[Avodah] Havdalah during the nine days

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Jul 18, 2013 at 06:53:15PM +0300, Eli Turkel wrote:
: As an aside Kedem has a very different taste than Israeli grape juices. We
: once bought Kedem grape Juice in Israel and gave it to some grandchildren
: and they couldnt take the taste (too sweet).

Unlike WRT animals, species of plant are defined lehalakhah more broadly.
Hil' Kelayim 3:4-6 says it goes by similarity in the leaves look, and how
the fruit looks and tastes -- sensory, not botanical, similarity.) It is
kelayim to cross two animals that cannot produce fertile young (e.g. to
make mules. But it is not kelayim to mix old world and new world grapes.
E.g. the Malaga usually used in Israeli grape juice and the concord used
here. Even though crossbreeding the two produces mules -- seedless grapes.

It's a good thing, because I tend to suggest around Purim time a new
chumerah -- that one cannot use Concord wine (and qal vachomer grape
juice) for the 4 kosos because concord wine may not be yayin. Given
that it's not made from the same species as is yayin from old word grapes.
And the actual definition of botanical "min" keeps this from being more
than Purim Torah, which would create yet another Pesach expense for
many American Jews. (Concord is cheaper here.)

Tangent:
Concord grape juice has more gm carb per cup than Coke. If you ever
are taking care of a diabetic, it's worth knowing that that bottle of
Kedem may be the fastest way to get his carbs up. OTOH, they'll plummet
afterward, it's all simple sugars. So use accordingly.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Every child comes with the message
micha at aishdas.org        that God is not yet discouraged with
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