Renewed debate over the kashrus status of conventional broiler chickens has once again stirred discussion in the Torah world, prompting a direct inquiry to one of the generation’s foremost halachic authorities. During a recent visit to Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Rav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani, Av Beis Din of Kesser Torah, sought clarification on the issue amid a fresh campaign challenging the permissibility of commonly consumed poultry.

The question arose during Rav Zafrani’s visit to Rav Sternbuch’s home, where the dayan raised concerns about the renewed efforts by certain groups to discourage consumption of standard broiler chickens and revive support for the Brakel breed as the preferred alternative.

Rav Zaafrani reviewed the background of the controversy, reminding Rav Sternbuch of the heated debate that erupted several years ago when advocates of the Brakel chicken sought to promote its use while casting doubt on the status of conventional poultry commonly found in Jewish homes.

He noted that at the time, Rav Sternbuch issued a clear and unequivocal ruling permitting the continued consumption of standard broiler chickens without concern. Rav Zafrani further recalled that Rav Sternbuch had taken the unusual step of dispatching a knowledgeable representative to personally investigate the relevant shechitah and kashrus procedures, ultimately confirming that there was no basis for concern.

The dayan also informed Rav Sternbuch that he had relied on that ruling when authoring his own halachic works and had published the permissive ruling in his seforim based on Rav Sternbuch’s guidance.

In light of recent advertisements and public campaigns once again calling for the prohibition of conventional poultry and generating concern among consumers, Rav Zafrani asked whether there had been any change in the halachic assessment and whether Rav Sternbuch continued to stand by his original position.

Rav Sternbuch responded immediately and emphatically, declaring: “מה שהיה – היה.”

With those words, Rav Sternbuch made clear that his original ruling remains fully in force. According to the account of the meeting, he reaffirmed that the accepted broiler chickens consumed throughout the Torah-observant community remain permissible, and that the longstanding ruling relied upon by many leading rabbanim continues to stand without modification.

His response was widely interpreted as a decisive rejection of renewed attempts to cast doubt on the kashrus of conventional poultry and as reassurance to the public that there is no need to be alarmed by the latest wave of claims surrounding the issue.

{Matzav.com}