Drs. Greenspan’s and Zivotofsky’s Menu: Kosher Guineafowl, Locust, Buffalo

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swordfishKosher swordfish, buffalo meat, cow’s udders and even locust – these are just some of the “delicacies” that were served Thursday night in an unusual feast held in Yerushalayim.  The unusual event was attended by rabbis, professors, zoologists and chefs who were to feast on the meat of rare animals and birds. The people behind the initiative are Dr. Ari Greenspan from Efrat and Dr. Ari Zivotofsky from Beit Shemesh, who have spent years documenting and preserving the tradition of “pure animals.”

The two compiled an initial list of animals with obvious kosher characteristics which were consumed by Jews throughout history, according to many sources. The list contains such animals as the deer, ibex, buffalo, pheasant, sparrow, partridge, pigeons, guineafowl and more.

The two explained that with the development of the industrialized food market and collective slaughtering, traditions on the kashrut of many species of birds and animals were in danger of being forgotten.

They therefore regard the feast as a one-of-a-kind educational and gastronomical event. The two promised that the feast would include rare kosher delicacies and offer a halachic adventure incorporating the study of Torah and Jewish history.

Dr. Greenspan, a qualified mohel, dentist and researcher of worldwide Jewish communities and ancient Judaica items, said: “Orthodox Judaism observes the Jewish tradition on matters of halacha, but it seems not effort has been made to preserve the kashrut traditions. As the people who preserve these traditions are very old, we have an obligation to document their knowledge.”

{Ynet/Matzav.com Israel}


19 COMMENTS

  1. I wouldn’t be suproised to see swordfish become prevalent in the United States. The basis under which it has been prohibited is extremely weak and has only been the case for 30-40 years.

  2. why are we giving credence to people going against most poskim? I would understand the theoretical study of the various mesoros, but if it is being served against the will of most poskim it should not be given credence.

  3. 10: That’s the prevelant assumption, but as Zivotovsky & Greenspan haved demonstrated numerous times, it simply doesn’t shtim with the reality – adult swordfish, like juveniles, have (sparsely distributed) scales.

  4. The editors of matzav really know how to demonstrate their ignorance. They preserve the honor of lakewood and other issues they understand to the nth degree. This event which goes against mant rabbonim and mesora gets a free ride.

  5. Time to clear up the foolish ignorance.
    1. All the foods had documented mesorahs from rabbinic leaders, shochtim and communities.They may not have eaten locusts in Pressburg, so what?
    2. Paradoxically, the only food without a mesorah was the turkey. ALL kashrus organizations in the world give hashgachah to turkey. No mesorah. Hmmm…
    3. Swordfish are clearly kosher and were deemed not so because of an arrogant and mistaken rabbi in the early ’60s.
    4. Many prominent gedolei torah were present at the dinner, including chareidim and chassidim.

  6. B’nei Askenaz are noheig issur on ‘cow’s udders’, and I have heard from R’ Dovid Feinstein that he is not mekabel the kashrus
    of buffalo.

  7. They have done this dinner in the US a number of times with sponsorship from the OU. They have organized conferences in addition, and Rabbi Belsky, Rabbi Hershel Schechter and I believe Rabbi Genack participated and even gave talks.

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