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April 12, 2024

There Are No Cats in the Bible. Why?

The Talmud praises them, once.

At Passover seders, numerous Jewish families will be singing the Aramaic song Ḥad Gadya (“Only a Goat”), which includes the line, “Then came a cat and ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim.” While the Hebrew Bible has numerous references to goats, it has none to cats—although the animal was certainly known to ancient Israelites. Joshua Schwartz examines the evidence:

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April 12, 2024

  1. Iran’s Options for Revenge on Israel

    After a high-profile strike, Tehran risks looking weak.

  2. Are Ceasefire Negotiators Talking to the Right People?

    Understanding Hamas’s rival leaders.

  3. Why Israel Must Go into Rafah

    And ignore bad advice from Washington.

  4. There Are No Cats in the Bible. Why?

    The Talmud praises them, once.

  5. Jews and the Jazz Age

    Two great American musicians and their Jewish managers.