Q&A: Meat and Milk and the Four Species
Meat and Milk and the Four Species
Question
Hello Rabbi!
Today, according to academic research, it is conjectured that the prohibition "Do not cook a kid in its mother's milk" stems from the ancient Canaanite custom of worshipping idols by cooking a kid together with its mother's milk. Therefore, the most reasonable conclusion is that this is what the Torah prohibited, and nothing beyond that (ordinary meat and milk).
As for the four species: today it is known from archaeological research that the citron reached the Land of Israel, and in general the entire Mediterranean basin, only around the fifth century BCE, while its original origin is in the region of China. Incidentally, it was the first of the citrus fruits to reach our region (the orange, lemon, and so on). A link is attached. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA6s9CqjEeA&t=147s
In light of these facts, four questions arise:
- Is there any reason at all to continue observing these commandments as we received them in tradition, when we know that it is mistaken, and that this is not what the poet meant? If so, what is that reason?
- What does this say in general about the ability of our tradition to transmit a message? The realization that such a basic interpretation of certain verses is mistaken undermines our ability to transmit a message from such an ancient time.
- What does this say about the necessity of the Oral Torah? In almost every conversation I have about the Oral Torah with people, they bring up the example of "the fruit of a beautiful tree," and say that without the Oral Torah it is impossible to understand that verse. But it turns out that indeed it is impossible to understand that verse, because in fact the Oral Torah's interpretation is mistaken, and indeed sometimes the Torah writes things that are not understandable—so the Oral Torah is not actually needed?
- And continuing from the previous question: what does this say about the Written Torah, which commands us with unclear and misdirected commandments? The people I speak with explain to me that the Written Torah was given from Heaven, and it is not possible that a Torah from Heaven, given by a perfect God, would write imperfect things; therefore anything that seems unclear must have an explanation from Him, blessed be He. But if they really have no explanation, that means it is not perfect, which means it probably is not from Heaven. Isn't that so? Why not?
Answer
I do not deal with biblical criticism, because I do not have much confidence in its methodology or its conclusions. If this troubles you, you should turn to those who do deal with it. You can try the site "Ladaat Leha'amin".
Discussion on Answer
Obviously, if there is a tradition that has been passed along like a broken telephone, and opposite it there are facts and data, the latter are preferable. But that is not the situation here.
Maimonides in Guide for the Perplexed also explains the reason for the prohibition of "Do not cook a kid in its mother's milk" exactly like the researchers you cite, and nevertheless he was careful about the prohibition of meat and milk as established by the Oral Torah.
As for the citron, see here: https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%92-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%90%D7%94-%D7%97%D7%96%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%95%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%AA/
Why don't you have confidence in it?
What is better for me to rely on—to go blindly after a tradition that has been passed along like a broken telephone for thousands of years, or to try to separate the wheat from the chaff using the data revealed to us every day?