Venue: YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Machshava:

Ramban 

Parsha:

Noach 

Description

The Ramban addresses the question of the relationship between man and the animal kingdom. Man was not always significantly superior to the animals; therefore man wan enjoined from killing animals for the purpose of eating animal flesh. After the Mabul, man was permitted to partake of animal flesh. Nevertheless, there are still parts of the animal which are prohibited to man because these parts are identified with the "nefesh" of the animal. In this shiur we will investigate the concept of "nefesh" with regard to animals. This animal nefesh is reflected in the fact that animals have the abilities to make certain decisions. We will study the Ramban's original approach to the verse "Let us make man". Animals and men are created from "Aretz".