Kosher Food Packaging for Deliveries: Difference between revisions

There is a disagreement among Medieval Rabbis about how to understand a seeming contradiction in Rav's opinion<ref>Avodah Zarah 31a and Avodah Zarah 39a-b</ref>regarding the number of seals which are needed.<ref name=":0">Rabbeinu Tam and Rashba on Avodah Zarah 39a say that the distinction is that if one is using a non-Jewish delivery person, then one seal is needed, but if one was using a delivery person who is a Jew who is suspect to eat non-Kosher food, then two seals are needed. Tosfot on Avodah Zarah 39a says that the distinction is that if you are using a non-Jewish messenger, but you can see the product on both sides of his delivery, then only one seal is needed. However, according to Tosfot, if there are different Jewish people on the two ends of the delivery, then two seals are needed. Rambam in Hilchot Maachalot Asurot 13:10, Aruch HaShulchan Y.D. 118:2, and Shach Y.D. 118:3 says that the distinction is about what food products are being sent and what level the concern about their Kashrut reaches. To the Rambam and the others listed here, if the food presents a DiOrayta Kashrut concern, two seals are needed. If, however, the food only presents a DiRabbanan concern, only one seal is needed.</ref> The Shulchan Aruch holds that if the food presents Kashrut concerns on a DiOrayta level, then two seals are needed. However, other food would only require one seal.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 118:1</ref> The Shulchan Aruch nevertheless cites other opinions which are more stringent when it comes to which situations require two seals.

# If you get food delivered in a wooden or metal box, and the cover is attached with nails- that is considered a seal, because it is very hard to open that type of closure.<ref>Aruch HaShulchan Y.D. 118:19</ref>