Sefer HaMitzvos

מצות לא תעשה קע״ג, קע״ה–קע״ח

Day 96 of 339

Negative Mitzvah 173

It is forbidden to eat non-kosher fish

Leviticus 11:11 And they shall be a detestable thing to you, you shall not eat their meat"

The Torah gives us two signs to look for in fish (See Positive Mitzvah 152), in order to determine if the fish is kosher.

They must have fins and scales. Any fish which does not have both these signs (even if it does have one of them) is not considered kosher.

Negative Mitzvah 175

It is forbidden to eat any flying insects

Deuteronomy 14:19 "And every creeping thing that flies is unclean to you: they shall not be eaten"

Most flying insects such as flies, bees, and hornets are not kosher and we are forbidden to eat them. In regard to locusts and grasshoppers, the Torah gives specific signs which we must look for, (see Positive Mitzvah 151). If they have these signs - we may eat them.

Negative Mitzvah 176

It is forbidden to eat any land insects.

Leviticus 11:41 "And every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth is a detestable thing; it shall not be eaten"

We are forbidden to eat insects that breed on the land. For example; worms, roaches, or ants.

Negative Mitzvah 177

It is forbidden to eat any insects that live

in decaying or molding objects

Leviticus 11:44 Neither shall you defile yourselves (by eating) any manner of creatures that creep upon the earth"

This Negative Mitzvah additionally warns us that any insect which lives in decaying or molding matter, is forbidden, even if the insect leaves and lives elsewhere.

Negative Mitzvah 178

It is forbidden to eat insects that developed inside fruit or seeds

Leviticus 11:42 "Among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, you shall not eat them for they are an abomination"

This Negative Mitzvah cautions us not to eat those insects that have developed inside a seed or a fruit, even after they have emerged from the seed or fruit or if we find them in our food.