Mitzvah —
190
Not to eat meat of an animal that was mortally wounded
This page is incomplete.
Help complete the
Mitzvah Minute website.
Do a Mitzvah — Join us in building a living digital Beit Midrash — your partnership makes it possible.
-
וְאַנְשֵׁי־קֹ֖דֶשׁ תִּהְי֣וּן לִ֑י וּבָשָׂ֨ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֤ה טְרֵפָה֙ לֹ֣א תֹאכֵ֔לוּ לַכֶּ֖לֶב תַּשְׁלִכ֥וּן אֹתֽוֹ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת מִשְׁפָּטִים
-
Exodus 22:30 - "And you shall be holy people to Me, and flesh torn in the field you shall not eat; you shall throw it to the dog[s]."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Kashrut – כַּשְׁרוּת
Forbidden to eat meat of an animal mortally wounded or torn by predators (tereifah).
This mitzvah prohibits the consumption of meat from an animal that was mortally wounded, torn by predators, or afflicted with a fatal condition that would not allow it to survive. Such an animal is called a tereifah. Although it may be given or sold for non-Jewish use, Jews are forbidden to consume it. This law emphasizes that kosher meat must come not only from proper species but also from animals in sound health, slaughtered according to halachah.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Shechitah 10:9): Defines the various categories of tereifah, noting that any animal with fatal injuries or conditions is prohibited even if ritually slaughtered.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 73, linked to 190): The root is to preserve the sanctity of Israel’s diet and to prevent the contamination of soul through consumption of flawed or dying animals.
- Talmud (Chullin 42a–43a): Enumerates the different defects that render an animal a tereifah.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
