- Halacha
- General Questions
draining/salting blood from meat in ancient Israel and today
Question
As you already know, Israel was commanded to abstain from eating blood (Genesis 9:4). What was the process of draining the blood in ancient Israel? I know a modern process involves heavily salting the meat to extract all of the blood, but the only process I could find in the Torah was to "pour it on the ground as water" (Deuteronomy 12:16; 15:23). It seems as if the ancient Israelites were able to kill and prepare an animal relatively quickly so the process must not have been that long or complex.
Answer
Even today, instead of heavy salting, waiting and washing, meat can alternatively be quickly roasted or grilled and the blood drips out, but there are special laws regarding the spit, grill and/or pan which absorb the blood. You are correct that this process is much quicker and was probably more common in Biblical times, but in today's modern kitchens, it's easier just to buy the meat already salted and ready for cooking.

Organic Rye flour after Pesach
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 10, 5782

Tomatoes cut with a treif knife
Rabbi David Sperling | Av 25, 5773

non-kosher compost
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 11, 5780

changing milk cutlery to meat cutlery
Rabbi David Sperling | Kislev 23, 5773

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Gentile Prophets
Adar II 25, 5771

baruch hamavdil
Adar I 23, 5771

Investing in firm selling Chametz
Adar I 23, 5771

Orlah fruit trees
Adar I 5, 5771

Throwing out bread
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 8, 5782

Jews and Santa Claus
Rabbi David Samson | 3 Shevat 5763

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Throwing out bread
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 8, 5782

Shema
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Kislev 13, 5784
What does this saying mean?
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Kislev 22, 5784
