Tub Taam - The Book (3)

The Hebrew edition of Tub Taam opens with a frontispiece adorned with Scriptural verses in a style typical of Rabbinic treatises of the period.

The border text is made up of verses 64 through 80 of chapter 119 of the Book of Psalms. It is in verse 66 that the phrase Tuv Ta'am appears - the only place in the entire Hebrew Bible where that combination of words can be found. This verse translates:

Teach me good discernment and knowledge for I have believed in Your commandments.

So here, in its only Biblical context, the expression Tuv Ta'am refers to good discernment - the ability to perceive, and judge well, proper spiritual direction and understanding. In other places in the Bible the word ta'am alone is used to mean "taste" or "reason" - referring to the discernment of both the senses and the intellectual powers.

Thus the choice of Tuv Ta'am as the title of this work refers to the reasoned, tasteful, well-discerned quality of the Divine laws of shechita - the Jewish manner of slaughtering animals for food - this in contrast to the initial observations of the ASPCA inspector.

The text in the center of the page summarizes the purpose of the book: to respond to the criticisms of the non-Jewish authorities regarding shechita, and to demonstrate the purity and painlessness of the Torah process, in contrast to the general practice of striking the animal on the head with a sharp iron instrument.

Those who are familiar with Hebrew will appreciate that the year of publication is expressed by extracting the number from the text of an appropriate rabbinic quote. In this case the year 5635 (1875) is extracted by gematria (number to letter numerology) from the Mishnah in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers):

By three things is the world sustained: law, truth and peace. As it is stated (Zachariah 8:16), "Truth, and a judgement of peace, you should administer at your gates."

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At this point in this blog, I shall be moving on to continuing the family history. If there are those who would like to have access to the complete text of Tub Taam, please let me know and perhaps I can make it available in a digitized form.

Tub Taam - The Book (2)

The text of the letter from the ASPCA which led to the writing of Tub Taam appears at the beginning of the English edition:

The following letter has been sent by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to Mr. Henry Westheimer.

SOCIETY PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Rooms of the Society, No. 826 Broadway, Corner of 12^th Street New York

January 9, 1866

Mr. Henry Westheimer:

Sir:

An employee in the service of this Society reports to me that the cruelty inflicted – needlessly – on dumb animals while slaughtering them at your establishment, is of the most barbarous, revolting and wicked character.

This statement has before been communicated to this Society, and it is proper that I call your attention to the fact, with a view to its immediate correction.

You are forbidden by the laws of the State, as well as that higher law of God, thus to mangle and torture His creatures.

You should, at least, so far feel for the miserable lot of the creatures which support, and in so many ways contribute to the well-being of mankind, by killing them with merciful dispatch, and in no way can this be so perfectly done as by a blow from a pointed axe on the head.

At any rate, these horrible scenes must end, and you must not suppose that the laws of this State are to be daily violated by you without responsibility any more than by any other citizen.

If you believe that there is a God in Heaven – tremble! For you may be certain that misfortune will overtake you sooner or later, for these infractions of His natural laws.

I desire to hear from you on this subject before addressing myself to the public authorities, which I shall do, if unheeded by you; but I trust that this appeal will obtain a share of that mercy and pity which you yourself will one day ask of your Maker.

Yours, etc.

Henry Bergh, President

Society Prevention Cruelty to Animals