Fish

Asked by Sam · June 4, 2002 · Kashrut

Question

1. Sometimes there are worms in fish. They enter the fish when they are microscopic (or they enter a something else when they are microscopic and then swallowed by the fish. Are these worms a kashrut problem? I heard one rabbi say that they are not since they are created in the fish and I told him that this was impossible. But perhaps entering the fish at the microscopic level is no different than "spontaneous generation" from a halakhic standpoint. 2. Does your father hold that it is permitted to kill lice on Shabbat, or do we update the halakhah because of new scientific knowledge?

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

1) Is it impossible for fish or fruits to have bugs or worms created within them? The Gemara disagrees with you. The fact that it doesn't exist in fish that our scientists see today, does not mean that it cannot exist. 2) You are under the assumption that "Kinim" = Lice. Maybe, Maybe not. Who Knows? AA