There was an article in Hamodia on Sukkos about this topic, although the writer is clearly presenting only one side, it was written quite well. He makes a very valid point which has actually bothered me all along. The standard Halacha will always start with the Gemara and Poskim and when necessary bring proof from outside sources. However, in this case it is very clear for whoever learnt the basic Gemara that this Murex snail doesn’t fit with any of the semanim chazal provide us. It’s not גופו דומה לים. It’s not מראהו כמין דג. It doesn’t come up אחת לשבעים שנה. And many more basic Gemaros that don’t match up at all with this snail. Now, they’re providing sources from historical information and other scientific proofs. And then they come to the Gemaros. The tirutzim they have are very weak but might be okay, but they can for sure not bring any proof from any siman which the Gemara provides. So they say they have some other mefarshim that might sound like they’re referring to this snail, but why is this the way we learn and pasken? It just doesn’t make sense!
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