Ask The Rabbi... August 27, 1994 Issue #32 ========================================================================= This issue is dedicated in the memory of Mr. Seymour Pomerance O.B.M. ========================================================================= This edition contains: 1. Is a tomato a with a pig gene kosher? 2. Asking for forgiveness via E-mail. ========================================================================= Margalit from NYC wrote: >Dear Rabbi, > >It seems that all this up and coming genetically engineered food, like the >Flavr-Savr tomato, will pose new problems for kashrut. Are there any >guidelines for bio-engineered produce? Say a tomato was made with a pig >gene in it (a rumor I actually heard about the Flavr-Savr, and certainly >not beyond the reach of genetically altered food right now), ... do you >have any thoughts on this matter? * * * * * * * * * Dear Margalit, If I understand your question correctly, you are assuming that the pig gene would constitute a non-kosher ingredient mixed together with an otherwise kosher product, and you want to know if pig gene makes the whole thing unkosher? I've been doing some reading on genetically engineered foods, and have contacted some people in the field (not the tomato patch ;^) ) and have come up with the following: The process of obtaining the desired gene for use is one that involves copying, and re-copying the gene in various media ( such as bacteria), so that the final, resultant gene has NO pig in it. The gene is not placed in each and every tomato, but rather in some seeds or plants which then produce NEW generations of tomatoes that have never come in contact with the original gene. To ascertain the Halacha in this case, I posed your question to Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita. He told me that he is not familiar with the exact process of breeding these tomatoes and the like, but his ruling is that if the gene underwent significant change after it left the pig, the tomato is indeed kosher. ========================================================================= Ed Truitt from Denver wrote: >Dear Rabbi, > >We raised an interesting question over lunch today and would like to know >your answer. Is it permissible to ask for mechilot (forgiveness) over an >email network rather than in person? I know it's not preferable, but many >of us work in large networked environments. We considered the option of >sending it receipt-requested to a specific address rather than an all- >points broadcast >Thanks! * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Ed, There are two components in achieving forgiveness from someone we have wronged. One is the initiative of asking for forgiveness; the other is the granting of the forgiveness. Ideally, we try for both. Nevertheless, a Jew says in his pre- Kol Nidre confession that he forgives anyone who wronged him, and prays that Heaven will inspire others to forgive him as well. An E-mail request for forgiveness achieves at least this much of an effect -- and even more. ========================================================================= -> Get Ready for the Ohr Somayach Winter JLE <- 3 weeks of study and touring (Departure December 22) Minimum scholarship price: $599 Covers round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours Contact Rabbi Zalman Corlin for details ========================================================================= Ohr Somayach Institutions is proud to present: ROSH HASHANAH 5755 Two essays by Ohr Somayach Rabbis: The Concept of Teshuva, by Rabbi Michoel Schoen Beginnings..., by Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz This file is available from the following sources: o The Jerusalem1 Gopher under the heading "Religious Institutions" and the sub-heading "Ohr Somayach" o CompuServe Religion Forum, Judaism Library (2), filename OSROSH.TXT Note that subcribers to Ohr Somayach's new list "os-special" received this file AUTOMATICALLY. If you would like to read files such as this one without hunting in gophers to find them, then subscribe now! Send the message "sub os-special {your name}" to listproc@jer1.co.il ========================================================================= Dedication opportunities are available for Ask the Rabbi. Please contact us for details. ========================================================================= Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il ========================================================================= (C) 1994 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission.