Rambam In-Depth: Why Non-Jewish Milk is Forbidden
A class by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah: Any milk found in the hands of a Gentile is forbidden lest non-kosher animal milk was mixed in.
by COLlive Editor · COLliveRabbi Heschel Greenberg has launched a new series of classes on the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah in response to the Rebbe’s call to learn at least one halacha in depth.
The Rebbe initiated a major effort to unite all Jews with the study of the entire encyclopedic work, Mishneh Torah, by learning three chapters a day and completing the entire work in less than a year. Alternatively, one can learn one chapter and complete the entire Mishneh Torah in close to three years. The Rebbe also gave a third option to study Maimonides’ companion work, Sefer Hamitzvos that parallel the Mishneh Torah.
In addition, the Rebbe requested that we learn one halacha in depth.
We recently began the 46nd cycle of Mishneh Torah which inspired Rabbi Greenberg to record brief classes on selected passages of the Mishneh Torah.
Rabbi Heschel Greenberg is a shliach of the Rebbe in Buffalo NY and the Director of the Jewish Discovery Center, and, for over 50 years, has taught thousands of classes on all aspects of Jewish knowledge.
Rabbi Greenberg has also authored dozens of works on diverse subjects including several volumes of commentary on the Mishneh Torah.
Many of Rabbi Greenberg’s classes can be accessed on his website rabbigreenberg.com.
In today’s fast-paced world of industrial food production and endless kosher questions, one seemingly simple halachic ruling continues to spark profound debate: the Rambam’s prohibition of chalav akum – milk milked by a non-Jew. What looks like a straightforward kashrus safeguard actually opens a window into the very nature of rabbinic decrees, logical presumptions, hidden traditions, and the delicate relationship between practical observance and emunah (faith in Hashem). Whether you follow strict chalav Yisrael, rely on chalav stam, or are simply curious about how medieval wisdom applies to supermarket dairy aisles, this episode delivers thorough, multi-layered analysis that respects every major opinion while exploring nuances, edge cases, and spiritual implications.
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