What About Gelatin?
Divine Code for November 7, 2022
Today: Page 274
Topic 6:1 -- 6:5
The prohibition of Eiver min ha'chai is about eating meat from an animal or bird while it is still alive in a way that is considered normal to consume the meat.
Although a Noahid must absolutely pay attention to the well being of an animal, and he is certainly not permitted by G-d to unnecessarily hurt an animal, or cut off a limb of a living animal, this meat - if it comes into his hands - may be used for other purposes. Consider, for example, bones and skins used to produce glue.
This brings us to the practical question of whether gelatin, which is made from the bones and skins of animals falls under Eiver min haChai when it is taken from a living animal.
To find the answer to this question, we looked at whether gelatin may be used in a Kosher Jewish kitchen.
The mefarshim discuss the kashrut of musk, derived from deer. While the Ba'al HaMeor prohibits it on the basis that it is based on collected blood, Rabbeinu Yonah allows it on the basis that it is now a new entity, unrelated to blood.
On this basis, some poskim wanted to allow gelatine because it is a "panim chadashot" - an entirely new product that is totally changed from the original bones and skins. Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and Rabbi Eliezer Waldenber both apply Rabbeinu Yonah's mild psak on gelatine given its altered form.
From this we can draw the conclusion - since it is permitted for Jews it is also permitted for non-Jews [in the light that there is always a heavier rule for Jews than for non-Jews] to use gelatin.
Reading schedule the Divine Code
Yesterday: Topic 5:16 - 5:19
Tomorrow: Topic 6:6 - 6:8
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners and intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
The Divine Code 4e edition by rabbi Moshe Weiner