Nikur Jewish History in the Torah Vayishlah
Jewish History Lectures
In the Torah portion Vayishlah, the practice of nikur, or deveining, is explored, focusing on the prohibition against eating the sciatic nerve. This aspect of Jewish dietary law originates from the biblical story of Jacob wrestling with an angel and consequently injuring his hip, which led to the command that descendants do not consume the sciatic nerve. This Torah portion connects laws governing kosher practice with historical narratives, illustrating how Judaic tradition weaves together legal imperatives with cultural and historical identity.