Devarim Chapter 14:
9. This you may eat of everything that is in the water: anything that as fins and scales you may eat.
10. And anything that does not have fins or scales you shall not eat; it is impure to you.
Nidah 51b: Question: If we see that a fish has Kaskeses קשקשת (scales), it is permitted -- why did the Torah also require Snapir סנפיר(fins)?
Possible answer: Had the Torah said only Kaskeses, one might have thought that this word means fins (and not scales). Thus, one would mistakenly permit a Tamei species (fins without scales). Therefore, the Torah wrote Snapir and Kaskeses to avoid this mistake.
Question: How did the Tana know which word is which?
Answer: Shmuel I (17,5) says "v'Shiryon Kaskasim Hu Lavush" (armor is like scales).
Question: Since we learn from a verse, the Torah could have just written Kaskeses and not written Snapir (and we would rely on a tradition from Moshe from Sinai)?
Answer (R. Avahu): “Yagdil Torah V’Yadir - The Torah includes it for grandeur” (Yeshayuhu 42,21).
What is Added by “Yagdil Torah V’Yadir”?
According to the opinion (in Tosfos Chulin 66b) that a tradition from Sinai teaches that every fish with Kaskeses has Snapir, perhaps Snapir is written to prove Divine authorship of the Torah -- no human could know this without investigation of all life in the sea.
Since HaShem increased mitzvos, the Jews also gained additional merits in learning the Torah to know the specifics and commentary regarding these additional mitzvos. Thus, one who increases learning of additional Torah also receives reward; in addition, if one’s mitzvos are intended solely according to the command of HaShem, one also receives reward.
Gerer Rebbe suggests that if the verse had not said fins, one who eats kosher fish would only be fulfilling one directive of HaShem. Now that HaShem also mentions, fins, one who eats kosher fish would fulfill two commandments. In this manner, Torah is magnified and exalted.
Radak states that the words "yagdil Torah veya'adir" — "to make Torah great and glorious" — are in future tense since they refer to the Era of Mashiach, at which time the full glory of Torah will be evident.
Lev Aryeh offers that the Torah is informing us that fins and scales are not a sign (characteristics) of kashrus but they are inherent to making the fish kosher. Thus, HaShem lists both items in order to expand the Torah and amplify it that both signs are critical.
Chassidus provides a further understanding. In general Torah (from the word "הוראה") is involved with deeds. Nevertheless, many aspects of Torah do not involve deeds, such as learning Alef-Beis, proper intentions, learning that has no practical action (example of fins and scales). Thus, in addition to the main part of Torah, additional areas exist: יגדיל – increase in quantity, and ויאדיר –increase in quality. Torah which precedes the world is not limited to this physical world, but has connections to the highest spiritual realms and the lowest physical worlds.
Deeper Meaning of fins and scales as the two identifying signs for kosher fish:
As the armor that protects the body of the fish, scales represent the quality of integrity (יראת השמים), which protects us from the many pitfalls that life presents. A man of integrity will not deceive his customers, in spite of the financial profits involved. He will not lie to a friend, despite the short-term gain from doing so. He will not cheat on his wife, in the face of tremendous temptation. Integrity means that one has absolute standards of right and wrong and is committed to a morality that transcends one's moods and desires. Integrity preserves our souls from temptation.
Fins, the wing-like organs that propel fish forward, represent ambition and talents. A healthy sense of ambition, knowing one's strengths and wanting to utilize them in full, gives a person the impetus to traverse the turbulent sea of life and to maximize his/her G-d-given potential. It propels us to fulfill our dreams and leave our unique imprint on the world.
Which is more important? If one has scales (integrity) then one would develop fins (ambition). But one that has fins will not necessarily obtain scales which are necessary for a real life. Why not just develop scales and not mention fins? The Torah wants more than integrity but also to utilize one’s potentials to the fullest (do not exist only in the status quo).
