More than 50 exotic birds, including pygmy pouters, frizzles, Rhode Island reds, runts, silkies, the ring neck dove, the red jungle fowl, and everyone’s favorite, the melanistic mutant pheasant, will be on display Thanksgiving Day when the Orthodox Union’s “OU Kosher Coming” program, together with Yeshiva University’s Kollel Yom Rishon will present; “Encountering the Living Mesorah: Kosher Birds and their Mutations,” at Yeshiva University, Thursday, November 27 from 9:45 a.m.-12:00 noon in Furst Hall, Room 501, 500 West 185th Street.
The program is open to the public, not just the Yeshiva University community, and is the latest in a series in which OU Kosher rabbinic experts visit schools, synagogues or institutions, or play host to them at OU headquarters. Just last week, a YU class, the “Science of Chemistry: World of Torah” for non-science majors visited the Orthodox Union for a series of rabbinic presentations on the interaction of chemistry and kosher law. Now, “OU Kosher Coming” visits the YU campus, in a further strengthening of the ties between the University and OU Kosher.
In addition to the above-mentioned rare birds, more well-known varieties of the species will also spread their wings, including ducks, turkey, doves, quail, pheasant, pigeon, Cornish hen, and that Biblical favorite, quail.
According to Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran, Senior Rabbinic Coordinator and Vice President of Communications and Marketing of OU Kosher, “We are pleased to bring OU Kosher’s rabbinic experts to Yeshiva University’s highly acclaimed Kollel Yom Rishon program.”
The program will feature Rabbi Chaim Loike, the presenter in OU Kosher’s well received bird video, “Kosher Birds, Who Are They?” His session will be The Duck, the Turkey and Other New World Birds. Besides being a Rabbinic Coordinator at OU Kosher with a specialty in birds, Rabbi Loike is an instructor in practical shechitah at YU.
Other presentations will include two of the Orthodox Union’s renowned meat experts:
• The Definition of a Kosher Chicken, with Rabbi Nosson Goldberg, OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator and former OU Rav Hamachshir at Falls Poultry;
• Work Groups and Hands-On Explanations of the Species Discussed; and
• The Controversy Surrounding the Pheasant, with Rabbi Seth Mandel, OU Kosher Rabbinic Coordinator for Meat Facilities.
A question and answer session will follow.
For further information on bringing OU Kosher to your school or community, contact Rabbi Safran at safrane@ou.org, 212-613-8115.
The DVD on birds with Rabbi Loike as well as other OU Kosher educational DVDs may be obtained from Rabbi Safran at safrane@ou.org.