QUESTION:  A few drops of fish juice fell into my chulent. They are clearly less than 1 part in 60. Is the chulent still acceptable?

ANSWER: With respect to the mixing of meat and milk, or kosher and non-kosher there is a well-known principle of bitul b’shishim, nullification in sixty parts. Thus, if an ounce of milk accidentally fell into sixty ounces of chicken soup, the milk is batel and the soup may be eaten.

Do the rules of bitul also apply to fish and meat, which are a concern of sakana (danger) rather than issur (prohibition)? This is a matter of dispute.

The Shach (Nekudas Hakesef, YD 116), Chochmas Adam (68:1) and Pischei Teshuva (116:3, citing many responsa) rule that just as bitul applies to meat and milk, it likewise applies to fish and meat. In contrast, the Taz (Y.D. 116:2) writes that the rules of bitul do not apply to sakana. According to the Taz, any amount of fish and meat poses a danger and is therefore forbidden.

Rav Belsky zt”l was of the opinion that the lenient view is primary. As such, the chulent in our question may be consumed. However, Rav Belsky zt”l added that there are individuals who follow the stringent view of the Taz and would refrain from eating the chulent. (To be continued...)

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.