[Avodah] HARav Asher Weiss - Metzora 5772: ‘Kashrus Verification’

[Prof. Levine via Avodah]

 From http://www.torahmusings.com/2012/05/audio-roundup-35/

Why can’t we rely on eid echad neeman b’issurin 
(one witness is sufficient in cases of ritual 
prohibition) in kashrut supervision?

R’AW’s opinion is that eid echad is not a rule to 
neemanut (trustworthiness) but in hanhaga (how to 
act) – that in case of doubt you can rely on a 
single witness (proofs include there is no testimony and no beit din).

However, over the years the Rabbis make 
fences/judgments (e.g. requiring a ritual 
slaughterer to show his knife). So today (see 
chachmat adam 200 years ago) we don’t rely on 
anyone who has a monetary interest (me – but then 
what about the agency being paid?).

Then discussion of one of my favorite topics – 
Chazal and statistics. R’AW says out loud what 
I’ve whispered to my chaburah – Chazal did not 
engage in statistics! First he discusses why a 
miyut shachiach (normally found minority?) is of 
concern (why not just say rov [majority] is 
sufficient?) – Perhaps because of concern for 
margin of error. Then on to miyut hamatzui 
(material minority) and the famous 10% rule of 
the Mishkinot Yaakov – he feels tshuva is 
misread; while it does mention 10% with some 
“interesting” proofs, the conclusion is that it’s 
just about what’s “common” – and the real problem 
is defining “common” in age where a shocheit may 
shecht 100X as many animals in the old days. 
That’s why we steer clear of doubt!!!!! Oy, if only they would ask an actuary?

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For more listen to the audio file at 
https://web.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/kashrus/Rav%20Weiss%20Tazria%205772%20English%20Kashrus%20Verification.mp3


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