Difference

Ancient Greeks sacrificed and ate pigs and dogs. Israelites were forbidden to do so.Ancient Greeks made blood pudding from sacrifices. Israelites were not supposed to eat blood.Ancient Greeks sometimes sacrificed pregnant sows. Israelites were commanded not to take both the eggs and the . . . . Continue Reading »

Fruitful Cut

Howard Eilberg-Schwartz (The Savage in Judaism) traces most every form of impurity in ancient Israel back to issues of fertility. I don’t buy that overall, and he recognizes that it can’t cover everything (see his discussion of menstruation. 177-94, where he uncovers several overlapping . . . . Continue Reading »