Every animal that has hooves that are fully split and brings up the cud, you shall eat. However, this you shall not eat... the camel, the hare, and the hyrax, for they bring up the cud, but they do not have split hooves; therefore they are unclean to you. (Deuteronomy 14:6-7) For more than a century, the Torah's list of animals with only one kosher sign has been a source of controversy. This obscure topic is used both by those striving to demonstrate the Torah s scientific wisdom and also by those seeking to challenge it. Do we know the correct identities of these animals? Do they indeed chew the cud and lack split hooves? Does the Torah claim them to be the only such animals? And are there any others? This groundbreaking work draws upon a wealth of Torah literature and the latest zoological research to present a detailed and comprehensive study of this difficult topic. In doing so, many aspects of the laws of kosher animals, birds and fish are thereby clarified, and several general principles for addressing conflicts between Torah and science are illustrated. Rambam wrote that difficult and deep passages of the Talmud cannot be addressed by enthusiasm alone. We do a great injustice to the Torah and the Sages by providing explanations that don t really hold water. Sensitive areas of the Torah must be approached with hard work, thorough research, rigorous analysis, and intellectual honesty. In this authoritative book, Rabbi Slifkin once again applies these qualities, and this is why it succeeds. - Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein Author, Maharal: Be er HaGolah

The Camel the Hare and the Hyrax

Religion & Spirituality

Natan Slifkin

Judaism

Gefen Books and Zoo Torah

<p>Every animal that has hooves that are fully split and brings up the cud, you shall eat. However, this you shall not eat... the camel, the hare, and the hyrax, for they bring up the cud, but they do not have split hooves; therefore they are unclean to you. (Deuteronomy 14:6-7) For more than a century, the Torah's list of animals with only one kosher sign has been a source of controversy. This obscure topic is used both by those striving to demonstrate the Torah s scientific wisdom and also by those seeking to challenge it. Do we know the correct identities of these animals? Do they indeed chew the cud and lack split hooves? Does the Torah claim them to be the only such animals? And are there any others? This groundbreaking work draws upon a wealth of Torah literature and the latest zoological research to present a detailed and comprehensive study of this difficult topic. In doing so, many aspects of the laws of kosher animals, birds and fish are thereby clarified, and several general principles for addressing conflicts between Torah and science are illustrated. Rambam wrote that difficult and deep passages of the Talmud cannot be addressed by enthusiasm alone. We do a great injustice to the Torah and the Sages by providing explanations that don t really hold water. Sensitive areas of the Torah must be approached with hard work, thorough research, rigorous analysis, and intellectual honesty. In this authoritative book, Rabbi Slifkin once again applies these qualities, and this is why it succeeds. - Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein Author, Maharal: Be er HaGolah</p>

The Challenge of Creation: Judaism's Encounter with Science, Cosmology, and Evolution

Christian Books & Bibles

<p>KNOWLEDGE Do we obtain reliable knowledge about the world from ongoing supernatural revelation, or from scientific investigation? NATURE Is it preferable to perceive God as working through nature, or through supernatural miracles? Are we surrounded by all kinds of supernatural forces and entities, such as demons and the Evil Eye? MITZVOT Do the commandments function to change our thoughts and behavior, or to manipulate mystical forces? Is Torah a Divine guide for life, or is it also a metaphysical blueprint for creation with all kinds of supernatural qualities? Rationalism vs. Mysticism is a thorough study of how these questions were answered very differently by various rabbinic scholars over history, reflecting two fundamentally different views of the nature of Judaism. Part One is an overview of many different aspects of these divergent schools of thought and their consequences, while Part Two contains in-depth studies of several topics. Rationalism vs. Mysticism will profoundly deepen your understanding of Judaism and many of the intellectual conflicts that have arisen in Jewish history.</p>

Rationalism vs. Mysticism; Schisms in Traditional Judaism

The Torah and Nature Foundation and Gefen Books

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Natan Slifkin. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Natan Slifkin

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Natan Slifkin. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Camel the Hare and the Hyrax

The Challenge of Creation: Judaism's Encounter with Science, Cosmology, and Evolution

Rationalism vs. Mysticism; Schisms in Traditional Judaism