Rabbi:
I've seen the foot of a badger an it doesn't have split hooves. Why is it one of the four non kosher animals with the camel, the pig, and the hare?
Ari Spiegel, Mexico
The "Shafan" of the Torah is probably the Syrian hyrax, known colloquially as Rock Badger. The Torah (Vayikra 11:5) tells us it does not have split hooves and, as you found, it indeed does not.
Best Wishes,
Mordechai Kornfeld
So, does the shofon or rock badger chew its cud?
Ari Spiegel, Mexico
The Shafan certainly chews its cud; the Torah says so. As for the hyrax, it is not so clear that it chews its cud - which may mean that it is in fact not the Shafan.
(Much has been written on the identification of the Shafan etc. recently, some of which has the approbation of today's Torah leaders and some of which was written without their agreement. You can easily find the literature on the subject by asking your local Jewish bookseller.)
Best wishes,
Mordechai Kornfeld