מתנות כהונה א

The Matter of the Eighteen Traifos For Rabbeinu, of blessed memory, wrote in the discourse "Hatzilah MeCherev Nafshi MiYad Kelev," etc. (Siman 50): that there are sweet waters [mayin mesukin], which is the aspect of shemiras habris [guarding the Covenant]. And there are bitter waters, etc. — which is the flaw of the bris. And then "the dog descends to eat its offering," etc.; see there. And the eating is in the place of a korban [offering], as our Sages of blessed memory said (Berachos 55a): "The table atones like the mizbe'ach [altar]." And therefore, [the animal] must be complete and free of all eighteen traifos. For the eighteen traifos are the aspect of the flaw of the bris, which is "Tzadik Chai Almin" [numerically chai = 18]. And therefore it is stated regarding a traifah: "to the dog you shall cast it" (Shemos 22:30) — for then "the dog descends," etc. And with this is connected what Rabbeinu, of blessed memory, concluded there — the teaching of our Sages of blessed memory: "This Torah student who sat in a fast" [hai bar bei rav d'yasiv b'sa'anisa — the Gemara's teaching that a Torah student who fasts, a dog may consume his meal]. At first glance this has no connection there. But in truth, the eating too is in the place of a korban, and when one does not eat in a kosher manner as is fitting, G-d forbid, then "the dog comes to eat," etc. And therefore, the animal must be complete and free of all eighteen traifos. And then the food ascends in holiness and is subsumed within the aspect of "Tzadik Chai Almin," and then "the lion descends and consumes its offering." And therefore, the essential tarfus depends upon the lungs. For the lungs are in the aspect of shemiras habris, which is the guarding of the da'as (as is brought in the words of Rabbeinu in another place). For through the lungs, the moisture and fat of the body are sustained, through which the essential sustaining of the da'as occurs. And through this, the essential sustaining of the marrow within the bones — which is the aspect of the above-mentioned "sweet waters" — the aspect of "all my bones shall say" (Tehillim 35:10) (as is explained in the above-mentioned discourse). And this is: "And you shall be men of holiness to Me; and flesh torn in the field [traifah] you shall not eat," etc. (Shemos 22:30). For "wherever you find a fence against ervah [sexual immorality], you find holiness" (Vayikra Rabbah 24). For guarding against the eighteen traifos is the aspect of shemiras habris, as mentioned above. And therefore, then one is called "men of holiness," as mentioned above.

Likutay Halachos — Yoreh De'ah — Matanos Kehunah 1

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