Every year around this time, I am reminded of a centuries-old mahloket surrounding a subject that most of us take for granted: the kashrut status of turkey. Particularly while teaching American colonial history in whose lore this bird features so prominently, I'm tickled by this controversy that is, in some ways, a uniquely "New World" phenomenon. Because turkeys are not indigenous to most places in Europe in which Jews had lived, but on the other hand it is not mentioned specifically parashat Shemini as a bird that is *not* kosher, rabbanim were faced with the North American challenge of establishing the status of this "new" bird. I've encountered two interesting online sources that trace this discussion from Chazal and through Rishonim and Aharonim:
(article) (audio)
Happy reading, Happy Thanksgiving, and have a great Shabbos!
(And don't worry, if your family - like most who keep kosher - eats turkey, you won't have your Thanksgiving world turned upside down!)
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