Mitzvah —
181
Not to eat non-kosher fowl
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וְאֶת־אֵ֙לֶּה֙ תְּשַׁקְּצ֣וּ מִן־הָע֔וֹף לֹ֥א יֵאָכְל֖וּ שֶׁ֣קֶץ הֵ֑ם אֶת־הַנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙ וְאֶת־הַפֶּ֔רֶס וְאֵ֖ת הָעׇזְנִיָּֽה׃ וְאֶ֨ת־הַדָּאָ֔ה וְאֶת־הָאַיָּ֖ה לְמִינָֽהּ׃ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־עֹרֵ֖ב לְמִינֽוֹ׃ וְאֵת֙ בַּ֣ת הַֽיַּעֲנָ֔ה וְאֶת־הַתַּחְמָ֖ס וְאֶת־הַשָּׁ֑חַף וְאֶת־הַנֵּ֖ץ לְמִינֵֽהוּ׃ וְאֶת־הַכּ֥וֹס וְאֶת־הַשָּׁלָ֖ךְ וְאֶת־הַיַּנְשֽׁוּף׃ וְאֶת־הַתִּנְשֶׁ֥מֶת וְאֶת־הַקָּאָ֖ת וְאֶת־הָרָחָֽם׃ וְאֵת֙ הַחֲסִידָ֔ה הָאֲנָפָ֖ה לְמִינָ֑הּ וְאֶת־הַדּוּכִיפַ֖ת וְאֶת־הָעֲטַלֵּֽף׃ - פָּרָשַׁת שְּׁמִינִי
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Leviticus 11:13-19 - "And among birds, you shall hold these in abomination; they shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: The eagle [or the griffon vulture], the kite, the osprey, the kestrel, and the vulture after its species, and the raven after its species, the ostrich, the jay, and the sparrow hawk, and the goshawk after its species; The owl, the gull, the little owl; The bat, the starling, the magpie; the stork, the heron after its species; the hoopoe and the atalef:"
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Kashrut – כַּשְׁרוּת
Forbidden to eat any non-kosher bird.
This mitzvah prohibits eating any species of bird that the Torah designates as non-kosher. The Torah lists twenty-four forbidden birds, which include birds of prey and scavengers, such as the eagle, owl, vulture, and raven. All other birds are permitted only if they are known through an unbroken tradition (mesorah) to be kosher. This mitzvah refines our eating habits and maintains the sanctity of the Jewish people through careful dietary separation.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Ma’achalot Asurot 1:14–15): States that birds are not defined by signs alone but by tradition—if a species is known to be kosher, it is permitted; if not, it is forbidden.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 158): The root is to distance Israel from cruelty and predatory traits symbolized by birds of prey, preserving spiritual sensitivity.
- Talmud (Chullin 61a): Notes that kosher birds are identified by non-predatory behavior, possession of specific physical traits, and established tradition.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
