The
181st prohibition is that we are forbidden from eating [meat from] an animal
which is treifa.
The
source of this prohibition is G‑d's statement, "Do not eat flesh torn off (treifa) in the field."
The
simple meaning of this verse is as explained in the Mechilta, "The verse just speaks of the most common case, [a field
being] the place where most animals are torn."
But
the Oral Tradition has an additional explanation of this verse:
"Flesh in the field is treifa,
therefore do not eat it." This means that once the flesh is moved outside its
proper place, it is considered to be treifa.
Examples of this are meat from kodshei
kodshim which was taken outside the Temple courtyard; or meat from kodshim kalim which was taken outside
the wall [of Yerushalayim]; or meat from the Pesach offering which was taken
away from where its group was; or if a fetus stuck its hand out [of the womb],
as explained in the fourth chapter of Chulin. In all these cases the meat is
called treifa, and one who eats a kezayis of their flesh receives lashes
by Torah law.
Flesh
which was taken from a live animal is also considered to be treifa, and one who eats it is punished
by lashes. Our Sages said in Gemara
Chulin, "The verse, 'Do not eat flesh torn off (treifa) in the field,' refers to flesh
from a live animal and flesh from a treifa.
This
mitzvah, as well as the previous one
[regarding neveilah], is repeated
with regard to kohanim. This is in G‑d's statement to the kohanim, "He shall not eat a neveilah or a treifa,
since it will defile him." The reason for the repetition is because they are
commanded to eat from a bird which was brought as a sin offering, which is
prepared with melikah. Melikah,
when performed on a non-sanctified bird is undoubtedly neveilah, not valid slaughter. We might think that therefore they
are permitted to eat even non-sanctified animals prepared through melikah, as well as any other invalid
slaughter. Therefore [the verse] explains that they are included among all
other Jews regarding the prohibition of eating neveilah and treifa. This
is the explanation given by our Sages, in addition to another law derived from
this verse, which we don't need to discuss in the present work.
However,
a beheimah or chaya which develops one of the invalidating conditions (treifos) which are derived through the
principles of Torah interpretation may not be eaten even if it is slaughtered
properly. One who slaughters it in a kosher manner and eats from its flesh
receives lashes by Rabbinic decree. The various types of treifos are explained in the third chapter of Chulin. The nine previous mitzvos
are explained in that same chapter, as well as the last chapter of Makos and
the first chapter of B'choros.
