The difference between “Orthodox” Judaism and its variants is in degree, not kind. We see the same attempt to destroy halacha observance everywhere.
Here’s an example from Ohr Somayach’s website:
Bubby Didn’t Eat Bugs
Recently there has been a spate of literature in Torah publications addressing one of the biggest issues related to the kosher consumer, BUGS! This is quite apropos, for if one would eat an insect, depending on whether it is a land, sea or air bug (sort of the entomology world’s answer to the Navy SEALS), one might unwittingly transgress upto six separate Biblical prohibitions![1] Therefore it is very important to stay abreast of the latest bug-combating and controlling developments, as well as the individual vegetables current infestation rates, to make sure that our produce remains insect-free.
If one would glance at the full-page glossy ads in the ubiquitous Jewish magazine, it would seem that produce growers are falling over themselves to provide every possible green with the best of hechsherim, all while stating the various methods used to ascertain that one should not stumble and transgress these Biblical prohibitions. “Greenhouse Grown”, “Triple Washed”, “Insect Free”, and “Requires No Checking” scream out from the ads. While everything is done to guarantee what is most definitely a tremendous public service, some might say “Well, if nowadays we utilize innovation and technology to ensure that there are no bugs lurking in our lettuce, what did the previous generations do? They did not know, and actually could not have known, about the proper methods of checking for and making certain that their food did not contain any uninvited guests”.
Why couldn’t they have known?!
This point to ponder is not purely academic, as recently a major Jewish publication featured this very question, with the cover quote “Did Bubby Eat Bugs?”. Although the author did a fine job explaining the issues and problems involved with bug infestation and how to make sure that one’s food should not contain any crunchy crawlers, and even from a halachic standpoint, still, the title question remained mainly unanswered.
However, before we just decide to possibly denigrate our ancestors and query their choice of produce, one would do well to realize that there actually are other more lenient opinions regarding different halachic aspects of tolaim (worms; also the generic term used to refer to insect infestation).
The problem lies mainly in what Rabbi Y. Spitz chooses not to say:
For example, regarding what appear to be specks on the peel of a citrus fruit, there is some halachic debate over whether one has to assume that they actually are insects[2]. Another leniency (known as the Shittas HaKreisi U’Pleisi) is perhaps an insect born inside a food item does not maintain the full halachic status of a bug, and might be considered nullified[3]. Also, it is worthwhile to note that according to virtually every halachic authority, anything that cannot be seen by the naked eye (including miniscule and microscopic insects) are not considered present[4].
But that isn’t the topic. The point relates to bugs which can be observed under contrast. And as for the Iggros Moshe mentioned in footnote #2, see our previous article where we explained what he actually said.
In fact, many great poskim and gedolim over the generations worked tirelessly to find any sort of justification to allow the eating of many foods. In those days, especially in the summer, many foods including basic wheat and grain were extremely prone to insect infestation, and the deplorable storage conditions did not help matters. These gedolim included Rav Yonason Eibeshutz, Rav Shlomo Kluger, the Ksav Sofer, the Mishkenos Yaakov and the Aruch HaShulchan[5]. Others, including the Yad Yehuda[6], tried to give eitzos to lessen the odds of eating bugs.
Their collective reasoning was (loose translation) “to find merit for Bnei Yisrael to save them on the Day of Judgment, and, Heaven forbid, to say that all of Bnei Yisrael would stumble on such a great sin, as it is a near impossibility to find any food, especially in the summer days, that has no trace of any sort of insect, and it is almost impossible to properly check.”
Yes, and the same is true for Shtar Shabbos, etc. Should we bring back everything for which a “Limmud Zechus” was found?! And if not, why not?
Rav Moshe Feinstein[7] zt”l was asked near the end of his life about prohibiting a certain type of fruit due to a possible insect issue. Rav Moshe responded that it may not be publicized that this fruit is prohibited; as aside for the fact that there were lenient opinions to rely upon (in that specific situation), “it is prohibited to spread rumors about earlier generations, who could not have possibly been stringent on these issues, as they were unaware of them”.
Rav Moshe’s thrust and main point was not that people from earlier generations were not culpable, even though they may have been eating non-kosher; rather it was that even if it is assumed that the halacha generally follows the more stringent opinion, we may not publicize that certain issues are assur (prohibited). Rav Moshe was teaching us that is preferable to rely on a lenient opinion (and saying that previous generations had what to rely on as well) than to say that something is definitely assur, and cast negative aspersions on previous generations – whom, without any doubt, were on a higher spiritual level than we are, especially as they are at least one step closer to Har Sinai.
Although it must be noted that many disagree with the above-mentioned leniencies, and the general halacha does not seem to rely upon them lchatchila, nevertheless, these very same hetterim are also what Rav Moshe declared are preferable to rely upon than to disparage previous generations. This should serve as “food for thought” to clarify the matter and to help quiet any doubts or concerns that were left about “Bubby eating bugs”.
This is a lie. Rabbi Feinstein wrote only a prohibition ought not to be publicized before the proper study, and that he was then indisposed, so he couldn’t study the topic properly himself (and that it seemed more likely to be permitted)!
See the text for yourself here. We have already explained the truth about so-called casting “negative aspersions on previous generations” in Rabbi Feinstein’s opinion as seen elsewhere.
Our Holy Forefathers Did Aveiros!
For any questions, comments or for the full Mareh Mekomos / sources, please email the author: yspitz@ohr.edu
Disclaimer: These are just a few basic guidelines and overview of the Halacha discussed in this article. This is by no means a complete comprehensive authoritative guide, but rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issue. One should not compare similar cases in order to rules in any real case, but should refer his questions to a competent Halachic authority.
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive guide, rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issues. In any real case one should ask a competent Halachic authority.
Will disclaimers work to save us all from Purgatory?
Since we know history cannot end without true, national repentance, we know disgusting articles like this one must eventually decrease and be sidelined. But sooner is better than later, right?