We Left Egypt for a Reason
“Do not defile your souls by eating any small animal that lives on the land. I am the L-rd who brought you [lit., ‘raised you’] out of Egypt to be your G-d. Therefore, since I am holy, you must also remain holy” (Leviticus 11:44–45).
In the Talmud, R. Chanina of Sura asks Ravina why the Torah uses the strange phrase “raised you out of Egypt.” Ravina responds, “As was taught in the school of Yishmael: G-d said, ‘Had I brought Israel out of Egypt for no other purpose but to prevent them from being contaminated by crawling creatures, that would have been enough for Me’” (Bava Metzia 61b).
G-d created His world with wisdom and understanding. He made animals walk on all fours, close to the earth, so that their bodies would testify that they lack the spirit and soul by which man distinguishes between good and evil, pure and impure, holy and profane; that they lack the spirit and soul to appreciate G-d’s holiness, greatness, traits, and commandments.
Man, by contrast, stands on two feet, removed from the earth, removed from bestiality and lowliness. This symbolizes his true uniqueness and his having been given the task of elevating himself. Thus, G-d forbade the consumption of crawling creatures and “raised up” the Children of Israel, most exalted of mankind, out of Egypt. He wished for them – as He wishes for us – to achieve the pinnacle of nobility.
The Jewish Idea