[Avodah] Is Turkey Kosher?

[Harry Weiss]

On Mon, 22 Nov 2010, Zev Sero wrote:

> On 22/11/2010 12:57 AM, Harry Weiss wrote:
>
>> I remember a shiur of Kosher tidbits on OU Radio  a while back that
>> addressed the Turkey issue (among others) and mentioned that besides the
>> simanim and the fact that it has been eaten for hundreds of years there is
>> one other factor.  There  was an Amora brought that claimed to be familiar
>> with all of the prohibited species of fowl.  Since he obviously could not
>> have been familiar with Turkey, that would indicate that it was not a
>> prohibited species.
>
> But that proves too much -- it would apply equally to all New World
> species (as well as those of Australia, the Pacific, etc.)
>
You are right it would prove too much.  That is why simanim are also 
needed.  There are probably a number of fowl that are included in each 
one of the prohibited species.  Between the two, there may be sufficient 
data, especially if there is suffcient similarity to another kosher 
species.


>

Harry J. Weiss
hjweiss at panix.com