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1185-1235David Kimchi

 

Fragments from the book David Kimchi «Radak on Genesis» (no later 1235). The treatise - commentary on the Tanakh, was written between about 1185-1235 years in French (sefaria.org). The author writes about the localization, purpose, and injury of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF, גיד), and also talks about its presence in adult animals and embryos. See our commentary at the link: 1185-1235David Kimchi [Rus].

Quote.

[Heb]

Genesis. Chapter 32:33.1-3

1.  על כן לא יאכלו בני ישראל, בני יעקב אסרוהו על עצמן לכבוד אביהם שלקה בו והם צוו לבניהם (כמצות יהונדב בן רכב לבניו שלא ישתו יין), ונאסר להם ולבניהם ולבני בניהם עד עולם, וכתבו משה רבינו בתורה על פי ה', אבל לפירז" ל בסיני נצטוו וכתבה במקומו להודיע ​​הטעם שנאסר בעבורו.

2.  גיד הנשה, ארז"ל כי נקרא כן לפי שנשה ממקומ ועלה ( ב"ר ע"ע ) כלומר נעל ונעלה על הכף שהוא דבק בו.

3. אשר על כף הירך, אינו אסור מן התורה אלא אשר על הכף בלבד אבל לא מה שלמעלה ממנו ושלמטה המנו, וכן גיד החיצון כולו אינו אסור אלא מדברי סופרים ונוהג בבהמה ובחיה ונוהג בשליל ונוהג בירך ימין ובירך של שמאל אע"פ שיעקב אבינו לא לקה אלא באחת שנאמר ויגע בכף ירכו. ומחלוקת בין רז"ל (שם) ר' יהודה אומר באחת מהן נגע ובאחת מהן נאסרו ר' יוסי אומר באחת מהן נגע ובשתיהן נאסרו והלכה כר' יוסי, וחלב הגיד נאסר מדברי סופרים: (original source: sefaria.org).

Translation

Quote.

[Eng]

Genesis. Chapter 32:33.1-3

1. על כן לא יאכלו בני ישראל, the children of Yaakov adopted this prohibition for themselves in commemoration of their father whose thigh muscle had been injured. They in turn commanded their children to abstain from eating this part of any animal. This continued until the Torah was given and it became law. It reminds us of the descendants of Yonadav ben Rechev who faithfully adhered to the clan’s founding father’s injunction not to drink wine (Jeremiah 35,6) in honour of the oath they swore to their forefather. They are described as loyalists par excellence in the Book of Chronicles. Moses recorded the custom of the Israelites not to eat this organ as one of the 613 commandments. Although the Torah does not generally consider it necessary to justify G’d’s legislation with a reason, in this case, since this law had been observed as a Jewish tribal custom for so many hundreds of years prior to the giving of the Torah, we are told how the custom which became enshrined in Torah law originated.

2. את גיד הנשה, our sages in Chulin 91 explain the name of this muscle or ligament (sciatic nerve) as due to the fact that it is apt to move from its original location, from the spoon shaped joint to which it is attached.

3. אשר על כף הירך, the only part of the sinew prohibited by Biblical injunction is the part directly attached to the hip joint. What is above and below is forbidden by Rabbinic decree. Similarly, the exterior sinew is also only forbidden by Rabbinic decree (Chulin 91) The prohibition applies equally to domesticated beasts, free roaming beasts, as well as to the שליל, the as yet unborn embryo. The prohibition applies to both the right and the left hind leg of the animal, even though the sages are agreed that only one of Yaakov’s sciatic nerves was injured as seems clear from the words (singular) “he dislocated the sinew of the thigh-vein.” The halachic ruling follows the view of Rabbi Yossi that although only one sinew was injured, they are both forbidden to be eaten. The fatty tissue on top of these sinews is also forbidden as a Rabbinic injunction. (trans. Eliyahu Munk (2003); original source: sefaria.org).

Comentar zur Genesis, 1842.

External links

David Kimchi. Radak on Genesis (ca. 1185-1235). [sefaria.org]

Kimhi D. Comentar zur Genesis…. Presburg: Gedrukt Bay A. Fon Shmid, 1842. [danwymanbooks.com]

Munk E. (Trans.) MIKRAOT GEDOLOT: Multi-Commentary on the Torah - HaChut Hameshulash. Commentaries on the Torah by Rabbeinu Chananel, Rash'bam, R'dak, and Seforno. Lambda Publishers, KTAV Publishing House, 2003. [urimpublications.com]

Authors & Affiliations

David Kimchi (Radak, Kimhi, Qimḥi) was a rabbi, philosopher, grammarian, Torah commentator. He lived between about 1160-1235 years in French at Narbonne. [jewishencyclopedia.com , wikipedia.org]

Eliyahu Munk (1900-1981) was a German-born French rabbi and rabbinic scholar. [wikipedia.org]

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, animals, Bible, Torah, synonym, damage

                                                                     

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

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