Is it ok for children to be exposed to pictures of non-kosher birds or bees?
Question:
Regarding children not being exposed to non-kosher animals, is there an issue with pictures of birds (for example, this wallpaper)?
And for that matter, every time a children’s book includes non-Kosher birds flying in the sky/background, is that an issue?
Also, are pictures of a bee OK? Bees themselves aren’t a Kosher food, but their honey is Kosher.
Answer:
In general, birds are also included in the Rebbe’s directive that Jewish children should be exposed only to kosher animals.
However, in this particular case, the birds could be considered Kosher, since we can’t see any “simanim” of impurity.
Bees are included in the Rebbe’s directive, since it’s a שרץ העוף.
P.S. Honey is Kosher because it’s not produced by the bee itself; it’s simply stored in its body.
Sources:
שיחת כ’ מרחשון תשד”מ, לקו”ש כה’ ע’309.
בכורות דף ז ע”ב.
See also here at length:
#3807
