I'm sure you know the listing of clean and unclean critters in Leviticus 11 and you're probably aware that cows are listed as clean there. But, there's one element of Jewish ritual where a cow is absolutely not Kosher, the creation of the shofar (the ram's horn.)

Now, of course, you say, how could a cow's horn ever be called a ram's horn anyway?

Well, the Mishnah defines the shofar- It has to have a curve, it can't have any blemishes or imperfections that break the continuity of the membrane wall, you can't use a mouthpiece, and it can be made from the horn of any clean animal except a cow.

But, you thought cows were clean? They are, it's just that when Israel hears the Baal Tekiah (the master blaster) they don't want to be reminded of the golden calf! That's why cows, at least for this ritual, are not considered kosher.

Youj can get many, many more insights like this in our series:

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