Re: Proof of the Mesorah

SAK2120@aol.com
Tue, 15 Oct 1996 09:21:42 -0400

In recent discussions the shafan has been identified as some type of hare or
rabbit. It is now generally accepted in Israel & amongst most Hebraic
scholars that the shafan is in fact the hyrax, a small furry animal that
lives in the Negev. Rav Aryeh Kaplan, A"H, in his translation of the Chumash
identifies it as such (p. 545 Parshat Shemini) and says it has a maw like a
ruminant so it can be considered to be "maaleh gera," a cud chewer. Many
such shafans can be seen in Ein Gedi and they can actually climb small trees.
I was told that they are relatives of the elephant (of all things.)

Probably the most definitive work on the animals of the Torah is the one by
a famous Israeli naturalist Dr. Yehuda Feliks: "Hachay Vehatzomeach B'Mikrah
- (Creatures and plants in Tanach). I don't know if it's available in
English. Dr. Feliks has done a lot of original research and I've seen his
works quoted in halchic sources. He has corrected many mistakes in modern
Hebrew. Among some of his surprises is the identification of the Nesher as
the Griffin Vulture rather than the eagle and the chulda as the rat rather
than the weasel. Dr. Feliks also has written a sefer called: "Hachay
Vehatzomeach B'Talmud - the creatures and plants in the Talmud.

Samuel A. Kosofsky