Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cornell.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!vax135!cornell!mf From: mf@cornell.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Kosher Meals -- meat and fish together Message-ID: <6469@cornell.UUCP> Date: Fri, 24-Feb-84 09:02:24 EST Article-I.D.: cornell.6469 Posted: Fri Feb 24 09:02:24 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Feb-84 00:19:51 EST References: <1815@cbscc.UUCP> <508@pyuxmm.UUCP>, <981@pegasus.UUCP> Organization: Cornell Computer Science Lines: 25 The original reason for the prohibition of fish+meat together is, verbatim, "mipnei hasakana" = "because of the danger", no mention being made of what danger(*). So in a way this is not as strick a prohibition as milk products + meat, which some people interpret as having to wait for 6 hours after a meal based on meat before eating one containing dairy products (while others, such as the Dutch, wait only 1 hour -- I'm speaking of Orthodox people -- and then there is almost the discrete spectrum in between). The other direction (dairy followed by meat) requires much less waiting time. In the case of fish and meat, they can (mainstream Orthodox - boy is this a pain to qualify everything) appear in the same meal; for instance, Jews of Polish origin would typically have for a Friday dinner ``Guefilte Fisch'' (stuffed fish), then a soup -- usually chicken soup -- then meat, then cakes, then... But in the traditions which I know there is a custom to use separate plates and utensils for them. Finally, fish can be eaten with dairy products too (in non-meat meals), this time no separation being needed at all. _________ (*) An attempt at guessing what the danger may be: if fish and meat were served together, the diners might not notice the fish and thus be less careful, thinking there is only meat served to them. The danger referred to being fish bones (much more treacherous than meat bones, esp. in such fish as carp!). To substantiate such a guess would require to know what kind of dishes were served in the Mishnaic/Talmudic times in the Near-East.