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Under Jewish law, would a person be able to own/buy/sell swine?

I know pork products are off-limits--I am specifically referring to a live hog. I am writing a story and the question came up. Thank you.

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  • Feivel
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    No you may not.

    The prohibition is against eating it but particularly for swine, it is written in the Shulchan Aruch:

    The significance of this ruling is that while with regards to all other non-kosher animals one would be permitted to raise or do business with them for non-food purposes (e.g., a horse to ride, or some other animal for leather, etc.), with regard to swine one may not raise or do business with them even if it is for non-consumption purposes (e.g., to make straps out of their hide

    The Talmud says:

    It is not right to breed pigs in any place whatever. Our Rabbis taught: When the members of the Hasmonean house were contending with one another, Hyrcanus was within and Aristobulus without [the city wall].3 [Those who were within] used to let down to the other party every day a basket of denarii [coins], and [in return] cattle were sent back up for the regular sacrifices. There was, however, an old man [among the besiegers] who had some knowledge in Grecian Wisdom and who said to them: "So long as the other party [are allowed to] continue to perform the service of the sacrifices they will not be delivered into your hands." On the next day when the basket of denarii was let down, a swine was sent up. When the swine reached the center of the wall it stuck its hooves into the wall, and the Land of Israel quaked over a distance of four hundred parasangs by four hundred parasangs. It was proclaimed on that occasion: "Cursed be the man who would breed swine."

    According to Rabbi Yehuda Sherpin :

    While a Jew may own non-kosher animals, he may not do business with non-kosher foods or non-kosher animals that are usually used or raised for human consumption. In other words, even though it is permissible to derive benefit from most types of non-kosher foods, one is forbidden to establish a business in this field

    Source(s): Chabad.org and my dad who is a Rabbi
  • 1 decade ago

    Yes. The prohibition is against eating it. During the inquisition, hidden Jews raised and sold swine to "prove" their conversion to Christianity was sincere.

    .

  • 1 decade ago

    I advise you to go to Ask Moses and ask one of the rabbis... I looked on google and couldn't really find anything conclusive. You will get a much righter and sure answer.

    http://www.askmoses.com/

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