- Torah and Jewish Thought
- Torah Teachings
The Serpants food
Question
I have heard a number of rabbis use the punishment of the serpent as an example of
how Hashem distances a sinner by giving
him all that he requires. When someone has
all that one requires, one has no need to connect
with Hashem. In this case the Rabbis say that
the snake eats dust, and dust is found everywhere.
I know that the Torah is accurate, and I also know
from studying biology and experience that there is
no snake whose food is dust - all snakes are carnivorous and hunters. My conclusion is therefore
that the Torah did not mean to say that the
snake’s food is dust, but since he crawls in the
dust, the dust mixes in his food - something which
is interpreted as disgusting in the human mind, and
can be understood as a fitting punishment. The rabbis’ message is good, but it seems that the serpent’s punishment is meant for different messages.
Answer
It may be that the midrash meant simply that the serpeants food is readily available, like the dust.

Re-eh vs. Mishpatim
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 3, 5780

Musar
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar 16, 5781

Jeremiah's prophecies- about Bavel or final redemption?
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 25, 5777

Bat Sheva the wife of King David
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 12 Adar 5767

Rabbi Chaim Tabasky
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky teaches a shiur in gemarah at the Beit Midrash program of the Machon Hagavoah l'Torah at Bar Ilan University. He is also a certified examiner of STa"M (Sifrei Torah, Tefillin and Mezuzot) and a narrative therapist.

Saying Shma in Space
29 Iyyar 5764

Civil Divorce
12 Sivan 5764

Powered Parachute Flights
5 Tammuz 5764

Yirmeyahu 4:30
12 Sivan 5764

Not Having Motivation to Pray
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 4, 5781

Follow up to Bracha on hydroponic vegetables
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 8, 5781

Follow up to Bracha on hydroponic vegetables
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 8, 5781

Jews wearing earrings
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 8 Elul 5763

Follow-up question on names
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 9, 5783

Dairy mug and meat sponge
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 10, 5783
How to split expenses for a group event
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Shevat 9, 5783
