Bishul Akum: Difference between revisions

Bishul Akum (Hebrew: בשול עכו"ם, tran. ''cooking of a non-Jew'') is a rabbinic restriction that forbids a Jew from eating many foods that a non-Jew cooked. The reason for the restriction is to prevent intermarriage and to avoid eating non-kosher ingredients mixed in. There are many leniencies that relate the quality of the food or the significance of the cooking for the particular food in question. Additionally, a Jew is partially involved in the cooking process this can alleviate the issue of ''bishul akum''. This is a key reason for the need to have a hashgacha on many foods even though all of the ingredients are kosher.

#The rabbis<ref>This gezeirah is d’rabanan in nature (Meseches Avodah Zarah 38b, Yerushalmi Meseches Avodah Zarah 2:8, Ran Meseches Avodah Zarah page 28 “rebbe,” Rosh Meseches Chullin 3:61,  Issur V’heter 43:1, Rambam Hilchos Machalas Asuros 17:9, Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 113:16, Aruch Hashulchan 113:1, Sdei Chemed mareches bais page 133:69, see Teshuvos V’hanhagos 3:247 who seems to say there is a semach to a d’oraisa and therefore one should be very careful with these halachos).  Refer to Kav Hayosher 75:5. </ref> enacted a decree forbidding food that was cooked by a non-Jew.<ref>Meseches Avodah Zarah 35b.</ref> However, it is permitted to derive benefit from the food.<ref>Meseches Avodah Zarah 38b. </ref>

#If a non-Jew cooks a food which ''is'' edible raw then it is permitted even if it is shipped to a country where it is not eaten raw.<ref>Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita as expressed in OU document A-88, see Pri [[Chadash]] Y.D. 113:22, Shiurei Beracha 113:1, Kaf Hachaim 113:11. Refer to Shevet Ha’Levi 9:163. The reason for this is since the food is edible raw in one place there is no certainty that it will not be edible raw in the place where it is shipped since it is many days from when the food is made and the food may be dry. </ref> This is not a common issue as a food which is edible in one country is usually edible in a different country as well.<ref>OU document A-88 </ref>

#If a non-Jew prepared a food which ''is not'' edible raw in a country where it is not served on a king's table and shipped it to a country where the food is fit to be served on a king's table the food is forbidden because of [[bishul]] akum.<ref>Refer to [[Bishul]] Yisroel (teshuvos) pages 31-32. See OU document A-131.</ref> If the situation is reversed, and a non-Jew prepared a food which is not edible raw and it is fit to be served on a king's table in that country, then the food is forbidden even if it is shipped to a country where it is not eaten on a king's table.<ref>Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita as expressed in OU document A-88, opinion of Harav Falk Shlita as expressed in [[Bishul]] Yisroel (teshuvos) pages 31-34 in depth.  Refer to Shiurei Beracha 113:7, Ben Ish Chai Chukas 2:12, Chaim Shaul 1:74:6, Kaf Hachaim 113:20, Kerem Ephraim pages 62-63, [[Bishul]] Yisroel pages 61-62. In regard to tortillas see Dinei Machalei Nuchrim pages 93-101 in depth. </ref>

===Important Person===

==Types of Food==

===Frozen===