Trusting Others for Kashrut

From Halachipedia

The principle of neemanut is that halacha deems certain individuals worthy to trust and rely upon with regards to Kashrut or for any matter. Generally, if a religious Jew tells you that something is kosher or not kosher you can trust them. How does that play out with regards to children, non-religious individuals, or non-Jews? Additionally, which hechsher can one rely upon?

Ed Echad Neeman Bissurim

  1. There is a Biblical principle that a single adult Jew is trust about the permitted or prohibited status of an object or food.
  2. This principle applies equally to men and women.[1]

Non-Religious

Mumar

Chashud

  1. Someone who is suspected of not eating kosher may not be trusted if he makes statement about the kashrut of something. Therefore, if you are invited to the house of someone who is suspected of eating non-kosher one may not eat anything which is subject to any suspicion.[2]
  2. Someone who sells non-kosher food as a though it is kosher, although it is a terrible sin religiously and monetarily to others, he can still be trusted about the kosher status of his food at home. Even though he is suspected of fraud in business that doesn't mean he will personally eat non-kosher. Therefore, if invited over one could eat his food.[3]
  3. Someone who is suspected in one area of halacha is only suspect in that area or in areas that require that halacha as a prerequisite, however, for unrelated halacha's he is trusted.[4]
  4. Someone suspected of a serious sin is also suspect of a lighter sin in terms of the Torah's system of punishments, unless the lighter sin is more serious in the eyes of people in which he isn't suspect of that sin.[5]
  5. parents, R Moshe

Someone with Unknown Reliability

  1. If there is someone who you do not know whether he is careful to only eat kosher or he is suspect to eat non-kosher one may rely upon his kashrut if invited to his house.[6]

Non-Jews

Hechsher and Mashgiach

  1. crc list, job of mashgiach, what does a hechsher certify
  2. In a place where they sell non-kosher meat they can't also kosher meat that isn't marked with a clear demarcation, such as a hechsher. It doesn't help that the merchant knows which pieces are kosher and which aren't.<ref>Igrot Moshe YD 3:18</ref.

Sources

  1. ↑ Tosfot Pesachim 4b s.v. heymnuhu, Rashba (Likutim Pesachim 4b s.v. hakol), Maharam Chalavah Pesachim 4b s.v. kiyvan, Ritva Pesachim 4b s.v. hiymninhu
  2. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 119:1, Bechorot 35a
  3. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 119:2. Shach 119:5 explains that although the person isn't careful about the sin of lifnei iver he is careful not to eat non-kosher himself.
  4. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 119:4
  5. ↑ Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 119:5
  6. ↑ Rama Y.D. 119:1
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