Fortunately, Israel is now allowing non-Israeli citizens who have first-degree relatives in the holy land to come visit and enjoy some genuine Israeli gourmet food – locusts!
A shiur attended by hundreds was held in Bnei Brak on Wednesday night on the signs of kashrus of locusts as stated in Parshas Shemini.
It should be noted that Ashkenazim never had a mesorah for which locusts were unkosher and therefore were not permitted to eat them. Teimani Jews have a mesorah for which locusts are kosher.
The shiur was delivered by HaRav Yehudah Machpoud, the grandson of HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Machpoud.
Over 200 people attended the fascinating shiur, which was richly illustrated through the presence of a display of locusts and locust products, such as locust granola, candied locusts, dried locusts, and locust powder: in plain flavor, chocolate flavor and walnut flavor.
One participant even videoed himself at the end of the shiur eating locusts with great enthusiasm!
Rav Yehudah Machpoud told B’Chadrei Chareidim: ” There are those who think that the consumption of locusts resulted from poverty. And it’s true that whenever there was a plague of locusts, it would threaten the produce and it would result in a shortage [of food] and poverty. But eating locusts wasn’t the result of poverty.”
“Locusts are very unique in their nutritional value. They contain high levels of animal protein and also amino acids, omega 3 and 6, iron, zinc, folic acid and calcium.”
“In comparison, dairy products, meat, and fish are about 25-30% protein and also contain fat and salt that don’t contribute to health. And locusts are about 75% protein, without any additives. For this reason, there’s a demand in the food industry for locust powder as a very beneficial supplement.”
“It’s important to know that in Morocco, for example, they would cook special dishes [with locusts] for new mothers to provide them with strength. They would give locusts to sick people whose immune systems were low, as well as infertile women. And locust powder is the remedy for fatigue, weakness, and hair loss – all signs of protein deficiency.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
Insanity 101!
Any other Ashkenazim out there about to lose his/her lunch?
ברוך שעשני אשכנזי and am spared from having to consume to disgusting looking item to pass “rite of age” ritual.
Oh so gross…
yeech! not everything that may be kosher is desirable….
Your comment that “It should be noted that Ashkenazim never had a mesorah for which locusts were unkosher and therefore were not permitted to eat them” is not universally accepted as accurate.
If one community has a mesorah that something is Kosher and another has a mesorah that it’s not, it’s clear that those who have a mesorah that it’s not can’t consume it. However, if one community has a mesorah that something is Kosher and another has no mesorah one way or another (possibly on acccount of that particular item not being found in their community), there are many shitos that those without a mesorah can rely on the mesorah of the other community.
This is the case with respect to locust – Teimanim (and certain other Eidot HaMizrach) have a mesorah with respect to which ones are Kosher, while Ashkenazim have no mesorah one way or the other. As such, there are respected Poskim who allow Ashkenazim to consume Kosher locust.
an Israeli Yid
Although the article states, “Ashkenazim never had a mesorah for which locusts were unkosher ” technically, the Ashkenazim once had a mesora to eat certain locust and then they lost it – as Ashkenazi Jews also received the same torah that teimani jews received. at some point ashkenazi jews (and many others) lost this mesora.
Though bizarre to our current norms, we must not look at it with disgust as it’s 100% kosher and thus inherently befitting for consumption according to the Torah / Hashem’s value system. That said, I couldn’t touch it with a 3 foot pole… maybe the powder…
It’s a good source of protein.
“It should be noted that Ashkenazim never had a mesorah for which locusts were unkosher and therefore were not permitted to eat them. Teimani Jews have a mesorah for which locusts are kosher.”
It’s actually that Ashkenazim never had a ‘direct mesorah’–a tradition given over father to son, as to exactly which locusts were to be considered kosher–though there’s little dispute, basically speaking, as to which are ‘actually’ kosher — by the signs on their bodies as directed by the Torah — similar to land animals and fish. Most Teimani Jews have always maintained this ‘father to son’ direct tradition throughout the generations, this is why they are considered kosher for them, and not for other Jews.
Locusts are generally found in Africa and the middle east. They only made it to Europe during times of swarms of locust. So the reason why ashkenazic Jews lost the Mesorah is that rarely did locust make it to areas populated by Ashkenazim.
I’LL TAKE A RAIN CHECK!