Oink Oink

My son has the weirdest sense of humor. Apparently, finding daddy lying on the floor with him (where he can reach and pull daddy's hair) is hysterical. So is seeing the cat playing with a toy.

But not much can compare to hearing mama read the books with little animals *and making animal noises.* Our home has thus been inundated recently will moos, quacks, clucks, baaas, gobble-gobbles, and oinks.

Yes, oinks.

Even ribbits.

Oh dear, am I corrupting his little ears with the sounds of non-kosher animals?
Will he spend his grade-school years corrupting other tiny talmidim with treif noises?

Lest you think EVERYONE would find this as ridiculous a concern, check out this wonderful (old) post on Canonist addressing a letter to the Yated Ne'eman about eating "kosher" animal crackers in the shape of bears.

Even better: The Mail-Jewish Digest online has this post archived in a discussion from 1993:

"Rabbi Isaiah Horoiwitz, a prominent kabbalist around the 16th century, in his book Shnei Luchot Habrit (SHELAH for short) cites a custom not to frighten children by telling them that a cat or dog or other unclean animal will get them. This is because there are mazikin (destructive influences) with the names of unclean animals who may be called up by these names. These may cause harm to the child. The point is that you should be very carful (sic) about how you speak and what words you use."

Evil spirits of the Piglets, begone!