The Chicken Soup Correspondence

A couple of days ago I received a communication entitled 'A question for the Learned Elders of normblog'. Having no expertise myself on the subject to which it referred, I post below the responses that came from two eminent authorities.

The question:

Dear Elders

A disputation has arisen amongst thine unworthy followers and disciples. One disciple holds that it is the 'dill and garlic' in chicken soup that give it its medicinal properties. I, oh elevated ones, argue that garlic and dill, when it comes into proximity with a pot of chicken soup, might as well be pig's feet in a creamy shrimp sauce, and that the only ingredients in chicken soup apart from water are a) a boiling hen, b) carrots, c) onions, d) schmaltz, e) a Tomer stock cube to help things along, and f) the sweat of a Jewish mother's brow. Some mention celery but they are apostates.

Let the rabbinical council begin.

In humble obedience to your rulings, as ever.

Linda

The first response:

Lefi Shamai (le-chumra): dill and garlic render chicken soup treif, and adding schmalz is grounds for being put in cherem. Lefi Hillel (le-kula): dill and garlic are permissible but not required; Hillel agrees with Shamai on the schmalz. Rabbi Yosef claims that only chicken, carrots and onion are allowed, while Rabbi Ishmael requires felafel. The Rambam argues that lentil soup is to be preferred to chicken soup on Shabbat and Chagim. Sefaradi minhag, as formulated in Rabbi Yosef Karo's original version of the Shulchan Aruch, goes according to the Rambam. Ashkanazi minhag has specified, in Rabbi Moshe Iserles' adaptation of the Shulchan Aruch, that chicken soup as defined by Beit Hillel is chova (obligatory) for Shabbat and all Jewish festivals. The Chief Rabbinate of Israel adopts both of these minhagim. The Chief Rabbi of Britain has banned chicken soup because of the fear of bird flu (Pikuach Nefesh). 'Independent Jewish Voices' allow weak chicken soup without spices if eaten out of the sight of gentiles and Zionists. The Neturei Karte only gives its hechsher to soup made from chickens imported from Iran. The Lubavitch insist that the cook is obliged to sing Nigunim inspired by the Rebbe while preparing chicken soup. The Bratslaver rule that only dead chickens from Ukraine may be used. Shaas disallows chicken soup entirely, classifying it as avodah zarah (idolatrous practice) that the Ashkenazim introduced from pagan European sources. Yeshiva University offers 27 distinct varieties of chicken soup in its fleischik (meat) cafeteria, each bearing a distinct hechsher. The issue continues to be a topic of intense Rabbinic debate.

Shalom

The second response:

Ahhh, such SCHOLARSHIP, it's a blessing to behold, and all by itself it will cure boils!

However, in matters of medicinal soup a Jewish mother's word is paramount. And, as a Jewish mother the sweat of whose brow has provided the stock for many a curative soup, I can tell you that if we're talking medicinal, then dill and garlic are an abomination. Likewise celery (the celery is probably anti-Semitic - at least, it'll have to prove that it isn't). In fact the mother's sweat alone (plus the concomitant worry and hysterics) will do the curative stuff all by itself. But if you want the soup to actually taste nice, then a hen, carrots, onion, and schmaltz as per your recipe will certainly do the business. You ought also to be aware that it is possible to make a highly curative vegetarian chicken soup. It involves lentils, of course - it may be that they undergo transubstantiation into a chicken in the pot, with the mother's tears as the catalytic agent, but we leave that kind of theorizing to our goyshe friends. But on no account must you omit the maternal worry.

Eve

An expression of gratitude and a suggestion:

Thank you for your rulings. Although I am myself without rabbinical status, I would venture that a true chicken soup is made from two parts Jewish mother's love to one part Jewish mother's injunction not to eat too much of it or you'll never find a husband.

Linda

A late footnote:

You've forgotten the bit about washing it down with a nice slice of bread.

Eve

An even later objection:

I object to the sexist assumptions that are informing the commentaries of my learned colleagues. Jewish fathers have legitimate standing on these questions too.

Shalom

Me, I'm not getting my fingers burned. What do I know from cooking? I leave such matters to the other Elders, who don't have to worry about cricket.