Sep. 1st, 2011

cellio: (talmud)
The g'mara on today's daf is in the midst of a discussion of which insects are kosher and what happens if they infest other foods. (The question of finding half a worm in an apple is not explicitly raised, but close.) It then goes on to teach: R. Yose ben ha-Damascane says: the leviathan is a kosher fish, for it is written "his scales are his pride" and "sharpest potsherds are under him" (both from Iyov (Job) 41). "Scales", these are the scales that cover him, and "sharpest potsherds under him", these are the fins with which he propels himself. (67b)

Relatedly, Rabbi Symons and I were recently studying midrash about olam ha-ba, the world to come, including how the righteous will feast on the leviathan, which has been held since its day of creation for just that purpose.

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