Another matter, “this is the animal” – that is what is written: “Every saying of God is refined” (Proverbs 30:5). Rav said: The mitzvot were given to Israel only to refine mankind with them. Why to that extent? “He is a shield for all who rely on Him (Proverbs 30:5).6Because God protects those who rely on Him, He gave Israel mitzvot in order to refine them and make them fit for the World to Come (Maharzu; see Etz Yosef).
Rabbi Yudan ben Rabbi Shimon said: The Behemoth and the Leviathan will engage in an animal fight before the righteous in the future. Anyone who was not a spectator at the animal fights of the nations of the world in this world, will merit to see it in the World to Come. How will they be slaughtered? The Behemoth will stab the Leviathan with its horns and tear it open, and the Leviathan will smash the Behemoth with its fins and stab it to death.
The Sages say: Is this a valid ritual slaughter? But did we not learn: Everyone slaughters, and one may always slaughter, and one may slaughter with any item, except for the serrated side of the harvest sickle, a saw, the teeth of an animal, and a fingernail, because they strangle?7Mishna Ḥullin 1:2. Rabbi Avin bar Kahana said: The Holy One blessed be He said: “For [a new] Torah will emerge from Me” (Isaiah 51:4); a novel Torah ruling will emerge from Me.8The conventional law regarding ritual slaughter will be temporarily suspended (Etz Yosef).
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to make a feast for His righteous servants in the future, and anyone who did not partake of unslaughtered carcasses9This refers to an animal that died in any manner other than through ritual slaughter. Such an animal is forbidden for consumption. in this world will be privileged to see it in the World to Come.
That is what is written: “And the fat of an unslaughtered carcass and the fat of a mauled animal may be used for all labor; but you shall not eat it [ve’akhol lo tokheluhu]” (Leviticus 7:24). So that you will be able to partake of it in the future, therefore Moses cautions Israel and says to them: “These are the living beings that you may eat” (Leviticus 11:2).10The word “eat” is doubled in the Hebrew verse in the phrase “you shall not eat it.”
This is understood to mean that in order to eat of the feast in the World to Come, one must refrain from eating forbidden foods in this world (Matnot Kehuna).