Reeh 12:23 · unit 7

TT #97 · Parashas Reeh · Second Aliyah · Passuk 12:23

The Complete Passuk

רַ֣ק חֲזַ֗ק לְבִלְתִּי֙ אֲכֹ֣ל הַדָּ֔ם כִּ֥י הַדָּ֖ם ה֣וּא הַנָּ֑פֶשׁ וְלֹא־תֹאכַ֥ל הַנֶּ֖פֶשׁ עִם־הַבָּשָֽׂר׃

Only be strong not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh.

Chabad.org — 12:23

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sifrei.

Sefaria — Sifrei Devarim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר – הָא בָּשָׂר לְחוּדֵיהּ אָכֵיל, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל שֶׁבְּשָׂרוֹ מֻתָּר אַתָּה מְצֻוֶּה עַל אֵבָרָיו, וְכָל שֶׁאֵין בְּשָׂרוֹ מֻתָּר אִי אַתָּה מְצֻוֶּה עַל אֵבָרָיו, מִכָּאן לְאֵבֶר מִן הַחַי שֶׁאֵינוֹ נוֹהֵג אֶלָּא בִּבְהֵמָה חַיָּה וָעוֹף הַטְּהוֹרִין.

English: “The life with the flesh” — implying that the flesh alone one may eat. This teaches that whatever species whose flesh is permitted, you are commanded concerning its limbs; and whatever species whose flesh is not permitted, you are not commanded concerning its limbs. From here [we learn] that the prohibition of a limb from a living animal applies only to pure domestic animals, wild animals, and birds.

On the daf / in context: The prohibition of ever min ha-chai is limited to species that are otherwise kosher.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — limiting ever min ha-chai to kosher species.

What Is Learned

The prohibition of ever min ha-chai applies only to pure (kosher) domestic animals, wild animals, and birds.