Bishul Akum: Difference between revisions

# A food that can be eaten raw may be cooked by a non-Jew for two reasons. First, the cooking does not really improve the food<ref>Rashi Meseches Beitzah 16a “ein”, Chochmas Adom 66:1, Bais Yitzchok 33:pages 565-566, Chelkes Binyomin 113:3, 5.</ref> because it can be eaten raw<ref>Meseches Shabbos 51a, Avodah Zarah 38a, Ran Beitzah page 8b “im tzolon”, Rosh Meseches Avodah Zarah 2:28, Rif page 14, Issur V’heter 43:2, Tur 113, Shulchan Aruch 113:1, Toras Chatos 75:16,  Levush 2, Chochmas Adom 66:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 38:6. Refer to Tosfas Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a “dagim”.</ref> (and not considered cooked).<ref>Rashi Meseches Beitzah 16a “ein buhem”,  Levush 113:2.</ref> Second, food which is edible raw is not an important food and one would not invite someone to his home to eat such foods.<ref>Ran Meseches Beitzah 8b “im tzolon”, Taz 113:1.</ref> Examples of such foods are beets,<ref>OU document A-110. Refer to the opinion of the Be’er Moshe quoted in Pischei Halacha (Kashrus) page 119:12 regarding borscht.</ref> cheese,<ref>Tosfas Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a “ika”, Darchei Teshuva 113:5, Kaf Hachaim 15. Refer to Bishul Yisroel pages 576-557 regarding processed cheeses.</ref> fruits,<ref>Refer to Shevet Ha’Levi 6:108:5. This is even if they are fried in sugar or honey (Aruch Hashulchan 13).</ref> honey,<ref>Tosfas Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a “ika”,  Rosh 2:28, Rambam Hilchos Machalas Asuros 17:23, Issur V’heter 43:5, Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 114:7, Aruch Hashulchan 113:13, Yalkut Yosef Y.D. 2:page 149, Shevet Ha’Levi 6:109.</ref> juice, ice cream, milk, (this will be discussed in a later issue), sugar cane,<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 23.</ref> zucchini and other vegetables,<ref>Refer to Rambam Hilchos Machalas Asuros 17:14, Shulchan Aruch 113:3. This is only if the vegetable is not cooked with meat that is bishul akum since the fat from the meat gets absorbed into the vegetable (Shulchan Aruch ibid, see G’ra 3, Darchei Teshuva 33-34, Chelkes Binyomin 33).</ref> and water.<ref>OU document A-110.</ref> Examples of foods that are not edible raw are asparagus, cauliflower, chicken, meat, potatoes, (this will be discussed in a later issue) and pumpkin.<ref>OU document ibid. </ref>

# The issur of bishul akum is limited to foods which are served on a king's table<ref>Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a, Rosh 2:28, Ran page 15, Rashba Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a, Rambam Hilchos Machalas Asuros 17:15, Tur 113, Shulchan Aruch 113:1,  Levush 3, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 38:6, Chochmas Adom 66:1, see Ritvah Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a. </ref> (oleh al shulchan melachim) and accompany bread (see below) (such as meat,<ref>Aruch Hashulchan 10. </ref> eggs, or fish)<ref>Rambam Hilchos Machalas Asuros 17:15, Ritvah Meseches Shabbos 51a, Meiri Meseches Avodah Zarah 35a. </ref> or as an appetizer.<ref>Rambam Hilchos Machalas Asuros 17:18, Issur V’heter 43:2, Tur 113, Bais Yosef, Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 113:1, Toras Chatos 75:16, Shach 112:5, Chochmas Adom 66:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 38:6, Chelkes Binyomin 113:12, Bishul Yisroel pages 180-181. Others say a dessert which is not eaten with bread is not a concern (Pri Chadash 114:6, Chasam Sofer 113:2, Kaf Hachaim 7), while others disagree (Refer to Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 113:1, Aruch Hashulchan 7, Darchei Teshuva 12). </ref> Only these types of foods are served at social gatherings and only then is there the concern for intermarriage.<ref>Rashba Toras Habayis 3:7. </ref> When there is no invitation, we are also not concerned that a non-Jew will mix non-kosher with kosher food.<ref>Chelkes Binyomin 113:3. Refer to Bishul Yisroel pages 130-131. </ref>

# There is a third, somewhat obscure exception, which permits food which does not change when it is cooked.<ref>The Shevet Ha’Levi 6:108:2 says this reason and the reason of edible raw is the same reason. Refer to the Pri Chadash 113:1. See Meseches Avodah Zarah 37b (bottom), Ohr Zeruah Meseches Avodah Zarah 2:191:page 53, Ha’go’es Ashri Meseches Avodah Zarah 2:28, Ran Meseches Avodah Zarah page 28 “rebbe”, Meiri Meseches Avodah Zarah 38a, Toras Chatos 75:16, Minchas Yaakov 75:32, Aruch Hashulchan  8. The Ran on page 15 (Meseches Avodah Zarah) says this third exception is not found in other Rishonim. See Darchei Moshe 113:3, Shach 113:1. </ref> However, most poskim maintain that this may not be relied upon to permit bishul akum.<ref>Issur V’heter 43:1, Shach 1, Be’er Heitiv 1, Pri Chadash 1, Pri Tohar 1, Aruch Hashulchan 9, Darchei Teshuva 14, Zivchei Tzedek 113:1, Kaf Hachaim 3, Chelkes Binyomin Biurim “davar” pages 60-61, Shevet Ha’Levi 2:43, Hamesivta 5754:pages 78-80.  Refer to Avnei Nezer Y.D. 96:1. </ref>