Close contact between animals and humans, according to the Hebrew Bible, happened soon after creation: God brought them before Adam to assign permanent names, and later, Eve encountered and conversed with the infamous snake. Artist, author, filmmaker and physician Mark Podwal scoured the Hebrew Bible, Jewish literature and folklore, giving us a thorough accounting of Judaism’s perception toward certain animals, real and imagined. A Jewish Bestiary, a revised version of his 1984 book, published by the Jewish Publication Society on the same topic, is a treasure trove of Jewish beliefs about the actual and mystical roles animals play in our lives.
Podwal offers sketches and anecdotes on 35 animals, from the industrious ant to the fabulous Ziz, mentioned only once in the Bible (Psalms 50:11). Rabbinic lore holds the Ziz to be a monstrous bird protecting Earth from southern storms and defenseless birds from predators. More common animals include the lion, whose deeds evoke comments in numerous sections of the Talmud and the raven, who taught Adam how to bury his dead.
To further illustrate, A Jewish Bestiary acknowledges the Barnacle Goose, described by Europeans during the Middle Ages as a bird created from a barnacle, a type of crustacean. Podwal recounts a legend from the Zohar in which Rabbi Abba sees a tree whose branches grew geese (perhaps European rabbis derive this creature from that tale), and tells of a debate among rabbis over whether or not they consider the Barnacle Goose a bird, plant, or fish and if it’s kosher. The Red Heifer, that mysterious animal whose ashes purify those coming into contact with the dead (Numbers 19), receives recognition, as does the tachash, sometimes translated into English as a unicorn, as per the Talmud Sabbath 28b, whose hide covered the Tabernacle.
Podwal, known for his drawings on The New York Times op-ed page, shows one of his color illustrations about each animal side-by-side with its description.
A Jewish Bestiary is not just a book for children, adults will find the results of Podwal’s research illuminating and enjoyable. A Jewish Bestiary deserves a place in the home and in Jewish school libraries.
Republished from San Diego Jewish World