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| ⚫ | '''Covering of the blood''' is a ] enumerated among the ] in Judaism. After the ] has taken place, the shochet (butcher) is commanded to cover the blood of the slaughtered animal with dirt. This applies to birds or non-domesticated kosher animals. | ||
| ⚫ | The source of the commandment is {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|17:13-14|HE}}<blockquote>And if any Israelite or any stranger who resides among them hunts down an animal or a bird that may be eaten, that person shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of all flesh—its blood is its life. Therefore I say to the Israelite people: You shall not partake of the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Anyone who partakes of it shall be cut off.</blockquote> | ||
| ⚫ | Covering of the blood is a ] enumerated among the ] in Judaism. After the ] has taken place, the shochet (butcher) is commanded to cover the blood of the slaughtered animal with dirt. This applies to birds or non-domesticated kosher animals. | ||
| The source of the commandment is {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|17:13-14|HE}} | |||
| ⚫ | And if any Israelite or any stranger who resides among them hunts down an animal or a bird that may be eaten, that person shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of all flesh—its blood is its life. Therefore I say to the Israelite people: You shall not partake of the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Anyone who partakes of it shall be cut off. | ||
| == Details of the commandment == | == Details of the commandment == | ||
| === Which blood === | === Which blood === | ||
| The requirement to cover blood only applies to the blood of kosher slaughter of birds and undomesticated animals. It does not apply to the blood of domesticated animals. The Talmudic sages interpreted the bibilical verse "hunts down an animal or a bird" to apply to any bird or undomesticated animal regardless of whether it is actually hunted or raised in captivity. | The requirement to cover blood only applies to the blood of kosher slaughter of birds and undomesticated animals. It does not apply to the blood of domesticated animals. The Talmudic sages interpreted the bibilical verse "hunts down an animal or a bird" to apply to any bird or undomesticated animal regardless of whether it is actually hunted or raised in captivity ({{Cite Talmud|b|Chullin|84a}}). | ||
| === Who is Commanded === | === Who is Commanded === | ||
| The mitzvah applies to the slaughterer. If he has not performed it, then it devolves on anyone, according to Maimonides. The rabbis deal with whether the responsibility can be delegated, and to whom. In any case, one who comes upon uncovered |
The mitzvah applies to the slaughterer. If he has not performed it, then it devolves on anyone, according to Maimonides<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maimonides |first=Moses |author-link=Maimonides |title=Mishneh Torah, Ritual Slaughter 14:15 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah,_Ritual_Slaughter.14.15?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>. The rabbis deal with whether the responsibility can be delegated, and to whom. In any case, one who comes upon uncovered blood from ritual slaughter must cover it | ||
| === The Blessing === | === The Blessing === | ||
| The Jewish sages implemented a special blessing before doing this mitzvah: "Blessed are you Lord, our G-d, ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us regarding covering blood with dirt" | The Jewish sages implemented a special blessing before doing this mitzvah: "Blessed are you Lord, our G-d, ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us regarding covering blood with dirt"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maimonides |first=Moses |author-link=Maimonides |title=Mishneh Torah, Ritual Slaughter 14:1 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Mishneh_Torah,_Ritual_Slaughter.14.1?lang=en&with=all&lang2=en |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref> | ||
| === The Process === | === The Process === | ||
| The commandment is to cover with "afar", translated and defined variously as dirt, ashes, earth, sand, rags, sawdust etc. | The commandment is to cover with "afar", translated and defined variously as dirt, ashes, earth, sand, rags, sawdust etc. | ||
| It is not required to cover all of the blood. A portion of the blood may be covered, but the requirement is to cover at least a portion of the "blood of life" i.e. the first blood to be emitted from the throat. Today, the blood of birds is poured into a large container with dirt or sawdust at the bottom, then at the end of a shift the slaughterers cover the blood in the container. | It is not required to cover all of the blood. A portion of the blood may be covered, but the requirement is to cover at least a portion of the "blood of life" i.e. the first blood to be emitted from the throat. Today, the blood of birds is poured into a large container with dirt or sawdust at the bottom, then at the end of a shift the slaughterers cover the blood in the container. | ||
| === Application on holidays === | === Application on holidays === | ||
| The halacha states that without dirt or ashes to cover the blood, slaughter must not take place. On holidays, when slaughter is permitted, but digging for dirt is not, one may only slaughter when the dirt is prepared beforehand. | The halacha states that without dirt or ashes to cover the blood, slaughter must not take place. On holidays, when slaughter is permitted, but digging for dirt is not, one may only slaughter when the dirt is prepared beforehand. | ||
| == Rationale == | == Rationale == | ||
| There are several rationales given. The ] describes how given that "the blood is life", we cover it before eating the meat because there would be cruelty in eating the meat with the life in front of the eater (in the spirit of the prohibition on eating live meat). | There are several rationales given. The ] describes how given that "the blood is life", we cover it before eating the meat because there would be cruelty in eating the meat with the life in front of the eater (in the spirit of the prohibition on eating live meat)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sefer HaChinukh 187:2 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Sefer_HaChinukh.187.2?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>. | ||
| According to ], covering the blood was intended to express shame for killing the animal we eat, thereby educating humanity to gradually reduce its meat consumption<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kook |first=Abraham Isaac |author-link=Abraham Isaac Kook |url=https://he.wikisource.org/%D7%97%D7%96%D7%95%D7%9F_%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%95%D7%94%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%9D#%D7%99%D7%90._%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%99_%D7%93%D7%9D |title=לחזון הצמחונות והשלום |language=he |trans-title=Towards a Vision of Vegetarianism and Peace}}</ref>. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| == External Links == | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| * Jewish Encyclopeida | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 10:39, 12 December 2024
Covering of the blood is a positive commandment enumerated among the 613 commandments in Judaism. After the slaughter has taken place, the shochet (butcher) is commanded to cover the blood of the slaughtered animal with dirt. This applies to birds or non-domesticated kosher animals.
The source of the commandment is Leviticus 17:13–14
And if any Israelite or any stranger who resides among them hunts down an animal or a bird that may be eaten, that person shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. For the life of all flesh—its blood is its life. Therefore I say to the Israelite people: You shall not partake of the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Anyone who partakes of it shall be cut off.
Details of the commandment
Which blood
The requirement to cover blood only applies to the blood of kosher slaughter of birds and undomesticated animals. It does not apply to the blood of domesticated animals. The Talmudic sages interpreted the bibilical verse "hunts down an animal or a bird" to apply to any bird or undomesticated animal regardless of whether it is actually hunted or raised in captivity (Talmud, b. Chullin 84a).
Who is Commanded
The mitzvah applies to the slaughterer. If he has not performed it, then it devolves on anyone, according to Maimonides. The rabbis deal with whether the responsibility can be delegated, and to whom. In any case, one who comes upon uncovered blood from ritual slaughter must cover it
The Blessing
The Jewish sages implemented a special blessing before doing this mitzvah: "Blessed are you Lord, our G-d, ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us regarding covering blood with dirt"
The Process
The commandment is to cover with "afar", translated and defined variously as dirt, ashes, earth, sand, rags, sawdust etc.
It is not required to cover all of the blood. A portion of the blood may be covered, but the requirement is to cover at least a portion of the "blood of life" i.e. the first blood to be emitted from the throat. Today, the blood of birds is poured into a large container with dirt or sawdust at the bottom, then at the end of a shift the slaughterers cover the blood in the container.
Application on holidays
The halacha states that without dirt or ashes to cover the blood, slaughter must not take place. On holidays, when slaughter is permitted, but digging for dirt is not, one may only slaughter when the dirt is prepared beforehand.
Rationale
There are several rationales given. The Sefer ha-Chinuch describes how given that "the blood is life", we cover it before eating the meat because there would be cruelty in eating the meat with the life in front of the eater (in the spirit of the prohibition on eating live meat).
According to Rav Kook, covering the blood was intended to express shame for killing the animal we eat, thereby educating humanity to gradually reduce its meat consumption.
References
- Maimonides, Moses. "Mishneh Torah, Ritual Slaughter 14:15". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Maimonides, Moses. "Mishneh Torah, Ritual Slaughter 14:1". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- "Sefer HaChinukh 187:2". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-12-12.
- Kook, Abraham Isaac. לחזון הצמחונות והשלום [Towards a Vision of Vegetarianism and Peace] (in Hebrew).