all comprehensive of study first —the 23 shafan This is a small rodent that has long back legs back long has that rodent a small is This . As further evidence, he argued that the the that argued he evidence, further As . shafan chyrogrillius A lesser jerboa 24 s h jro ws subsequently was jerboa the as olwn Bcat te iden the Bochart, Following was a word referring to the shafan shafan shafan shafan is also also is in the in the is the Hiero tafza 25 as as as as - - -

43 HYRAX ------as she sha was was was was who 32 shafan (like Rav (like shafan shafan

described in (“the bristly 35 wabr is a member of of member a is shafan ashkoko shafan is the hyrax. is others remained unfamil remained others and James Bruce, and is described in the Torah, described is in the Torah, 34 31 , shafan , while the hyrax was an excellent excellent , an was while the hyrax shafan shafan However, such animals do not hide hide do not animals such However, 29 shafan damanIsrael 33 Furthermore, they are only native to South South to native only are they Furthermore, 30 ofScripture. But in any case, the feet of mouse .” In the more many first-hand nineteenth century, .” shafan . Thus,Yosef Rabbi Schwartz, who wrote a bookon IDENTIFICATION By the twentieth century, the hyrax was already becom already was hyrax the century, twentieth the By It It took a while for knowledge of the hyrax to spread Still others suggested that the For Europeans, the true identity of the belief that these animals habitually hide in rocks. Eventu rocks. in hide habitually animals these that belief ally, however, as knowledge regarding all these animals increased, it became clear that be the not could the rabbit and jerboa match. Thus, in the nineteenth MeirRabbi century, Lei Hoffman Tzvi Dovid Rabbi and Malbim) as (known bush the that both explained rock- and coney as such it for terms (and well-known ing the hyrax, giving it the Arabic name of Saadiah Gaon). through Europe; in the nineteenth century, while some the is it that accepted iar with the hyrax and maintained that the either the rabbit or jerboa, working with the mistaken firstrediscovered in the eighteenth centuryby theBrit ish travelers Thomas Shaw plants and animals of the Holy Land. Theytheanimals of and describedHoly plants the hyrax in detail, for the benefitof theirEuropean read ers who did not know this referring creature, to it by its local of names the clearly is it that noted They one”). is and rocks the in hides that animal smallish a Scripture: observed to chew its cud. Furthermore, the fact that the hyrax lives together with ibex in the means same habitat that it is clearly being described in the verse, “The high the for refuge a are the ibex, the rocks for hills are fanim studies were made of the wildlife of the Land of the is Israel, hyrax the that awareness the spreading further fan the geography and natural history of the Land of Israel the identified based experiences his there, on to propose that we have some additional animals with a with animals additional some have we that propose to deer is the mouse that propose to sign than kosher single the deer are not all that different from thoseof other deer; the part of the foot that touches the ground is hoof. encased by entirely entirely are the extremities and split, the llama family. rocks. under America, whereas the a famil as in the Talmud, as well as Proverbs, and Psalms animal. iar Hyrax of the Rediscovery The ■ journeyed throughout the Levant and reported on the . ------and shafan Thisis a 28 behemos . Contrary to habitually mak habitually , creeping vermin , creeping shafan shafan is described is famil a as sheratzim shafan prohibited from consumption in consumption from prohibited

is the java mouse deer. because of this. because of

Hence, the jerboa cannot be the be cannot jerboa the Hence, 27 shafan A hyrax emerging from the safety of its refuge its of safety the from emerging A hyrax —quadrupeds of reasonable size. Jerboas would is described, and which chews the cud. It is argued argued is It cud. the chews which and described, is Thus, it is possible that the jerboa practices cecotro practices jerboa the that possible is it Thus, 26 Other writers searched further afield. Somehave pro However, the jerboa becannot the However, Jerboas Jerboas are rodents, not ruminants, and they are not

mouse deer. If the feet of the mouse deer are not going to to going not are deer mouse the of feet the If deer. mouse reasonable more is it then hooves,” “split as considered be Indonesia. ofThe description the Indonesia. in association mentioned and in the rocks, home its ing the far with better hyrax than ibexes, thematches clearly rabbit rabbit is untenable. The iar animal in Scripture whereas and theTalmud, mouse deer is an obscure creature living only in the islands of hooves hooves only covering the extremities, these are rated as this However, hoofs. cloven than rather claws with paws the that reasons the same for is untenable identification shafan that since the feet of the mouse deer are splayed, with posedthe that tiny deer that occasionally hides under rocks, just as the presumably presumably be classifiedas which are creatures, ous verse. different a its home in rocks; all live in tunnels excavated in sand or or in sand excavated in tunnels all in rocks; live home its listing only is Torah the Furthermore, earth. chayos the beliefs of Bochart and the other European scholars— European Bochart the other the beliefs of and makes jerboa of species jerboa—no a seen never had who ior. describedbe would jerboathe hare, the like that and phy, the cud” “chewing as types of fecal pellets that are specifically produced for this for produced specifically are that pellets fecal of types detail with in more purpose; shall discuss this we process regard to the hare. Many rodents practice such behav known to chew the cud. But it is possible that, like rabbits rabbits like that, possible is it But cud. the chew to known and hares, they engage in the process known as cecotro phy or refection. Thisrefers to theirreingesting certain ALEX KANTOROVICH ALEX

OTHER ANIMALS 44 eth century, one zoologist likewise reported having seen seen having reported likewise century,zoologist one eth twenti the In ruminate. indeed does it that writes and kept acaptive hyrax in order specifically to examinethis, Europe, for hyrax the rediscovered who Bruce, traveler eighteenth-century The cud. its chewing hyrax the seen ing “cud” chewed. to be produc chamber no is there systems, digestive unusual translated as “chewing its cud.” Although hyraxes possess ally “bringing up by way of the throat,” ■ Does the Hyrax The Chew Cud? for the candidate viable remotely other However,world.no the Europe were only familiar with animals from their part of able with stating that great the Torah scholars of medieval uncomfort are who those or explain), shall we (as look out religious particular their cud,”to “chewingdue the it of description Scriptural the with uncomfortable are the identifying reject the as it accepted Scriptural zoology of scholars All antiquated). became badger Yet there have been certain observers who claim to have the describes The Torah THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY ANDSCIENCE shafan exists. 37 shafan shafan shafan as the hyrax are those who who those are hyrax the as as as . 36 The only people to people only The ma’aleh gerah 38 but more simply , liter - - - - - movements with their mouths, long afterthey haveeaten. chewing brief cud.”make the frequentlyHyraxes up ing basis for Torah the such aprocess to describe as “bring sufficient be undoubtedly would this Still, digestion. in role a fundamental as play it does nor ruminants, with case the is thoroughlyas as chewed not is itand food, of amount small regurgitatesa animal the merycism, With garoos, and in other animals such as proboscis monkeys. kan and koalas as such marsupials Australian some in found is “merycism,” which called rumination, of form such behavior. reveal not does hyraxes Studying time. of periods long for behavior this in engaging are so, do to ruminate observed clearly that Animals ruminate. not does hyrax shorter much than with regular ruminants.period a for albeit cud, their chewing hyraxes as Torah’s the description of it. have who those it claimed ruminating, for to observe as well account would which merycism, in engages hyrax motions. chewing these preceding diately imme throat the movement in be to appears also There But there is another possibility. There is a very limited very a possibility.another is There is there But the that is zoologists of consensus the Nevertheless, its ruminant-like method A hyrax demonstrating of chewing of 39 40 Perhaps the - - -

WEIZIANG NG 45 HYRAX

, ------43 Furthermore, like 45 This in turn means that that means in turn This ments ments of the jaws, hyrax’s 42 it is ruminating, and some some and ruminating, is it dibra Torah k’lashon bnei adam bnei k’lashon Torah dibra 41 which is why the had Torah to men ,

46 looks as though as looks is is used idiomatically to refer to all animals that

44 But according to several important rabbinic 47 Thus, since the hyrax appears tochew appears hyrax since the Thus, the cudand 48 Another Another approach is based on the fact that the lat reason precise the explaining of ways several are There be made can usage preferably, perhaps and Alternately, However, However, other zoologists doubt this interpretation its chew not does hyrax the that conclude who Those

Midrash, Midrash, in the rabbinic works of the medieval period, meaning its and scholars, recent of in the writings and varies. mes its packages the Torah that means it authorities, sages and laws within the scientificworldview of antiq uity. Torah the cud-chewer, a being as of thought commonly is describes such. as it Torah Torah idiomatically describing the hyrax as chewing the cud. eral, gyratory chewing ­ move a cud-chewer. those of resemble ruminants, hyraxes engage in chewing when actions they are not even grazing. Superficially, then, a hyrax certainly describes bringing as it therefore theTorah that explain the cud. up ing behind this. One explanation is that these chewing cause motions people to mistakenly think that the hyrax the cud up brings tion it. Another explanation is that since most animals “chewing term the cud-chewers, are way this in chew that the cud” a way. in such chew that the principle of This phrase speaks like the of language Torah men.” “the and the Talmud throughout places in numerous appears of of the actions of the hyrax. Theyargue thathyraxes will work their jaws from side-to-side when with confronted something new and potentially dangerous, as a threat ening gesture. It is therefore suggested that all alleged observations of the hyrax chewing its cud in may fact be noth has that communication of form a of observations food. do with to ing cud are therefore faced with the question of why the this to approach One ruminant. a as describesit Torah relates to the hyrax’s internal physiology. The hyrax three with gut, ruminant-like possesses a somewhat digestion. for distinct areas hyraxes take a long time to digest food, and are able to process fiber efficiently, similar authorities, rabbinic to and zoologists some to a According ruminant. this internal digestive physiology is the basis for the GORDON CONGDON GORDON

OTHER ANIMALS 46 also exist withalso other animals—kangaroos engage in features these All cecotrophy. as known phenomenon a include to some by extended also was it that see will we hare, the on section the In chewing. ruminant-like compartmentalizeda toinclude stomach,merycism, or definitionthe of bringing cud thehasbe expanded up to bringingnotedweasup thatits cud, hyrax described is culty with this statement. In order to account for why the onlythe such animals world: inthe aresigns kosher Torahtwo the ofoneonly possessing as ■ OnlyThe Such Animalsin the World? nae n eyim cpbrs nae n cecotrophy, in engage capybaras merycism, in engage monkeys proboscis and koalas chewing, ruminant-like The Talmud states that the four animals listed in the in listed animals four the that states Talmud The Yet, based on the previous discussion, there is a diffi a is Yet,there previousdiscussion, the on based THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY ANDSCIENCE split hooves). (Talmud, hu other animals listed), therefore Scripture specified itwith andcud is non-kosher except for camel the (and the world knows that there is no creature that brings up the itbecause ( Rabbi taught: Yishmael of school …The camel, the “And “t ie tee nml aoe hw h cd u lack but cud the chew alone animals these i.e. (“it” hu ) brings up the cud etc.”—the cud His the of upRuler brings ) Chullin 59a) - puted. dis and unclear is Talmud’s statement the of meaning divine origins of Torah.the about laws the of kosher animals are for evidence the only the indeed such animals. fourthe animals listed as possessing one kosher are sign Torah, the of worldTalmud’s the the In with statement. conflict not do they Australia, and American South as animals with one kosher live sign inremote regions such Sages. the to familiar world the of areas civilized the as such region, limited instances Talmud inthe where that we see it refers to a need not refer to the entire planet Earth. There are several also Itplanets. other include not presumablydoes Sages the of “world” word The meanings. different have can world. the in Torah’sanimals such the only in the animals are list statementofYishmaelRabbischool of the fourthat the the contradict to appear would This sign. kosher one Accordingly, there are more than just four animals with stomachs. compartmentalized have animals many and lehr, h Tlu sae ta Mss statements Moses’ that states Talmud the Elsewhere, “world”word the that is problem this to solution One 51 But, apparently beginning in the eighteenth cen 49 codnl, ic tee other these since Accordingly, 50 The precise reference and reference precise The - -

N. SLIFKIN 47 HYRAX - ) - - - - Yal Vayikra

megarer 30:26; It seems that Midrash 57 Midrash Mishlei Mishlei Midrash )” – that it dragged ( The Camel, The Hare And The Hyrax And The Hare The The Camel, gerah 904) Mishlei , ), usually refers to the rabbit, and was originally used by was originally and rabbit, the to refers usually ), ibid.) arneves 56 Later scholars sought to find further grounds . (or 55 Another Another explanation: … “the hyrax” is Media, brings up “for its cud” it – that it ‘brought up’ Mordecai, as it Mordecai says, sat “And at the gate of the king” (Esther 2:21)…. Another explanation: … “the hyrax” is Media, the cud ( up brings “for it “Thereare four in the land thatare small” 30:26) (Prov. – This alludesto thefour kingdoms…. “The hyraxesare not a strong people” — this refers to Media. Just as the hyrax has a kosher sign and a non-kosher sign, so too Media; Ahaseurus the uncircumcised, and Esther Jew. they “And put the their homes amongst the rocks” — as it says, “So that they sought to build Temple, the Holy ( Cyrus says Persia…” king of kut Shimoni another another kingdom afterit (i.e.Greece). ( Rabbah Thehomebuilding hyrax’s couldhave been compared It seems that, notwithstanding its non-kosher status Similar such parallels were drawn in other Midrashic Midrashic other in drawn were parallels such Similar in Proverbs a passage how is remarkable most Perhaps shafan Note that the term “coney,” which is used in some works as a translation as a translation is works used in some which “coney,” term the that Note see discussion, extensive more For what enigmatic, small furry enigmatic, what ■ animal. NOTES 1 of hyrax. unfamiliar the with were who translators American and European hyrax. the to also refer has been used to sometimes word the then, Since 2 as as well author, this by 2011), Books Gefen (Jerusalem:Torah/ Zoo www.rationalistjudaism.com. at posts various to to the Persian building of palaces. Instead, it was inter theTem of rebuilding thePersian symbolizing as preted ple. This denotesan unusually positive viewof both the hyrax. the non-kosher as well as empire Persian-Median and subsequent symbolism for a hyrax was always perceived in a positive foreign light. Therefer empire, the ences to the hyrax in Psalms and Proverbs present it as part of the beauty and wonder of the natural world. We also find that the scribe who servedas emissaryof was righteous the king named Yoshiyahu Shafan, indicating that the hyrax had positive associations. there was always a fondness for this familiar, yet some texts. for the hyrax that one of out the pointed cities of major the to Median symbolize Persia/Media. to similar etymologically is which Isfahan, was empire It was shafan describing four small yet ingenious animals – the hyrax, ant, locust, and spider – was the too, likewise Here, kingdoms. interpreted four the by to referring as Sages the parallel further a and Media, and Persia symbolizes hyrax the added metaphor: is to ------

53 13:5) However, in light of the fact that the fact that of in light However, 52 Rabbi Yehuda son of Rabbi Simon said: 54 Vayikra Rabbah

Another Another explanation: …“the hyrax” is raises Media, up the cud” – that it “for [raised its voice in] it praise of the Holy One, as it says, “So says Cyrus, king of Persia” (Ezra 1:2)… Ahasuerus). side Darius II, was son from pure his of Esther, mother’s and impure from his side… father’s (i.e. the kosher and non-kosher aspects are expressed in the same person). (Midrash Babylon… Babylon… “the hyrax” is Media. Therabbis and Rabbi Yehudah son of Rabbi Simon [differed regarding this]. The rabbis said:Just as thishyrax has akosher sign (i.e. bringing up the cud) and a sign non-kosher (i.e. no split both a established Media of so too the kingdom hooves), righteous person (i.e. Darius II) and an evil person (i.e. Rabbi Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: Theprophets all saw the kingdoms going about their business. the going about kingdoms their business: “Theis camel” Moses saw

SYMBOLISM The Midrash continues with further parallels, based on based further parallels, with continues Midrash The Elsewhere, we have seen that the four wild beasts in The Sages explained thefour kingdoms under which ing up its cud: its up ing plays-upon-words in plays-upon-words the description of the hyrax bring understood to allude to the second of the four kingdoms: kingdoms: the four of the second to allude to understood Media: and Persia of kingdom the joint tive, tive, these animals possess one of the two signs required cer a express they such as and kosher, be to animal an for tain positive symbolism. Thehyrax, second in the list,is camel, hyrax, hare and pig—was interpreted by the Sages Sages the by interpreted pig—was and hare hyrax, camel, the as to referring symbolism Unlike the kingdoms. four nega wholly is which dream, Daniel’s in predators the of even concepts in the that Torah are not obviously sym motif. the same to referring as also interpreted bolic were sign—the kosher one with animals of list Torah’s the Thus, Daniel’s Daniel’s vision symbolized these four kingdoms. But in many differentforms in Scripture.They thereby per the of part being as history of events turbulent the ceived creation. for plan Divine grand the Jewish People were exiled – Babylon, Persia-Media, expressed is that being a motif – as Rome and Greece, The Median Hyrax Median The ■ exclusive list of all such animals on the planet, this recent this recent the planet, on animals all such of list exclusive of origins the divine for the argument of interpretation problematic. is the Torah mentioned exegesis. mentioned referring best as is understood animals four of the list being an than rather the localfrom region animals to tury, tury, it was taken as referring to the list of four animals the these are that meaning as sign, and kosher one with only such animals on the planet, in line with the afore

OTHER ANIMALS 48 Rosenmüller, 17 Willams &Norgate 1867, translation by Samuel Davidson) p. 1432. 16 1897), p. 1732. century seeH.G. dictionary; Liddell, 15 UniversityXL), Leuven (Leuven: Press, 2008),pp. 73-90. Studia I, Series An (Mediaevalia and Lovaniensia, Smets Leemans De Pieter Translations ofScientific Treatises in Medieval Europe, eds. Michèle Goyens, Animal called 14 well refer to the hyrax for this reason. 271-277. Dovid Rabbi Tzvi Hoffmann notes that the word Rock Hyrax,” 13 12 11 Rabinowitz, Dov 10 Press 2002, reprint 1883ed.), p. of 75. Tristram,H.B. 9 “Coney.” Encyclopedia 8 7 Books, 1990). 6 MacDonald, Oxfordshire: Andromeda Oxford 2001). 5 preference for artificial sites,” 4 Natural History Society 3 hyrax earns its Amharic name of Baumgärtner 1823-1831)vol 4part IIp. p. 220, states likewise that the V. Gargett, V.Gargett, Fulgence Fresnel, Ibn Ezra, Commentary 11:13. to Leviticus H. Hoeck, “Hyraxes,” in Arik Kershenbaum, hyrax ( “Rock J. B. Sale, “The habitatthe of rock hyrax,” Talmud, Julius Fuerst, given This was theetymology by Heyschius Alexandriaof fifth-his in Ilya See Dines, “The Textual and Pictorial Metamorphoses the of K. Rübsamen, I.D. Hume and W.V. Engelhardt, the of “Physiology H. B. Tristram, the See commentaries Chizkuni, of Perhaps hyraxes were regarded favorably because they are simply cute, especially babies such asthis one (New York and London: Funk & Wagnalls Company 1901), Chullin Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology and Comparative Biochemistry The Black A Eagle: Study Chyrogrillius,” in Translated: Science and Latin Vernacular A Hebrew &Chaldean LexiconTestament Old tothe Da’as Sofrim The Natural ofthe History Bible Handbuch der Biblischen Alterthumskunde Biblischen der Handbuch The Natural ofthe History Bible 59a. Journal Asiatique (1966)25pp. 205-214. Wildlife Research (Jerusalem 1986) to Leviticus 11:4. 1986)to Leviticus (Jerusalem The Encyclopedia of of Mammals Encyclopedia The aschkoko , 3rd series, v. 514, cited in Procavia capensis Procavia A Greek-English Lexicon (Randburg, South Africa: Acorn Africa: South (Randburg, due to its possessing hedgehog- Bechor Shor Bechor (2011)38pp. 244–248. Journal EastAfrican ofthe (New Jersey: Gorgias , p. 77. , p. and Rabbi Chaim and Chaim Rabbi ) den site selection:

A (1982) 72:2 pp. tafza (Leipzig: (Leipzig: The Jewish (Ed. D. (Ed. (Oxford, (Oxford, (London: (London: could could 23 236, cited also in Kisvei HaRav Dr. Yosef HaLevi Zeliger I p. 32, rejects identifying the Schonhak, Yosef 22 demonstrates these to mistakes, be and to actually describing be hares. references to rabbits Israel, in but closer investigation inevitably Sinai,” Bar-El, Remainsat Prehistoric“Lagomorph Sites Israel in and Southern Middle since East the Middle Pleistocene” -Eitan Tchernov, Theodora lagomorph known from the 21 Press 2002, reprint 1883ed.), p. of 75. 20 DovidRabbi Tzvi Hoffman. 19 Chyrogrillius,” loc cit. Dines, “The Textual and Pictorial Metamorphoses the of Animal called decided to terms use that would more be to familiar readers. his Ilya See and Deuteronomy,and used he 18 like hairs that resemble thorns, called 29 with the Mouse-Deer: A Hypothesis” (Hebrew), “Identifying the Biblical Arneveth with the Musk-Deer and the Shafan greater mouse deer. A similarsuggestion proposed is by Tzvi Weinberger, (Vienna, 1863), pp. 387-9; heproposes also that the 28 theone small creatures. of Proverbs, the jerboa and therefore is definedasa 27 2001), p. 580 Mammals of 26 indeed make its home the in rocks. However, thisnot is factthe in case. jerboas),a particular genus of claiming that jerboa does this species of instead the as Psalmsin and Proverbs dwelling as the in rocks. Schonhak identifies it tunnelsin the in sand, and thus cannot the be yonkim (Warsaw: H. Bomberg 1841)vol. I( jaculus the jerboa). Alexander Kohut (1842-1894), extended his in commentary on the hyraxof and misunderstands the term klipdachs referring as to the the favorin newly-rediscovered of hyrax—Lewysohn makes no mention his am Main 1858), p. 110(strangely, although he refers to Rosenmüller in 25 chyrogrillius available to the West trilingual his in Magna 24 the SacredAnimals of Scriptures”) (London 1663), vol. 1pp. 1001-1017. Sacre Scripturae (Jerusalem: Defus Ivri 1930)pp.(Jerusalem: 236-237 suggests that the 30 Volume 5, 1994, p. 178. Science: Constraints and Methodology,” in in

Intercom Samuel Bochart, “…The cape hare ( H. B. Tristram, Although Hieronymus this used translation for Rabbi Meyer Rabbi Lubin, “Identification the of Rabbi Yaakov Yechezkel (1814–1864), HaLevi 11:41. Leviticus The hyraxis a significantly larger creature than the D. M. Stoddart, for Equipped Gnawing,”“Rodents: Dr. Rabbi Ludwig Lewysohn, The Copto-Arabic lexicon by Barakat KabarIbn calledwas the Rabbi Dr. Rabbi Yosef Zeliger, Handbuch der Biblischen Alterthum Biblischen der Handbuch Letter toSunniasLetter and Fretela Aruch lepusculus , jerboa. which aspecies is of Yosef Schonhak, ; the in seventeenth-century, Athanasius Kircher made the work , p. 32, observes that the jerboa described by these authors lives Paléorient entitled magazine, May 1973; Dr. Rabbi Moshe Tendler, “Torah and is translated is into Arabic on p. 165. (Ed.D. MacDonald, Oxfordshire: Andromeda Oxford shafan (small hare) for the alkadaga (“A Natural Old: History of A Two Volume Work on (2000)26:1pp. 93-109. One can findoccasional Teshuvos R’ Yitzchak HaLevi Herzog The Natural ofthe History Bible Aruch HaShalem Aruch is grouped is with the locust, ant and spider being as Toldos Ha-Aretz Hierozoïcon Sive Bipertitum Opus De Animalibus Animalibus De Opus Hierozoïcon Bipertitum Sive Lepus capensisLepus (which today, the in form of ericii shafan Kisvei HaRav Dr. Yosef HaLevi Zeliger (403 CE). Cited by Rosenmüller and (hedgehog) for the (hedgehog) Die Zoologie des Talmuds des Zoologie Die as the as rabbit for this reason, does as shafan , identifies the )… the is only endemic species of aschok chayah (Warsaw: H. Bomberg 1841) vol. Toldos HaChaim ­skunde Lingua Aegyptiaca Restituta Aegyptiaca Lingua (Jerusalem: Defus Ivri 1930) p. (Jerusalem: in Proverbs; in presumably, he The Torah U-Madda Journal in Amharic.in , albeit barely. Note that in Gamal —who rejected the jerboa shafan BDD (New Jersey: Gorgias , shafan Shafan Bikkores HaTalmudBikkores , which described is , shafan Allactaga Yoreh De’ah 27(March 2013). shafan The Encyclopedia Encyclopedia The Toldos Ha-Aretz ), ), arneves ma’areches ha- as the as and and in Leviticus Leviticus in (Frankfurt in Psalms, in shafan , refers to Arnevet is the is 23. Dipus Dipus . The Scala Scala and and ,” ,” ,

49 HYRAX

את את שה מפי Adar Cheder Sukkah Matnos , ( Nechmad Nechmad 60b. (Jerusalem olam ’ . This would would This . ’ הנביאים שנאמר vol. 7 p. 57 and 57 and 7 p. vol. 60b; Malbim to to Malbim 60b; Chullin ( (Maale Adumim: Adumim: (Maale (Salonica 1565) (p. 1565) (p. (Salonica 60b, and Netziv in Netziv and 60b, . According. to (Vienna 1887), vol. 1, 1, vol. 1887), (Vienna (Lemberg 1870) 10:3, (Lemberg 1870) 10:3, Chullin יחזקאל יד Jewish Studies, an Internet Internet an Studies, Jewish שפילה את התורה מפי הנביאים ) HaBayis HaRishon HaBayis Chullin , Os Emes Kerem Pesachyah Pesachyah Kerem השפן זו יון שהשפילה את התורה sometimes refers to the entire entire the to refers sometimes Ye f e hTo a r Collected Writings Studies in Medieval Jewish History History Jewish Medieval in Studies olam GanNa’ul , 8, presents further parallels between the the between parallels further presents 8, B’Toraso Shel R’ Gedalyah Shel R’ B’Toraso הנה ימים באים נאם ה 49, understand the argument as referring to to as referring argument the understand 49, Darchei HaShinuyim ’ , a mutant animal that the Talmud infers as infers Talmud the animal that a mutant , Levanon Re’ay Shemini , 60b explain the argument as referring to the the to as referring argument the explain 60b , MiKadmoniyus HaYehudim MiKadmoniyus Sifri shesuah (1902) Leviticus 17. 11:4 note Chullin והשלחתי רעב וגו , volume 1 (Harvard University Press, 1979), pp. 239- pp. 1979), Press, University (Harvard 1 volume , ’ to 7; Maharatz Chayes, Commentary to to Commentary Chayes, Maharatz 7; 89, notes that the word word the that notes 89, , it refers to Mordecai and Haman. and Mordecai to refers it , , pp. 37-38. pp. , (2006) pp. 1–20. (2006) pp. Rabbi Gans uses this to explain the statement that “Jerusalem is in“Jerusalem that statement the explain uses to this Rabbi Gans . ’. R. Shmuel’. Waldberg, Tosafos Midrash Tanchuma Midrash II Kings chapter 22. chapter II Kings Naftali Hertz Wessely, Wessely, Hertz Naftali Four of the Prophecies of the Formulation Talmudic “The Raviv, Rivka of interpretations the follows This Rabbi David Gans, a disciple of the Maharal of Prague, in of of Maharal Prague, a disciple the Gans, Rabbi David of is a refutation there here From trapper? or “But a hunter was Moses Chalon To ra h Te m i m a h the mother of Ptolemy was named after a hare, indicating that that section section that that indicating a hare, after was named of mother Ptolemy the Media. than rather Greece about is speaking 56 Avraham Epstein, 31-35. pp. 57 that a statement by is followed verse other the since be correct, to appear השפן זו מדי שעשתה את ישראל פאה והפקר להשמיד להרוג ולאבד את כל וגו is acronym: this based an on that 66b says p. in Benveniste, ben Samuel R. Meir However, hyrax the make to in order text the emends 1624 edition) 48a in Prague Midrashim: other the with line into it bringing thus Media, represent ים וגו וכתיב ונעו מים עד printed The kingdoms. four the sign and kosher animals one with four Greece: representing hyrax has the version Kehunah 55 (Hebrew), of Book in the Daniel” Kingdoms Journal 54 7, in Menken Leviticus Rabbi Pesachyah 11:6; (1860-1942) HaLevi Epstein Rabbi Baruch Wessely; citing 1931) p.118, in 53 knowledge of the Rashi to in Deuteronomy. mentioned being to his commentary the animals in different all the about presented information detailed the of laws kashrus. Torah’s 52 one who says that Torah is not from Heaven” - Talmud, Talmud, - Heaven” from is not Torah that says who one 51 of a Medieval Jewish Intellectual,” Intellectual,” Jewish ofMedieval a and Literature Hirsch, Raphael Rabbi Samson 242; Kook, Yitzchak Avraham Rabbi and 1:6; Genesis to commentary Ha Ye k a r 49 Ve’Na’im region, a limited to sometimes and Earth, planet to sometimes universe, the to coming warfare to references Talmud’s as the with such 29a) in inhabited areas the to refers it that explains of world”—he the center the of foremost one the Nadel, Rabbi Gedalyah times. Talmudic and Biblical in of Chazondisciples Ish, the Torah of the “world” the for evidence further brings 118, p. 2004), Shilat was Deluge the of that explaining context in the ofbeing scope, limited an makes who someone that rules Talmud The lands. Biblical to limited “prohibited is of Euphrates the waters the drinking from abstain to oath of tributaries many are there while Now, world.” in the waters all the from America in a stream say, that, chance no is certainly there Euphrates, the the when Rabbi Nadel, concludes Hence, Euphrates! the to is connected In of Sages. the world the to refers it “world,” the about speaks Talmud this applying suggested Rabbi Nadel author, discussion the with personal animals. four the regarding statement Talmud’s the to approach 50

, , , of The Journal Ta’a n os (1982) Saphan Biologisches (1983) 176 (vol. II, 17); 17); II, (vol. Derech Efrata (New Jersey: (1966) 25 pp. (1966) 25 pp. (Tel Aviv: Dvir Aviv: (Tel Torah Sheleimah Torah Ma’amar Hamo’ach Hamo’ach Ma’amar , (Tel-Aviv: Sinai, 1962), 1962), Sinai, (Tel-Aviv: Seridei Aish 2:8 and 3:3, with the the with 3:3, and 2:8 Handbuch der Handbuch Biblischen 59a. An early reference to to reference early An 59a. (Jerusalem 1845). to Leviticus Rabbi to and 11:32; Fauna Palaestina: Mammalia of Mammalia Palaestina: Fauna Journal of MorphologyJournal but also applicable to the hyrax; hyrax; the to also applicable but Chullin (Tel-Aviv: Sinai 1962) p. 45. 1962) p. Sinai (Tel-Aviv: to HaChai BiMai HaMikra HaMishnah HaMishnah HaMikra BiMai HaChai is dedicated to this. HaChai B’Eretz Yisrael B’Eretz HaChai Derashos Beis Yishai arneves is an unknown or extinct animal can be animal can extinct or is unknown an (1790) pp. 179ff. (1790) pp. Vergleichende Untersuchung des wiederkau-Vergleichende The Natural History of the Bible History the of Natural The Torah Sheleimah Torah Tevuos Ha-Aretz Tevuos shafan Memoirs of the Wernian Natural History Society History Natural of the Wernian Memoirs (1738) p. 376. (1738) p. Comparative BiochemistryComparative and Physiology A Guide for the Perplexed for Guide Sichas Chullin Travels, or, Observations Relating to Several Parts of Parts to Several Observations Relating or, Travels, The Animal World of the Bible the of World Animal The Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Vol. VI: Select Vol. of the Nile, to Discover the Source Travels vol 4 part II pp. 213-222; David Scot, “On the the “On Scot, David 213-222; II pp. 4 part vol (Tel-Aviv: Grafor-Daftal books 1997), p. 56; Yehudah Yehudah 56; p. 1997), books Grafor-Daftal (Tel-Aviv: (1965) 84:6 pp. 736-739 (German). (1965) 84:6 pp. (1977) 107:11 pp. 1954-61. (1977) 107:11 pp. [Comparative investigation of cud-chewers], of cud-chewers], investigation [Comparative ­skunde 11:31. Journal of the East African Natural History Society History Natural of the East African Journal , fn. 4; Ralbag, commentary to Gen. 15:4, and commentary to to commentary and 15:4, Gen. to commentary Ralbag, 4; fn. , are two undiscovered miniature varieties of camel, one even small small even one of varieties camel, miniature undiscovered two are The Animal World of the Bible of the World Animal The , p. 236. p. , See Rambam, See Rambam, See Zion Ukshi, “The Torah Speaks Like the ofthe Men—The Language Speaks Like Torah “The Ukshi, See Zion Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffman, Commentary to Leviticus 11:5, p. p. to Leviticus 11:5, Commentary Hoffman, Tzvi Rabbi Dovid The skull of a hyrax and its musculature is actually very similar to that that to verysimilar actually is musculature its of and skull The hyrax a E. T. Clemens, “Sites of organic acid production and patterns of patterns and of production “Sites acid organic Clemens, T. E. of of time transit “Comparison et al., Murphy J. C. R. Paul-Murphy, J. This author has filmed such behavior in his own captive hyrax, which which hyrax, captive in own his behavior such has filmed author This in the of mode and ingestion “Daily consumption food Sale, B. J. Hubert Hendrichs, “ Hendrichs, Hubert The notion that the the that notion The contemporary and Radak, Rashbam, Chizkuni, Ezra, Ibn Following Commentaries to Leviticus to 11:5. Commentaries Bodenheimer, Shimon E.g. Rabbi Yosef Schwartz, Yosef Rabbi Rosenmüller, Friedrich Ernst See e.g. Thomas Shaw, Shaw, Thomas Bruce, James Job, end of ch. 39; Rabbi Dr. Isadore Twersky, “Joseph ibn Kaspi: Portrait Portrait Kaspi: ibn “Joseph Twersky, Isadore Rabbi Dr. 39; of end ch. Job, 48 in Abarbanel and Narvoni, Tov, Shem of Efodi, commentaries Fisher, Rabbi Shlomo and 4, Vehalev Gorgias Press 2002, reprint of 1883 ed.) p. 76. of 1883 ed.) reprint p. 2002, Gorgias Press 47 (Hebrew), Nature” its and of Expression the Development 39-59. 9-10 (5761) pp. Rabbi Menachem Kasher, Kasher, Rabbi Menachem Ben-David, Amitai Tristram, B. is this in H. pp. 61-87. pp. 46 hare/ the to in reference 228, Weinberg, Yaakov Yechiel Rabbi by also cited of ruminants, due to the shared need to extensively masticate the food. food. the masticate extensively to need shared the to due of ruminants, of genera in two apparatus “Muscles of masticatory the Janis, M. See C. Heterohyrax),” and (Procavia hyraces Yehudah Feliks, Feliks, 44 Yehudah Kasher, Rabbi Menachem by approvingly cited 45, p. Vayikra 45 digesta and digestive efficiency of the rock hyrax, the Barbados sheep and sheep Barbados the hyrax, rock efficiency the of digestive and digesta the domestic rabbit,” 611-613. 72:3 pp. 42 hyrax,” of rock tract the gastrointestinal in the movement digesta of Nutrition 43 hyrax,” hyrax,” Tov, Yom and Mendelssohn 215-224; Israel Zentralblatt 40 www.zootorah.com. be at viewed online can 41 linguistic scholarship. linguistic 39 verhaltens” 37 of five Chapter grounds. zooarcheological and zoological on refuted Hyrax The And Hare The Camel, 38 1953) p. 245; Menachem Dor, Dor, Menachem 245; p. 1953) VeHaTalmud Feliks, the Hebrew Scriptures,” Scriptures,” Hebrew the 103-112. pp. 6 (1832), vol. 35 36 33 34 Alterthum 31 Barbary and the Levant 32 History of Natural Specimens enough to hide under rocks, but the conspicuous absence of any fossils of fossils any absence conspicuous the but rocks, under hide to enough highly this renders creatures extraordinary such for evidence other or implausible. arneves

OTHER ANIMALS 50