[Avodah] Mamzeirim Not an Issue - Eventually they are lost in the population & Ben PeKuAh

[Rabbi Meir G. Rabi]

R' Jays post re Mamzeirim being lost in the population and not being an
issue of concern, prompted the following parallel consideration

In a published responsum, the former Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Shlomo
Goren, approves and encourages the commercial cultivation of herds of Ben
PeKuAh to provide kosher meat. [Terumat Hagoren 2:2]

Some Poskim, without offering any halachic sources, publish their
displeasure with this proposal. Rabbi Asher Weiss [Minchat Asher pekuah:47]
expresses his disapproval of the project, but argues at length against
Rabbi Wosner’s argument [who also disapproves, Shevet Halevi 8:178] that
Ben PeKuAh sidesteps the command to verify that the animals we eat are
kosher.

Rabbi Goren dismisses the only possible halachic criticism of Ben PeKuAh –
that a hybrid Ben PeKuAh [a half-Ben PeKuAh – only one parent is a Ben
PeKuAh] is not kosher and cannot be kosher even if ritually slaughtered.

According to a halachically unsubstantiated but generally accepted
assertion, [which Rabbi Goren also seems to accept] a hybrid Ben PeKuAh
will transmit its disqualified status to all its future progeny, no matter
how minute that component is, disqualifying them from being consumed as
kosher even if shechted.

Rabbi Goren dismisses the risk of unidentifiable, untraceable and
un-shechtable hybrids that can multiply, threatening corruption of the
entire population of ordinary animals.

Rabbi Goren seems to consider it unnecessary to explain why he dismisses
this concern.

It seems reasonable he is in agreement with R' Jays perspective re
Mamzeirim.

In a separate responsum, Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi-Doron [Binyan Av 4:39]
another former Chief Rabbi of Israel, supports Rabbi Goren’s position by
noting that there is undeniable evidence in the Gemara and Rishonim that
this was never even considered an issue and that in fact, herds of Benei
PeKuAh were cultivated without concern for any such disastrous consequence,
concluding that it is certain that Chazal did not object or even discourage
cultivating Ben PeKuAh herds.

Best,

Meir G. Rabi

0423 207 837
+61 423 207 837
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