[Sca-cooks] Kosher or Not

[Avraham haRofeh of Sudentur]

>> The Torah names the bird species which are not kosher. Since we are not
certain to which birds all of these ancient Hebrew names refer, only birds
which traditionally have been eaten are allowed; primarily, domesticated
fowl.<<
And yet, the turkey which is a New World bird, is allowed. How did it become
traditional, when it could not have been traditional prior to 1492. I assume
some simplication somewhere.<<<

Yes, that is an oversimplification. Domesticated birds are allowed. Birds of
prey are not. Scavengers and carrion eaters are not. Turkeys are neither
birds of prey nor carrion eaters, and were therefore allowed by the rabbis.

> So, if I take a pig gene and splice it into a chicken, is the chicken no
> longer kosher? Eventually I imagine the experts are going to have to deal
with
> those kinds of questions.

I don't think anyone's come to it yet... but I suspect the Orthodox will
declare such an animal treyf, the Reform will say it's kosher, and the
Conservatives will say it's kosher as long as it still looks and acts like a
chicken.

Avraham

*******************************************************
Avraham haRofeh of Sudentur
     (mka Randy Goldberg MD)
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