In Jewish tradition, a sheretz (plural: shratzim) refers to “creeping” or “swarming” creatures. Rooted in the Book of Leviticus, this broad biblical classification encompasses a wide array of small reptiles (primarily lizards), insects, rodents and marine life that move close to the ground, swarm in the air or scuttle along the sea floor.
There are two main prohibitions that apply to shratzim. The first is that they are almost universally unkosher, meaning they cannot be eaten in accordance with Jewish law. The second is that for eight specific species of sheretz, when they die, their carcasses convey impurity.
Can I eat a sheretz?
Jewish law does not permit the consumption of a sheretz. Accidental consumption of a mouse or lizard is unlikely, but insects present a unique challenge. Many Jews who keep kosher wash, soak and inspect their produce to ensure no insects are consumed. In some cases, this inspection is done at the production level and consumers can buy produce that is certified to be free of insects.
The Torah (Leviticus 11:21–22) carves out an exception to the ban on consuming a sheretz; many species of locusts and grasshoppers are permitted. The Mishnah, Chullin 3:7, identifies physical characteristics of these kosher locusts/grasshoppers:
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And with regard to grasshoppers, the sages stated: Any grasshopper that has four legs, four wings and two additional jumping legs, and whose wings cover most of its body, is kosher.
Based on this text, Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Forbidden Foods 1:21–22) names eight specific species of locusts that are permitted and also tells readers that a locust or grasshopper can be identified as kosher based on physical characteristics. Today, however, direct knowledge of these insects has largely waned in Ashkenazi Jewish communities, and many rabbinic authorities have banned eating them entirely. Some Yemenite and North African Jewish communities maintained the practice of eating specific species of locusts and therefore have communal knowledge of which are kosher. Some Ashkenazi authorities therefore permit their followers to consume whatever species of locusts and grasshoppers have been continuously eaten in these other Jewish communities.
Ritual Purity
Leviticus 11:29–30 singles out eight specific shratzim — generally identified as various rodents and lizards, such as the mouse, weasel and gecko. According to the rabbis, these creatures do not convey impurity while alive. However, touching the carcass of one of these eight transfers tum’ah (ritual impurity). While many impurity laws (including the ones about shratzim) are no longer active, in ancient times the impurity contracted from touching a dead sheretz prevented a person from entering the Temple in Jerusalem or eating sacred sacrifices until they had immersed in a mikveh (ritual bath).
