The Shmuz On The Parsha – Mishpatim:

Why We Dont Eat Milk And Meat

Parshas Mishpatim

“Holy people you shall you be to Me: you shall not eat flesh of an animal that was torn in the field; to the dog you shall throw it.” — Exodus 22:30

The Torah tells us that if a sheep or goat is killed while grazing, it is called a treifa and should be given to the dogs to eat. Rashi explains that this is a reward for what the dogs did. When the Jewish people left Egypt, not a single dog barked. Since that was a miracle and a testament to G-d’s existence, for generations all treifas are to be fed to the dogs in repayment for what they did.

How Can a Dog Be Entitled to Reward?

This Rashi is difficult to understand as we are dealing with animals. Animals are instinctual in their reactions. Granted, they can be trained to act in a particular manner, but they don’t have a conscious “I” that can weigh the different options and decide to act or not to act. They don’t have free will. In all of the physical Creation, only man was given that capacity. So how can a dog receive reward for its actions?