By Allen M. Gown, M.D. , , Seattle
So the Va’ad would like to prevent us from accidentally ingesting insects with our food (“The food network,” July 11)? Perhaps the rabbis of the Va’ad might not be happy to learn that in all likelihood all the food they consume, including that served in their own homes, is probably contaminated with insects such as dust mites, which are ubiquitous, but too small to be seen with the naked eye. Therefore, if the Va’ad rabbis only looked more carefully, e.g., with hand lenses, I’m sure they could reject most foods of any kind, not just vegetables. (Indeed, mites like to dwell on dead skin cells and are shed continuously from human skin and pet dander.) Last I consulted Leviticus, the proscription again eating insects does not distinguish between large and small ones. Taken to its (il)logical conclusion, the policies of the Va’ad would force all Jews to starve to death.
Why not recognize that merely washing fruits and vegetables is sufficient? One can use interpretation of Torah to be inclusive or exclusive, to unify or to divide. Contrary to Maimon’s intimation that the small population of Seattle accounts for the dearth of kosher restaurants in Seattle, it is the Va’ad itself that is singularly responsible for this. How ironic, in the name of kashrut, to foster an environment where Jews seeking connections to their tradition are prevented from doing so.