What are the five Sheratzim listed in this Pasuk?
Rashi: 'A hedgehog, a lizard, a snail, a chameleon and a mole' 1
See 'the Living Torah' for alternative translations of most of the eight Sheratzim.
Bearing in mind that the original snake is the source of Tum?ah, why is the snake not listed among the Tamei Sheratzim?
R. Bachye: Because if the Neveilah of a snake was Tamei, man would abstain from killing it 1 in order to avoid becoming Tamei. 2
If Hashem wants man to kill a snake, why did He not include it in the Mitzvos?
R. Bachye; Aand it is for the same reason that in Pasuk 42, the Torah places a prohibition on eating a scorpion and on a centipede ? whose bite is venomous ? but not a Din Tum?ah ? as opposed to the eight species of Sheretz, whose bite is not dangerous. SeR. Chavel?s footnotes.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that Chomet is 'Limtza' (in old French) - Chilazon, a snail). But in Chulin, 126b, Rashi says that a Chomet lays eggs - and snails do not lay eggs!
Sifsei Chachamim (in Megilah 6a): The Aruch explains that there are several kinds of Chilazon - like a fish, worm, Chomet or snail, all of which have shells. 1
Perhaps Rashi refers to a kind of Chilazon that lays eggs. Alternatively, here Rashi explains like R. Gershom (Bechoros 38b), but in Chulin he did not. (PF)
