Q & A
Animals, Human Beings & Blood
What is the status of human blood? Is it the same as animal blood?
- Shulchan Aruch (YD 66:10) writes that human blood is permitted. Therefore, one may
swallow the blood from a cut in the mouth. - However, once the blood leaves the mouth, it is forbidden to ingest the blood because of
maris ayin (appearance of sinning), as human blood looks similar to animal blood. - As such, if someone bleeds while biting into an apple, the bloody part of the apple should
not be eaten. - The Rama adds that if the blood is mixed into food & is no longer apparent, the food can
be consumed. - The Pri Megadim (Sifsei Daas 66:16) explains that the food is permissible even if there
is no bitul borom (a majority of non-blood). - Since human blood is intrinsically permitted, if the blood cannot be discerned, there is no prohibition of maris ayin.
I cut my finger.
Am I permitted to put my finger in my mouth or is that included
in the issur of maris ayin giving the impression that one is sinning?
- The Gemara (Kerisos 21b) states that if one has a cut in their mouth, the blood may be swallowed.
- Although human blood is not considered non-kosher, one may not consume human blood because of maris ayin (appearance of wrong doing).
- Why, then, is there no issue of maris ayin with swallowing blood from a cut in the mouth?
- There are 2 explanations given by poskim as to why this is permitted. Rashi (Kerisos 21b) explains that since the blood never left one’s mouth, no one can see that there is blood
being swallowed. - The Be’er Sheva (siman 16) questions this approach, since the general rule is
that maris ayin is forbidden even if no one is watching. Instead, he explains that since it is obvious that the blood originated in the mouth, this serves as a heker (indication) that it is human blood. Because there is a heker, even if people can see what he is doing, it is
permitted. - Minchas Yaakov (62:25) writes that a practical difference between Rashi
& Be’er Sheva would be whether one may suck a bleeding finger. According to Rashi
this should not be allowed, but according to Be’er Sheva this would be permitted. - Minchas Yaakov points out that Tosfos (Kerisos 21b) permits one to suck on a bleeding finger& this would support Be’er Sheva.
- Rav Shamai Gross (Karnos Tzadik, 1992) shows that the consensus of poskim is to be lenient & some even hold that Rashi permits this as well.
May I take a snack before feeding my dog?
-
The Magen Avrohom (167:18) writes that it is forbidden to taste any food before feeding
one’s animals. - However, the Taz (OC 167:7) infers from the wording of the Gemara in Brachos (40a)
that a snack would be permitted. - Furthermore, the Taz argues that this can be inferred as well from the pasuk which is the
source of this obligation:'And I will provide grass in your field for your animals & you will
eat & be satisfied' (Devarim 11:15). - Animals must be fed before one eats a full, satisfying meal, but a snack can be eaten even beforehand.
- The Ksav Sofer (OC 32), as well as many other poskim, points out that the ruling of the
Taz does not seem to fit with the Gemara (Gittin 61a) which states that one may not taste
any food before feeding one’s animals. - Therefore, one should follow the ruling of Magen Avrohom & even a snack should not be
eaten before feeding one’s animals.
When I brush my teeth, I sometimes see blood on the brush.
Must I rinse it off or is it fine to continue using it?
- Rav Chanoch Padwa, zt”l (Kol Hatorah, 2001) writes that blood on a toothbrush is
forbidden & should be rinsed. Although the intent in this case is not to swallow the blood
but to continue brushing, the prohibition of maris ayin applies. - Although one could argue that the toothbrush itself should serve as a heker (indication)
that the blood came from the mouth, Rabbi Padwa does not view this as a strong enough indication. - As evidence, he notes that residual blood that remains after biting into an apple is forbidden, even though there are bite marks on the apple which indicate that the blood originated from
the mouth. - In any event, the concern of blood on a toothbrush is limited to blood that is obvious.
- However, blood that is mixed with toothpaste & saliva and is no longer recognizable as
blood, is not an issue. - The Rama makes this point in YD 66:10, where he writes that since the prohibition of human blood is because of maris ayin & if mixed with other substances, it is nullified & permitted.
Is fish blood Kosher?
- Blood from a kosher species of fish is permitted & there is no requirement to salt the fish
or wash the blood away (Shulchan Aruch YD 66:9). - However, if the blood separated from the fish & gathered in a bowl, it is forbidden to
consume it because of maris ayin,as fish-blood looks similar to animal-blood. - However, it is permissible if there is a clear indication (such as scales in the blood) that
this is fish blood. - Rebbi Akiva Eiger (YD 66:9) indicates that the scales must be mixed with the actual
blood. It would not be sufficient to place fish scales or pieces of fish around the bowl. Furthermore, Rebbi Akiva Eiger questions whether the scales must be in the bowl
together with the blood the entire time. If initially the blood did not contain scales, he is
uncertain whether it would help to mix them in later.
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