Ask The Rabbi 23 November 1996 Issue #127 (Parshat Vayeitzei) =========================================================================== This Issue Contains: 1. Dry Bones and Jell-O (TM) 2. Answer to Yiddle Riddle =========================================================================== This issue is dedicated in memory of Edward Koppel - Yisrael Isser ben Alexander Koppel (12th Kislev 5729) by his daughter Cheryl Steinberg and grandchildren Elana Miriam and Yisrael Isser =========================================================================== All Ohr Somayach Publications are now available in Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Word formats from our web site: http://www.ohr.org.il =========================================================================== DanPatents@aol.com wrote: >Dear Rabbi, > >Wait a minute. Did you say [Ask the Rabbi Issue #123] "About oinkers, the >Torah prohibits eating the flesh only. The hoofs, hair and bones >(excluding the marrow), are permitted?????" Hummmh. Isn't unkosher >gelatin made from pigs' hooves? Then why is it unkosher if it's kosher? >I always thought nothing edible about the pig was kosher. Please expand >on this question. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear DanPatents@aol.com, Gelatin is made from collagen, an animal protein. Collagen is extracted from the skin/bones of cows or pigs. It's soaked and cooked, then filtered, refined and evaporated. The finished product is gelatin. The Torah prohibits only the meat of unkosher animals, but not the bones, horns or hoofs. The Sages, however, forbade any bones, horns or hoofs which contain moisture. According to this, food made from unkosher bones is forbidden, unless the bones were completely dry. But during the manufacturing of gelatin, the animal extract becomes totally inedible, such that even a dog will no longer eat it. Now, food which even a dog won't eat loses its status as food. Halachically, it's no different than stones or dirt which are you allowed to eat! Based on this, some authorities permit gelatin from unkosher animals, since during the process the animal extract becomes unfit for even a dog. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zatzal, rules otherwise. He writes that although the animal parts are inedible in the middle of the process, this inedible state is only temporary. Since at the end of the process the unkosher bones are `resurrected' into an edible product, the original prohibition remains. In the United States, almost all kashrut organizations accept the stricter opinion and do not endorse gelatin made from unkosher derivatives. Speaking of animal skins: Little girl: Daddy, what is leather made of? Daddy: Hide. Little girl: What did you say? Daddy: Hide, hide! The cow's outside. Little girl: But, Daddy, I'm not afraid of the cow! Sources: o Leviticus 11:9 o Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prohibited Food 4:21 o Tractate Temura 31 o Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, Responsa Achiezer vol. 3, 3:5 o Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, Responsa Iggrot Moshe Yoreh De'ah 2:23 =========================================================================== Olorin wrote: >What about the skin, can we eat the pig skin? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Olorin: Pig's skin which is dry and hard is permitted to be eaten. Therefore if you check your pig-skin wallet and find no cash for food ... you can eat the wallet! =========================================================================== Bob wrote: >Is gelatin from a kosher animal pareve? * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Bob, During the process of making gelatin, the animal parts become inedible and lose their status as meat. Also, they lose any taste of meat. In theory, such gelatin would be pareve _ meaning you can eat it with milk. In practice, kosher gelatin is usually made of agar-agar _ a plant (seaweed) derivative. =========================================================================== Yiddle Riddle Last week we asked: Which weekly Parsha is never read (outside of Israel) on Shabbat afternoon. Answer: Parshat Bereshit. Outside Israel, Simchat Torah always falls on a weekday. So the only Shabbat when Parshat Bereshit is read is the following Shabbat in the morning. In Israel, however, when Simchat Torah falls on Shabbat, we read Parshat Bereshit that very same afternoon. =========================================================================== Do you link to us? Let everyone know about the Ohr Somayach Home Page by dropping the following text into the HTML document of YOUR home page: The Ohr Somayach International Home Page =========================================================================== Do you have a question about Judaism, and don't know where to find the answer? Just "Ask The Rabbi" and you'll get an answer. Ohr Somayach has a staff of Rabbis dedicated to answering YOUR questions. Our Rabbis have researched questions on what Judaism says about Magic, Virtual Reality Minyan, Why Honey and Locusts are Kosher, and Why People Point Pinkies at the Torah. For each question that we answer in the weekly column, DOZENS of answers are sent to individuals around the world who also asked questions during that time. Please feel free to avail yourself of this service. Just submit your question to "Ask The Rabbi" and we'll begin researching your answer. If you feel your question is personal, just tell us, and we'll be certain to send the answer only to YOU! To submit a question, address it to: ohr@virtual.co.il To insure correct handling, set the subject to "ASK THE RABBI" See below for instructions on how to subscribe to ASK THE RABBI =========================================================================== SUBSCRIBE! to one of the many weekly "lists" published by Ohr Somayach Institutions: weekly - Summary of the weekly Torah portion dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into the Daf Yomi ask - The Rabbi answers YOUR questions on Judaism parasha-qa - Challenging questions on the weekly Torah portion os-special - All the SPECIAL publications produced by Ohr Somayach os-alum - "B'Yachad" - the Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter judaismo - Spanish-Language newsletter on the Parsha & Judaism month - Seasons of the Moon - The Jewish Year through its months Ohr Somayach NEVER charges for any of the above lists. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe {listname} {your full name} mailto:listproc@virtual.co.il =========================================================================== Dedication opportunities are available for Ask The Rabbi. Please contact us for details. =========================================================================== Ask The Rabbi is written at Ohr Somayach Institutions / Tanenbaum College, Jerusalem, Israel. General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Production Design: Lev Seltzer =========================================================================== Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by the Jewish Learning Exchange of J L E Ohr Somayach International J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J L E Tel: 972-2-581-0315 Fax: 972-2-581-2890 J J L E Mailto:ohr@virtual.co.il JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE http://www.ohr.org.il =========================================================================== (C) 1996 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.