Israel's Sefardi Chief Rabbi Bans Special Bug Free Super Kosher Vegetables

In a groundbreaking ruling, Israel's Sefardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, who is also the haredi-controlled state chief rabbinate's senior decisor of Jewish law has banned so-called mehadrin vegetables that are 'bug free' because they pose a danger to health.

Israel's Sefardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar

Special Bug Free Vegetables Pose A Threat To Life And Health, Should Not Be Eaten, Chief Rabbi Says
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com

In a groundbreaking ruling, Israel's Sefardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, who is also the haredi-controlled state chief rabbinate's senior decisor of Jewish law has banned so-called mehadrin vegetables that are 'bug free' because they pose a danger to health.

Ynet reports that Amar ruled that the extremely high amounts of pesticides and other chemicals used in the growing process of ‘mehdadrin’ vegetables pose a risk to the lives and heath of those who consume them.

Amar recommends that people buy regular vegetables and was them and inspect them carefully before eating in order to remove any bugs.

This is preferable to the ‘bug free’ vegetables, Amar ruled,  because the ‘bug free’ vegetables pose an actual threat to life and health.

Amar’s ruling is reportedly dozens of pages long, and took months to write. Its main objective is to refute the common claim that it is impossible to completely clean leafy vegetables of insects, and to refute the claim that Jews have a religious obligation to eat the vegetables grown by the recently invented special growth method that is high in pesticides and chemicals.

Amar noted that removal of bugs through inspection and washing can be done now, just as did throughout history.

Amar cites scientific findings that show that many farmers who grow these special ‘bug free’ vegetables use banned pesticides banned or extremely high-doses of approved pesticides.

According to him, there is no justification for consumers to buy these special ‘bug free’ vegetables, especially when they are forced to pay much more money for them than they would pay for regular vegetables. People do this, he notes, sometimes even at the expense of other basic food needs, then and then they eat these heavily chemically treated vegetables and endanger their health and the health of their families – and this is forbidden by the Torah, which considers threats to health and life to be more serious than biblical commandments themselves.

[Hat Tip: Vegi-man.]

Comments

[Alter Kocker]

Whats this? A little sense out of Amar?

[ruthie]

oh for g-d's sake,
if people want to check salads and vegetables, if they're into that,
salt into water, then salad or vegtebles in salted water, let it soak a bit and then see all (sometimes just a few) the tiny bugs floating.
i always thought the ready bug free food in the kosher markets looked a bit too plastic wrapped so tightly....not even appetizing!
but then, what do americans know about good food or good coffee?

[Yochanan Lavie]

All we are saying is give peas a chance.

[Dovid]

"what do americans know about good food or good coffee?"

Americans? This is about what's going on in Israel. What planet are you on?

[Philip]

ACHIEZER UPDATE - MONDAY 11/5
CLEANUP

Please be advised that we are doing our best to assist as many families as possible with clean up. Due to the high volume of requests and less hours of daylight, we will be assembling dozens of volunteers for tomorrow as well. Please be assured that once your request is received, within 1-2 days, our volunteers will be dispatched to assist you.

CLOTHING

There is a tremendous amount of beautiful, brand new clothing set up in Shor Yoshuv until 4pm today. Anyone who is unable to get there and requires transportation, please let us know and we will be happy to coordinate a ride for whoever needs. Additionally, any of our local residents who are currently staying in Queens can contact Mrs. Hochberg at 718-454-6137 for clothing.

LAUNDRY

There will be laundry drop offs at Shor Yoshuv and The Young Israel of Bayswater from 12-3pm TODAY.

VOTING

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FOOD

Once again there will be lunch beginning at 12:30pm and dinner at 4:30pm being served at the following FOUR locations: The White Shul, Shor Yoshuv, Young Israel Woodmere and the Young Israel of Bayswater.

CHABAD is also offering breakfast and lunch until 4:30pm and a hot dinner from 4:30-8pm. You may also go there to rest and recharge your batteries.

SHAIMOS

There will be a large trailor to accommodate large amounts of Shaimos at 2pm at Shor Yoshuv. Shaimos may also be brought to the Agudah of Bayswater before 3pm for an additional pickup.

SHELTER

Our shelter and home placement effort has been ongoing since the start of the storm. If anyone needs assistance being placed in temporary housing, please call our office and our coordinator will be happy to assist you. You can reach our hotline at either 516-791-4444 or 718-414-2456.

MIKVAOS

Please be advised that both the Far Rockaway Mikvah as well as the Woodmere/Southshore Mikvah on Peninsula Avenue are open and fully operational.

CEDAHURST SAFETY

If anyone would like to get involved and help volunteer with a Cedarhurst safety patrol please call Yaakov Gade at 917-364-1947.


FEMA

We will be having today computers set up in our Central Avenue office from 2:30-4:30pm. Staff will be on hand to help any resident fill out initial applications for FEMA assistance. If you would like to utilize this service today, you MUST bring the following information:
The address of your damaged home/apt
Name of people living in household
Social security numbers for each household member
A description of your disaster damages
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If you are approved for disaster assistance funds and would like them sent directly to your bank, you will need your bank account type, routing number and account number.
Further application details will be provided when you sign up.
If you plan on coming to the office today to sign up, although it is not required, please try to confirm your spot through our office hotline.

LIPA

Numerous streets in Lawrence and Cedarhurst have been restored. We understand that for those still in the dark, this news is not helpful. There are intense efforts underway to get Far Rockaway restored and we will continue to keep you posted. Parts of Woodmere have also been restored and within a matter of days, there should be complete restoration in the Woodmere areas.

MEDICAL ATTENTION

The following local pediatricians have notified us that they are open to see patients: Dr. Rhein, Dr. Lightman (at 41 Lord Avenue), Dr. Green & Schlusselberg and Dr. Simai.
Dr. Samson will be seeing adults at 657 Central Avenue as well.
For any residents that have been currently placed in Flatbush, Dr. Moshe Lazar has offered to see any children who need medical assistance. He can be contacted at 718-645-7337. Dr. Duvi Klein will be seeing patients in his Boro Park office located at 4406 12th Avenue.

ACHIEZER - 516-791-4444 OR 718-414-2456

Forward this email

[Eli, what me messiah?]

good for Amar. well-reasoned on multiple levels, and hopefully it will get attention.

now, anyone hear the one about the lady who goes into a shop and asks for a pound of kosher broccoli?

[ruthie]

dovid,

that is a seriously good question!

[Sarek]

YL -

Ev'rybody's talkin' 'bout
Bugism, Slugism, Drugism, Thugism, Smugism, Plugism,
This-ism, that-ism, ism ism ism
All we are saying is give peas a chance
All we are saying is give peas a chance

[Sarek]

(to the tune of the Bee Gees' "Holiday")

Oh, bugs in broccoli.
Bugs in broccoli.
Oh, bugs in broccoli.
Bugs in broccoli.

Washing I think's worthwhile.
If kosher is your style.
Must find all bug bones
Find their bones,
Find their bones.

Oh, it's a funny game.
Are the rabbis to blame?
The veggies I must shred
or God will strike me dead.

Millions of Jews can eat
Then why can't I just dine?
We do the same with meat.
Veggie I must grind, I must grind.

De de de de de de etc.

[Dave]

Excellent ruling from Rav Amar.
It should be common sense but unfortunately some people only listen to the rabbonim without also using their own brains.

[David]

Excellent ruling and great common sense.

The way things used to be done before the frumma established their various kosher rackets.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

Amar had a brain fart, and will retract this piece of common sense.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

Sephardi Judaism is probably more authentic (and more normal) than the Ashkenazi one.

The reason that Sephardis do not have streams like Ashkenazim (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc) is that while the structure is based on Orthodox (ashkenazi term as well) style, it was always tolerant toward people who were not observant.

The Sephardi violent culture and the rabbis worship (Sali Baba, Pinto etc ) notwithstading

[Lazer]

They have got to get rid of the costumes to be taken seriously.

[Hamish McHorney]

How about backing up that little assertion there Bassy? The one that claims Sephardic judaism is more authentic than ashkenazic.

[Yochanan Lavie]

good ones, Sarek.

[nechama]

its about time - as the food is gassed to get rid of the bugs
Jews and gas???

[Bruce Brown, MD]

Don't you know that before the invention of pesticides electric light and blue magnifying lenses, no Jew ever ate vegetables?

[John Nagle, Silicon Valley, CA]

If you really want to inspect vegetables for insects, there's high-speed machinery for that. It's impressive to watch as a high-speed conveyor launches lettuce leaves through a short flight path, computer-controlled cameras view them from three directions, and air jets kick out the rejects.

One automated lettuce inspection machine can replace 10-20 human inspectors.

[dh]

Lol YL, ruthie and all.

[SkepticalYid]

Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | November 05, 2012 at 12:48 PM

Pardon the suggestion, YL. Unless I yam mistaken, isn't the original lyric: Lettuce give peas a chance?

[Gefilte Fish]

Nothing beets whirled peas.

[maven]

I think there ought to be an issur on running outdoors, because it is likely that one may inhale gnats and no-see-ums.

[Dave]

Lazer, right- our rabbonim will give up their "costumes" when your rebbes stop wearing "shtreimels" "gartels" and kaftans and stockings, none of which were mandated by the Torah or the Talmud. Deal?

[Yochanan Lavie]

SY: You're confusing it with "Lettuce Be," Paul's anthem.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

They have got to get rid of the costumes to be taken seriously.

Posted by: Lazer | November 05, 2012 at 03:45 PM

Laser,
oh, like wearing fox tails hats in 102 f temperatures?
that sure will make anybody "taken seriously".
and of course let's not forget speaking old corrupt (indo european) geyman. that will sure bring them closer to our semitic ancestry.

[Eric]

"One automated lettuce inspection machine can replace 10-20 human inspectors. "

Interesting, please provide a link!

[Shoshi]

It is very refreshing that he says there is no justification and that he cares about the expense and the danger to health.

[Michael from Lakewood]

While I am not a follower, IMO he has done a great thing. Even the children of his critics will benefit from this.