For the source text click/tap here: Chullin 97
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According to Jewish law, if the amount of kosher food is so overwhelming that the non-kosher food does not affect its taste, we apply the concept of bittul – nullification – and the food is deemed kosher.
The Gemara on today’s daf suggests two methods that will allow us to determine whether the non-kosher food has become nullified –
kefeila – by having an expert, non-Jewish cook tastes the food
shishim – by measuring the mixture and ascertaining that there is 60 times more kosher food than non-kosher food.
Different suggestions are offered to explain why we rely on a non-Jewish expert cook in this case, while we ordinarily only trust Jews with regard to issues of kashrut.
We explore Bishul Akuma and bits be-shishim halachot.