[Avodah] Bubby Didn't Eat Bugs!

[Micha Berger]

>From http://ohr.edu/this_week/insights_into_halacha/5032
Ohr Samayach encourages reuse, so I'm giving them the broader exposure
they ask for by including it in full. The pretend html tags to show that
the first paragraph was in bold is mine.

Teaser (cut out before I decided to include the whole post):
    However, before we just decide to possibly denigrate our ancestors
    and query their choice of produce, one would do well to realize that
    there actually are other more lenient opinions regarding different
    halachic aspects of tolaim...

    In fact, many great poskim and gedolim over the generations
    worked tirelessly to find any sort of justification to allow the
    eating of many foods. In those days, especially in the summer,
    many foods including basic wheat and grain were extremely prone to
    insect infestation, and the deplorable storage conditions did not
    help matters. These gedolim included Rav Yonason Eibeshutz, Rav
    Shlomo Kluger, the Ksav Sofer, the Mishkenos Yaakov and the Aruch
    HaShulchan[5]. Others, including the Yad Yehuda[6], tried to give
    eitzos to lessen the odds of eating bugs.

-Micha

Ohr Samayach
Insights into Halacha

Bubby Didn't Eat Bugs!
by Rabbi Yehuda Spitz

<bold>
Recently there has been a spate of literature in Torah publications
addressing one of the biggest issues related to the kosher consumer,
BUGS! This is quite apropos, for if one would eat an insect, depending
on whether it is a land, sea or air bug (sort of the entomology world's
answer to the Navy SEALS), one might unwittingly transgress upto six
separate Biblical prohibitions![1] Therefore it is very important to
stay abreast of the latest bug-combating and controlling developments,
as well as the individual vegetables current infestation rates, to make
sure that our produce remains insect-free.
</bold>

If one would glance at the full-page glossy ads in the ubiquitous Jewish
magazine, it would seem that produce growers are falling over themselves
to provide every possible green with the best of hechsherim, all while
stating the various methods used to ascertain that one should not stumble
and transgress these Biblical prohibitions. "Greenhouse Grown", "Triple
Washed", "Insect Free", and "Requires No Checking" scream out from the
ads. While everything is done to guarantee what is most definitely a
tremendous public service, some might say "Well, if nowadays we utilize
innovation and technology to ensure that there are no bugs lurking in our
lettuce, what did the previous generations do? They did not know, and
actually could not have known, about the proper methods of checking for
and making certain that their food did not contain any uninvited guests".

This point to ponder is not purely academic, as recently a major Jewish
publication featured this very question, with the cover quote "Did Bubby
Eat Bugs?". Although the author did a fine job explaining the issues and
problems involved with bug infestation and how to make sure that one's
food should not contain any crunchy crawlers, and even from a halachic
standpoint, still, the title question remained mainly unanswered.

However, before we just decide to possibly denigrate our ancestors and
query their choice of produce, one would do well to realize that there
actually are other more lenient opinions regarding different halachic
aspects of tolaim (worms; also the generic term used to refer to insect
infestation).

For example, regarding what appear to be specks on the peel of a
citrus fruit, there is some halachic debate over whether one has to
assume that they actually are insects[2]. Another leniency (known as
the Shittas HaKreisi U'Pleisi) is perhaps an insect born inside a food
item does not maintain the full halachic status of a bug, and might be
considered nullified[3]. Also, it is worthwhile to note that according
to virtually every halachic authority, anything that cannot be seen
by the naked eye (including miniscule and microscopic insects) are not
considered present[4].

In fact, many great poskim and gedolim over the generations worked
tirelessly to find any sort of justification to allow the eating of many
foods. In those days, especially in the summer, many foods including
basic wheat and grain were extremely prone to insect infestation, and
the deplorable storage conditions did not help matters. These gedolim
included Rav Yonason Eibeshutz, Rav Shlomo Kluger, the Ksav Sofer, the
Mishkenos Yaakov and the Aruch HaShulchan[5]. Others, including the Yad
Yehuda[6], tried to giveeitzos to lessen the odds of eating bugs.

Their collective reasoning was (loose translation) "to find merit for
Bnei Yisrael to save them on the Day of Judgment, and, Heaven forbid,
to say that all of Bnei Yisrael would stumble on such a great sin, as it
is a near impossibility to find any food, especially in the summer days,
that has no trace of any sort of insect, and it is almost impossible to
properly check."

Rav Moshe Feinstein[7] zt"l was asked near the end of his life
about prohibiting a certain type of fruit due to a possible insect
issue. Rav Moshe responded that it may not be publicized that this
fruit is prohibited; as aside for the fact that there were lenient
opinions to rely upon (in that specific situation), "it is prohibited
to spread rumorsabout earlier generations, who could not have possibly
been stringent on these issues, as they were unaware of them".

Rav Moshe's thrust and main point was not that people from earlier
generations were not culpable, even though they may have been eating
non-kosher; rather it was that even if it is assumed that the halacha
generally follows the more stringent opinion, we may not publicize that
certain issues are assur (prohibited). Rav Moshe was teaching us that
is preferable to rely on a lenient opinion (and saying that previous
generations had what to rely on as well) than to say that something is
definitely assur, and cast negative aspersions on previous generations -
whom, without any doubt, were on a higher spiritual level than we are,
especially as they are at least one step closer to Har Sinai. Although it
must be noted that many disagree with the above-mentioned leniencies,
and the general halacha does not seem to rely upon them lchatchila,
nevertheless, these very same hetterim are also what Rav Moshe declared
are preferable to rely upon than to disparage previous generations. This
should serve as "food for thought" to clarify the matter and to help
quiet any doubts or concerns that were left about "Bubby eating bugs".
_______________________

[1]Prohibitions are stated in Parshas Shmini (Vayikra Ch.11). See Gemara
Makkos 16b, Pesachim 24a and Eruvin 28a, statement of Abaye; Rambam
(Hilchos Maachalos Assuros Ch. 2, 14 & 23); and Tur/Shulchan Aruch
(Y"D 84, 6 and Y"D 100).

[2]Although many rule stringently with this, there are several
contemporary authorities who are lenient. See for example, Shu"t Shevet
HaLevi (vol. 7, 122); Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa (Ch. 3, 37, 105),
Halichos Shlomo - Tefilla (Ch. 4, 25, 78) and V'Aleihu Lo Yibol (vol. 2,
Y"D 1); Shu"t Igros Moshe (Y"D vol. 2, 146 s.v. umah); and Yalkut Yosef
(IV"H vol. 2, 84, 21).

[3]Those who follow this leniency include the Kreisi U'Pleisi (Y"D 100, 4;
he actually later retracts), Rav Shlomo Kluger (Shu"t Tuv Taam V'Daas (3,
1, 160), the Ksav Sofer (Shu"t Y"D 63), the Imrei Baruch (Y"D beg. 100),
the Mishkenos Yaakov (Shu"t Y"D 30), and the Aruch HaShulchan (Y"D 100,
13-18).

[4]This is a topic which will IY"H be explored fuller in a future article.

[5]See previous footnote. Several authorities tried to find other hetterim
including the Aruch Hashulchan's controversial take that since bugs
are generally considered disgusting, they are immediately nullified;
and the Kreisi U'Pleisi's (above, 2) and Avnei Nezer's (Shu"t Y"D 81,
6) opinion that even a beryah has a din of bittul [not like the general
consensus among the Shulchan Aruch (Y"D 100) and the main commentaries].

[6]Yad Yehuda (Y"D 61, 63, 6).

[7]Shu"t Igros Moshe (Y"D 4, end 2).
__________________________________________________________________

For any questions, comments or for the full Mareh Mekomos / sources,
please email the author: yspitz at ohr.edu

Disclaimer: These are just a few basic guidelines and overview of
the Halacha discussed in this article. This is by no means a complete
comprehensive authoritative guide, but rather a brief summary to raise
awareness of the issue. One should not compare similar cases in order
to rules in any real case, but should refer his questions to a competent
Halachic authority.
__________________________________________________________________

L'iluy Nishmas the Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R'
Yechezkel Shraga, Rav Yaakov Yeshaya ben R' Boruch Yehuda, and l'zchus
for Shira Yaffa bas Rochel Miriam and her children for a yeshua teikef
u'miyad! [43]Print

© 1995-2013 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.

Articles may be distributed to another person intact without prior
permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other
publications, such as synagogue or school newsletters. Hardcopy or
electronic....