Is There a Fish in the World With Scales But No Fins?

In the previous article, we discussed the absolute precision of our holy Torah's wisdom, and provided an example from the field of science in astronomy. We proved, by distinction, that the precision level of human science is limited to the available means. We also emphasized the fundamental and essential difference between an objective scientific finding and a scientific hypothesis, which even when it seems plausible to the scientist proposing it, is only valid until it is refuted by another scientist.

This time, we wish to demonstrate the absolute mastery of our holy Torah over nature, in the field of biology, specifically regarding sea fish [a fact mentioned in our holy Torah, incidentally, in the context of diet].

As is known, our holy Torah guides us to the right and best way of life for us, suitable for the delicate and sensitive souls of Israel, who were privileged to be sanctified at Mount Sinai and receive the Torah. The guidelines our holy Torah instructs us include a chapter on nutrition, and since we are commanded to study Torah and sanctify ourselves by fulfilling its commandments, the Torah detailed a menu suitable for this high spiritual level. Since food sources also include meat from sea animals, the Torah defined what is permissible for us to eat from them, as written (Leviticus 11:9): "This you may eat of all that is in the waters: everything that has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers - those you may eat". That is: the presence of two signs in sea fish will constitute our recognition of the kashrut of the food, namely: "fins" and "scales".

Seemingly, from a statistical perspective, all sea creatures should be divided into four groups: a) those with fins and scales; b) those without fins and scales; c) those with fins but without scales; d) those with scales but without fins. Moreover, the statistical probability is that each group would constitute about 25% of all sea creatures. But here, the Oral Torah prepared an amazing surprise for us: in the Talmud, tractate Chullin (62b) it is written: Everything that has scales has fins, but there are those that have fins but no scales; if it has scales and fins - it is a kosher fish; if it has fins but no scales - it is a non-kosher fish. In other words: contrary to statistical logic, which necessitates the existence of the four possibilities we mentioned, the Oral Torah miraculously negates the existence of the fourth possibility entirely, namely: those with scales but without fins, for it is written: "Everything that has scales has fins", and there is no reality of creatures with scales alone [that's why the Torah placed "fins" before "scales", for if it had placed "scales" first, it would not have needed to mention "fins" at all, because according to the Oral Torah, from the very existence of scales, the existence of fins is automatically required].

This raises the question: the Torah was given to the people of Israel in the desert - more than three thousand three hundred years ago, and by all accounts, the Giver of the Torah is: great, mighty, and awesome; if so, how does the Giver of the Torah indicate a scientific fact that can be examined and might be proven false? Moreover: even if He checked all water sources in the world: seas and oceans, streams, rivers, and their sources - in their depths, lengths, and widths, up to that time when He spoke, perhaps in the future, a "Darwinian mutation" will form that did not exist at the time of speaking, how can He commit to the future? [Note: Darwin's "theory of evolution" has long been refuted scientifically by the world's greatest scientists with many different proofs].

The answer to these puzzling questions is one: the Giver of the Torah and the supplier of information is none other than the Creator of the world, blessed be His name, and in His hands, and only in His hands, is complete control over nature - from beginning to end, and therefore, He has the power to promise and fulfill His words - forever and all eternity.

Therefore, the people of Israel rely on this Talmudic biological kashrut information without any doubt, and it has been ruled as practical law in all the books of the deciders and in the "Shulchan Aruch" (Yoreh Deah, section 84, paragraph 3), which is the law book accepted by all of Israel, which states: Everything that has scales has fins, and there are those that have fins but no scales. Therefore, if one finds a piece of fish that has scales, one does not need to search for fins. If one finds it has fins, one should not eat it until one knows it has scales, end quote. That is: although we are obligated to be very strict on the issue of kashrut, and in the field of fish kashrut the Torah gave two signs: "fins and scales" - Israel's "book of laws" permits us to eat a fish found with only one sign, which is scales - based on the promise from the Giver of the Torah, blessed be He, that "Everything that has scales has fins".

Indeed, the world of science has invested many years and many billions in this subject - and still, no creature has been found in the sea with scales and without fins - and it will never be found!

(Photo: shutterstock)

This is the place to ask: if the very existence of scales necessitates the existence of fins, why didn't the Torah, when giving the signs of kashrut in fish, suffice with mentioning scales, and nothing more? After all, anyway - from the very existence of scales - the existence of fins is required, and the fish is kosher?

First, know - this question has already been asked by our Sages in the Talmud (ibid., 62b), and they answered: to magnify and glorify the Torah, end quote. Meaning: by the Torah mentioning both signs of kashrut in the Written Torah [in the order they were mentioned], and then instructing us, in the Oral Torah, that one sign is enough, which is scales - the power of the Torah and its Giver - the Creator of the world, Hashem, is revealed.

Yes, this is the "superhuman" power of the "Torah of Israel", and it stems from the infinite power of our Father, our King - the Creator of the world, the King of Kings, Hashem - the Giver of the Torah, beside whom there is no other, and there is no one who can tell Him what to do, and there is no one who can tell Him what to accomplish; who repeatedly proves to His beloved children - the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - His holy servants, that there is no other beside Him, so that we may believe in Him with perfect faith, and return in complete repentance, so that we may merit a speedy redemption, the building of the Temple, the coming of our righteous Messiah, and the dwelling of the Divine Presence among us speedily - forever and ever, amen and amen.