Derasha 141 on Vayikra 11:18

TT #142 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 6 · Passuk 18

The Complete Passuk

וְאֶת־הַתִּנְשֶׁ֥מֶת וְאֶת־הַקָּאָ֖ת וְאֶת־הָרָחָֽם:

Chabad.org — Vayikra Chapter 11 with Rashi

English: the white owl, the desert owl, the ibis;

Source Citation

Chullin 63a.

E-Daf.com — Chullin 63a (Tsurras Hadaf)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text

וְאֶת הָרָחָם. רָחָם – זוֹ שַׁרְקְרַק, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, לָמָּה נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ רָחָם? כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּא רָחָם בָּא רַחֲמִים לָעוֹלָם.

Type of Learning

Name and consequence — The bird called racham is identified, and its name is associated with the idea that its appearance heralds mercy in the world.

What Is Learned

The rechem is identified as the shrakrāk, with a homiletic explanation of its name.