Kohen & Gelatin

Asked by chanan · January 10, 2005 · Kashrut

Question

Dear Aaron: I was perusing " Ohr Yitzchok" on Shabbos and noticed where someone asked your father if a Kohen can travel on a plane when there is a possibility that there might be a Mais in the cargo hold. Your father didn't think it would be a problem ( because of the tefach of space) but answered that he really didn't have time at the moment to research it . Shortly afterwards I happened upon a tshuvah in Igros Moshe where he answers this very same question that to his knowledge planes are made of aluminum and aluminum is not Mekabel Tumah. I know your father holds the same regarding aluminum and I just wanted to pass that thought on. Regarding Gelatin: Can any distinction be made if it's processed made from hides/bones from cattle (as was done years ago) or from pigskins as is normally done today? I only ask this to understand how some people can revise the teshuvos from R' Chaim Ozer and R' Henkin to limit their hateirim to gelatin of years past but not to todays' process. Thanks, Chanan

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

That Kohen issue is big politics in Israel, so my father keeps out. Don't waste time trying to figure out how the anti-gelatin movement started. It happened like this.... Rabbi So & So, who is arrogant and yet very well respected &/or feared, said one day, "What a bunch of low-lifes allowing gelatin, it's pure Treif." Everyone was afraid to be caught with it. Suddenly multiple justifications surfaced explaining why it is a major sin. They almost did that to wigs. If not for .....kashrut.org..... AA