THE SONG OF THE PIG
The pig sings that Hashem sees to the heart.
[Song 60] Pig (Ch. 5)
בְּהֵמָה דַּקָּה טְמֵאָה אוֹמֶרֶת. הֵיטִיבָה יְיָ לַטּוֹבִים וְלִישָׁרִים בְּלִבּוֹתָם: (תהילים קכה ד)
The Pig is saying: “Hashem is good to the good, and to those committed at heart.”
Commentary
The pig has split hooves which it proudly stretches out when it lies down, feigning
purity. However, in the inside, it does not patiently chew its cud, the second
requisite of a Kosher animal. On the contrary, it is notoriously gluttonous and
altogether repulsive.1 The pig stands as a stark model of those that are outwardly
good as a façade to hide their inner lust and gluttony. Its existence sings of
Hashem’s rightful bestowal of kindness only to those who truly deserve it: those
that are good in deed and upright at heart.
The pig reminds us that Hashem sees into the heart. He abhors two-facedness and
eagerly welcomes admittance of guilt and repentance.
LIVING WITH THE SONG
There are two signs of Kosher animals: one internal sign, that it chews its cud and one external sign, that it has split
hooves. The pig is the only animal which bears only the external sign. When it lies down its legs are stretched forward.
It seems to be showing that it is Kosher while in truth this is not the case. Not only does it not patiently chew its cud
but it actually is the most gluttonous of animals. Its very name is used to describe gluttony. It will eat any food that is
thrown away. Its skin is also repulsive. Out of 10 measures of Tzaraas (a type of leprosy) that came to the world, nine
went to the pigs. Far from being Kosher, it is actually the most despicable of animals, rolling in the mud and possessive
of repulsive negative character traits. It is animals such as these that the Torah commanded us not to consume. One
of the reasons behind this Mitzvah is so we do not adopt the nature of such an animal.
The pig too has a song. It is a creature the shows purity outwards yet shows even more clearly that is far from holy. It
stands as a model of those that are outwardly goodly yet who are in truth lustful and gluttonous, caring only about
themselves. Its existence calls out to Hashem to bestow His kindness to those who truly deserve it: those that are good
in deed and upright at heart.
Inspirational commentary By Shmuel Ben-Tzion Kraines author of
The Song of Existence.