1. Abarbanel's Question: What is the meaning of "You shall be holy people to Me"?
2. "Flesh torn by beasts"
- Building off of the Ramban's analysis, how does eating flesh torn by beasts coarsen one's soul?
- Consider this verse as a metaphor. What might you consume through your lips, eyes, or ears that is torn by beasts - something that might coarsen your soul?
3. "Cast it to the dogs"
לכלב תשלכון אתו. ...וְלִמֶּדְךָ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁאֵין הַקָּבָּ"ה מְקַפֵּחַ שְׂכַר כָּל בְּרִיָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּלְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יֶחֱרַץ כֶּלֶב לְשֹׁנוֹ (שמות י"א), אָמַר הַקָּבָּ"ה תְּנוּ לוֹ שְׂכָרוֹ (מכילתא):
לכלב תשלכון אתו ...Scripture tells you that God does not withhold the reward due to any of His creatures. The dog is entitled to reward because it is stated, (Exodus 11:7) “But against the children of Israel shall not a dog move its tongue”, and this happened. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Give it the reward it deserves (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 32:30:3).
(וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ) רַב לְרַב אַסִּי: לָא תְּדוּר בְּמָתָא דְּלָא צָנֵיף בַּהּ סוּסְיָא וְלָא נָבַח בַּהּ כַּלְבָּא.
And Rav said to Rav Asi: Do not live in a city where horses do not neigh and where dogs do not bark [as these animals provide security and protection].