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Conservative Judaism/Clean and Unclean Eating

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Expert: - 5/12/2005


Question
Dear Rabbi Dov,

Thank you so much for your response.  They were very helpful and very much appreciated.

Keith Hawkins-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Dear Rabbi Dov,

Thank you so much for your response.  It is very much appreciated.  I would like to ask you one more question.  For of all, please forgive me if these questions sound niave or even offensive.  I do not mean to appear that way in any means.  I say that because some people that I have asked questions in the past concerning Judiasm were very short with their answers.  I assure that I am being very sincere.  There are things that I don not understand and I would just like to know for my own peace of mind.  In the bible it states that the swan is unclean.  If that is true, did it mean that the duck is unclean also seeing that they are in the same family?  Again, please forgive me if I sound offensive in any way.  Thank you again for your response.

Sincerely,

Keith Hawkins-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I heard that according to Jewish Law that it is an abomination to eat duck.  I would like to knowif that is true and if so, why?

Sincerely,

Keith Hawkins
Answer -
Dear Keith,

Thanks for writing. I can't figure out why anyone woudl tell you that except that it is expensive and sometimes hard to find kosher duck - that is slaughtered in a kosher fashion, examined, soaked and salted, etc.

Otherwise, I supervise a commissary, and we serve it regularly - if they are willing to pay the bill for it!

Take care


Rabbi Dov
Answer -
Dear Keith,

I have never heard of anyone holding that swan WAS kosher and I have never heard of anyone deciding that duck was NOT kosher.

I just had some duck today at the commissary! Delicious

Rabbi Dov  

Answer
Dear Keith,

Rabbinic law and logic is not consistent at all times with what you might consider logical or consistent. Just because they are in the same "family" for purposes of eating ducks and swans are not; ducks are permitted.

If you could find a quote from a law code that ducks are not kosher I would be delighted to check it out.

Best wishes

Rabbi Dov

Conservative Judaism

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Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner

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Write to me with questions about Jewish customs and law, history, philosophy and tradition for answers from a Conservative perspective or conversion. I am a graduate of The Jewish Theological Seminary and a member of the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly. Having served in congregational pulpits since 1970, I now am President of the Foundation For Family Education, Inc. a non-profit educational endeavor. I established it to create new formats of hands-on programs and provide free educational downloads at www.jewishfreeware.org. In addition to general informational questions I welcome your questions about programs for social action, outreach to dual-faith families, inter-faith clergy projects, healing services, education for conversion, adult education for the congregation and the community. If you have questions about Informal and Formal Education I am ready to share my extensive experience with Youth Activities, Camping and Religious School/Hebrew High School on a congregational, community and national/international level.

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I have served on the National Youth Commission for more than 25 years and serve on the Boards of the Conservative Zionist movement MERCAZ and the World Council of Synagogues. I have always dual-families and taught candidates for conversion with a great sense of fulfillment. I am very proud of 25 years on the Jewish camping staff of Camps Ramah. My greatest source of pride is my family! Ask me about them, please!:-)

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