25 Oct HALACHOS RELATED TO FISH

 There are many halachos that apply to fish, such as what beracha is recited on fish sticks, breaded fish, and gefilte fish. In addition, why do we eat fish on Shabbos and Yom Tov? Are there any borer issues with fish on Shabbos? All these questions and others will be discussed in this issue.

Fish were created some 5783 years ago. We find many references to fish in Tanach. Fish are protected from ayin hara. Yaakov bentched Yosef’s sons that they should multiply like fish. The Bnei Yisroel ate fish in Mitzrayim. Some say that fish are not subject to ayin hara, so a dish prepared from several fish varieties brings good luck. Fish are symbolic of fertility in the Chumash, as Yaakov bentched Yosef and his sons by saying: “May they increase in the land like fish.” We all know of the story of Yona who was swallowed by a fish. One of the gates of Yerushalayim was called the Fish Gate.

Beracha on Fish

The beracha on items which do not grow from the ground or on a tree is a shehakol. Accordingly, the beracha on fish is a shehakol. 

Beracha on Fish Sticks

A question arises regarding which beracha to recite on fish that are fried with breadcrumbs. If the breading is thick, some say that a mezonos should be made on the breading and a shehakol on the fish, while others say that only a mezonos is recited. If there is a thin coating, then a shehakol is recited even if the breading serves to give taste to the fish. If one is unsure, then a shehakol and a mezonos should be recited on other foods to exempt the fish and the breadcrumb coating. The same halachos would apply to fish sticks.

Breadcrumbs are frequently added to gefilte fish as an extender. The beracha is shehakol. (If the breadcrumbs serve to add taste, a mezonos would be made, but this is not normally the case). 

Eating Fish on Shabbos

The customof Klal Yisroel is to eat fish on Shabbos. Many reasons are offered for this custom. Some say that just like fish have their eyes opened, Hashem opens His eyes to those who fear Him and has compassion on them. Others explain that water is the source of life for fish, and Torah, which is comparable to water, is the source of life for Klal Yisroel. Eating fish reminds us that we should devote Shabbos for learning of the Torah. Furthermore, the daled and gimel of dagim represent the four forefathers and the three emahos. Also, the mon, which did not fall on Shabbos, is called gad, which are the letters of Dag (fish). Hashem blessed three things at their creation: fish on the fifth day, man on the sixth day, and Shabbos. When people eat fish on Shabbos it brings these three blessings together in “a three-stranded cord that does not break easily.”

Shalosh Seudas

The poskim say that one should eat fish at all three Shabbos meals. Tuna fish is routinely served at shalosh seudos; this is sufficient and considered as fish. 

Muktzah – Fish

A raw food that is fit for animal consumption is still muktzah on Shabbos and may not be moved.[23] Frozen raw fish is muktzah and may not be moved in the freezer.

Many people keep aquariums with fish. Some say that it cannot be moved with the fish on Shabbos since it is muktzah.

Borer and Fish

Borer on Shabbos is a very complex issue. Therefore, we will limit our discussion to its application to fish. It is prohibited to remove bad items from good items on Shabbos. There is a discussion among the poskim if borer is permitted while eating. Some permit it, though the custom is to be stringent. Nonetheless, one who does so while he is eating should not be rebuked. This has ramifications when eating fish on Shabbos that contains bones (such as carp, whitefish and some herrings).

According to the stringent opinion, one would be required to eat the flesh (good) from the bones (bad), and not remove the bones before eating the flesh. To avoid these issues, the custom of many people is to eat gefilte fish (filled fish) on Shabbos, since they do not contain bones. They are usually made with a variety of different kinds of fish.

Fish and Adar

The zodiac sign of the month of Adar is fish. When Haman plotted the genocide of the Jewish People, he consulted the stars to see which month would be the most propitious for his murderous plan. He found that the month of Adar, whose sign is Dagim contained no special merit for the Jews. He surmised that, just like a fish, he could “swallow” his prey. The fact that death had “swallowed” Moshe on the seventh day of Adar lent support to his hypothesis. However, Haman had forgotten two small points: Moshe was also born on

the seventh of Adar, and although fish can swallow up their prey, they can also get swallowed up by bigger fish. This is exactly what happened to Haman and his crew – all their plans were turned upside

down, and Haman and his family were hung on the exact same gallows which he had prepared for Mordechai.