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Invasion of Locusts from Egypt to Israel Prompts Concern, Kashrut Discussion

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Locust Invasion
Locust Invasion
Things are heating up in Israel, and unfortunately that’s good for locusts. As a major heat wave (sharav) is set to strike Israel this week, authorities are preparing for a major invasion of Egyptian-origin locusts, many of which could reach the center of the country.

As Agricultural Ministry officials ordered more pesticide spraying of swarms of locusts Monday morning, several more large groups entered Israel from Sinai – ironically, Ministry officials said, above the Kerem Shalom crossing on the Gaza/Sinai border. The new swarm was likely to attack agricultural areas in southern Israel, as several swarms already in the country Sunday had done.

However, said officials, the plague could get much worse; the hot weather expected during the rest of the week was the “perfect storm” for a major invasion of locusts in the Sharon, and perhaps even further north. Southern winds will carry the swarms, and the winds will raise the temperatures in Israel significantly, making it easier for the locusts to jump, officials said.

Temperatures are expected to hover around 30 degrees Centigrade (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the week, with the height of the heat coming on Friday, with forecasters predicting temperatures as high as 36 degrees Centigrade (about 97 degrees Fahrenheit).

Spraying will resume Monday night in the hope of turning back at least some of the winged invaders, Ministry officials said.

The news of the locusts swarming through parts of Egypt and Israel has prompted many to wonder if these creatures are actually permissible to eat under the laws of kashrut. In particular, the “Ask The Rabbi” feature on the website of Yeshiva Ohr Somayach (ohr.edu) features the following discussion.

The Torah in Parshat Shmini says:

“Every flying insect that uses four legs for walking shall be avoided by you. The only flying insects with four walking legs that you may eat are those which have knees extending above their feet, [using these longer legs] to hop on the ground. Among these you may only eat members of the red locust family, the yellow locust family, the spotted gray locust family and the white locust family. All other flying insects with four feet [for walking] must be avoided by you.”

The four types of locusts stated in the Torah are known according to Yemenite tradition to be the following: The “red locust” [“Arbeh” in Hebrew] is called “Grad” in Arabic. The yellow locust [“Sa’lam” in Hebrew] is “Rashona” in Arabic. The spotted gray locust [“Chargol” in Hebrew] is “Chartziyiya” in Arabic. The white locust [“Chagav” in Hebrew] is called “Gandav” in Arabic. According to Yemenite tradition as recorded in the work Arichat Hashulchan, the locust called “Al j’rad” is Kosher, and has three Kosher sub-species all known by that name.

The Halachah regarding locusts is that one is allowed to eat a specific type of locust only if there is a “continuous tradition” that affirms that it is Kosher. It is not enough that the locust seems to conform to the criteria mentioned in the Torah. This does not mean that one must possess a ‘personal tradition’ in order to eat locusts. If one travels to a place where the people do have a tradition, the new arrival would also be allowed to eat them. Interestingly, the author of the Arichat Hashulchan points out that locusts were never really considered a ‘delicacy’ — rather they were generally food for the impoverished.

Someone may be wondering: “How does one actually eat locusts?” Not only do locusts not require ritual slaughter, but the Midrash in Shemot Rabba hints that the preferred way to eat locusts was to pickle them:

“Once the locusts came, the Egyptians rejoiced and said ‘Let us gather them and fill our barrels with them.’ Hakadosh Baruch Hu said ‘Wicked people, with the plague that I have brought against you, are you going to rejoice?!’ Immediately G-d brought upon them a western wind…and none were left. What does it mean that none were left? Even those that were pickled with salt and sitting in their pots and barrels were blown away….”

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