TB Bekhorot 6 Why milk still needs rabbinic certification

The Mishnah on daf TB Bekhorot 5b teaches a very important kashrut law. “that which emerges from the non-kosher animal is non-kosher and that which emerges from the kosher animal is kosher.” (Sefaria.org translation) We can logically deduce that camel’s milk isn’t kosher because a camel isn’t a kosher animal and cow’s milk is because a cow is a kosher animal.

The Gemara on daf TB Bekhorot 6 makes a strong argument why cow’s milk should also be considered nonkosher if not for God’s intervention. Two different reasons are provided. The first argument is the milk is converted from blood. Of course, we know already that we are forbidden to eat blood. “The milk originates from the blood, which is forbidden for consumption, as the Master said that the reason a nursing woman does not experience menstruation is because the blood is spoiled and becomes milk.” (Sefaria.com translation) Of course, the rabbis didn’t know modern biology.

The second argument stems from the prohibition of eating a limb severed from a live animal, ever min hakhai-עבר מן החי. “since generally speaking there is nothing that comes from a living animal that the Merciful One permits, and yet this milk of a kosher animal is similar to a limb severed from the living and is nevertheless permitted, the permissibility of milk is a novelty of the Torah” (Sefaria.org translation) The milk comes out of the cow’s udder and could be considered severed from the limb.

Although there is no scriptural proof that cow’s milk is indeed kosher, the Gemara provides three proofs that it is. They are:

“Rather, proof may be brought that milk is permitted from the fact that it is written: “And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and maintenance for your maidens” (Proverbs 27:27). According to the verse, goats’ milk serves as food, and therefore must be kosher.

“The Gemara rejects the proof: But perhaps the verse is referring to selling the milk as merchandise and using the money to buy food, and not to consuming the milk itself. Rather, proof may be brought from the fact that it is written with regard to Jesse’s instructions to his son David upon sending him with provisions for his brothers, who were at war against the Philistines: “And these ten cheeses you shall bring to the captain of their thousand” (I Samuel 17:18), which indicates they ate dairy products.

“The Gemara rejects this proof as well: But perhaps this verse too means the captain can sell the cheese as merchandise. The Gemara responds: Is that to say that it is the norm during war to engage in commerce? Clearly the cheese was meant for consumption, which proves it is permitted to eat dairy products.

“And if you wish, say instead that proof may be brought from here: The Torah praises Eretz Yisrael as: “A land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:17), and if milk was not permitted, would the verse praise the land to us with an item that is not suitable for consumption? And if you wish, say instead a proof from here: “Come, buy, and eat; and come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1).” (Sefaria.org translation)

Although cow’s milk is kosher, it still needs rabbinic supervision. I learned before modern farm milking procedures, when the farmer’s milk production didn’t meet the required quota, the farmer would add other animal’s milk to the container. Sometimes he would use pig’s milk. Once the pig’s milk was added to the barrel all the contents became trief.

Nowadays when no human hands touch the milk as it goes from the cow to a metal container, I once thought that milk really didn’t need rabbinic supervision anymore. I was wrong. When I was a rabbi in Springfield, MA, one of the local milk producers lost their rabbinic certification. I inquired why. I learned the milk was kosher; however, to fortify it with some vitamin which I don’t remember they used an extract from sharks. Of course, sharks are not kosher and that extract made the entire run of milk trief. The consumer has to be careful for the milk may be kosher but not what is added to fortify it. That is why even today milk needs rabbinic certification.