PTIJ: May one become a non-serpentine animagus?

Question

As is well-known to all who have read Hilchot Potter, Vol. 1-7, there are certain wizards who have managed to become animagi (singular: animagus), i.e., able to transform into animals (one animal per person).

I assume a Jew may not become a serpentine animagus (i.e., turn into a snake) because of לא תנחשו - Lo Tenachashu - You shall not become a snake. Does that mean that Jews may become other animals?

This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.

I'm thinking that anyone who wants to be a rebbi needs to become like one of the chayot hakodesh - holy chayos? As the gemara says Chagigah 15b, (Only) if the rebbi is similar to one of the malachim is one allowed to ask Torah from his lips. — MichoelR, Feb 24 '21 at 18:51
Surprised nobody mentioned https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/5687/werewolf-in-the-torah — Alex, Feb 25 '21 at 01:01

Baby Seal · Answer 1 · 2021-02-24T18:37:11.723

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I am not aware of any universal injunctions against becoming other animals, but there is a severe injunction against resting in animal form in Ex 22:18:

כָּל-שֹׁכֵב עִם-בְּהֵמָה, מוֹת יוּמָת.

Whosoever lieth down with their beast form shall surely be put to death.

It is therefore forbidden to become any animal if one subsequently intends to take so much as a cat nap.

edited Feb 24 '21 at 18:37

answered Feb 24 '21 at 18:31

Baby Seal

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score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 24 '21 at 21:41

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The very first commandment in the Torah, according to the Chinuch, is פרו, be a bull/cow.

answered Feb 24 '21 at 21:41

msh210

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Is ורבו a commandment to become a rabbi? – Harel13 Feb 25 '21 at 06:21
@Harel13: I think it translates better as "to master / to teach / to be a role model." If my translation is right, that suggests that a Jewish animagus should instruct other Jews in becoming animagi. – Codes with Hammer Feb 26 '21 at 14:16
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@Harel13 no, to fight. Hence bullfighting. – msh210 Feb 26 '21 at 15:17

Joel K · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-24T16:26:32.510

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There is a special mitzvah to become an animagus who can turn into one of the following four animals:

Leopard
Griffon Vulture
Gazelle
Lion

See Avot 5:20.

edited Feb 24 '21 at 16:26

answered Feb 24 '21 at 16:24

Joel K

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I think you're mistranslating. It should be Dog, Rat, Stag and Werewolf. – Double AA Feb 24 '21 at 16:25

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 24 '21 at 21:52

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Sure. Assaf tells us clearly in Tehillim 73:22, בהמות הייתי עמך - I was an animal with You.

answered Feb 24 '21 at 21:52

Meir

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score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 24 '21 at 18:50

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One must be very sirius in the morning, as the Code of Jewish law begins, and turn into a werewolf, to serve God.

answered Feb 24 '21 at 18:50

Dr. Shmuel

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isn't it a werelion? – Baby Seal Feb 24 '21 at 18:52
@Baby Seal The point is that it is brought down, from the Shelah, that one should even get up at midnight to do this – Dr. Shmuel Feb 24 '21 at 18:55
I suppose the next question is whether a were-animal is actually an animal... – Harel13 Feb 24 '21 at 19:38
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@Harel13: "Who knows the spirit of the man ascends to heaven, and the spirit of the beast descends to the earth?". A strange writing but it suggests a difference a mere form cannot overcome. – Joshua Feb 25 '21 at 03:34
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@Harel13: The answer to your question depends on the particular creature. Some lycanthropes (distinct from animagi) start out as people, while other start out as animals. This status does not change even as the creature's form changes. – Codes with Hammer Feb 26 '21 at 14:19

PTIJ: May one become a non-serpentine animagus?

This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.

5 Answers5