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 <ny000586@mail.nyser.net> 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.



