The halacha is that in order for a fish to be kosher it needs fins and scales. If the fish had fins and scales in the sea, even if they fell off before coming out, the fish is kosher. The Lachazos B’Noam says that we can each learn from this. Sometimes we have a good day. We have “fins and scales” and are kosher. But other times we are not successful in keeping up our spiritual high, and fall down. Our “fins and scales” fall off. We may then feel that all the good we did was worthless because we could not keep it up. But we learn from the fish that this is not true. Even if the fins and scales fall off, as long as they once existed, the fish is still kosher! Just because our spiritual high falls off, does not mean it’s as if we never had it.
#1 Which famous city is Eilonei Moreh?
#2 Were the Yidden allowed to eat non-korban meat in the Midbar?
#3 Is there an issur d’Oraisa to eat chicken with milk?
Answers: 1) Shechem. (Rashi 11:30) 2) No. (Rashi 12:20) 3) No. (Rashi 14:21). Although there is definitely an issur d’Rabbanan.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 93.