[Avodah] Meat Before Fish

[Prof. L. Levine]

>From today's OU Kosher Halacha Series

Q. I know that it is customary to not eat fish and meat together, but it is okay to eat one after the other. I have seen fish served before meat but never meat served before fish. Is there a reason for this specific sequence?

In halacha, there is no difference between eating fish and then meat or meat and then fish. In both instances one should cleanse their mouth in between by having a bite of bread and drinking a beverage. According to the Shulchan Aruch (YD 116:3) if the meat or fish were touched with one’s hands, the hands must be washed in between, but if a fork was used, there is no need. According to the Rama (ibid.), there is no need to wash one’s hands either way, as long as the hands appear to be clean. So, why is the custom to always serve fish first?

Rav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l (Kuntres Shmiras Haguf V’hanefesh) addresses this issue. He explains the common custom of eating fish before meat by referencing the Rambam in Hilchos De’os (4:7). The Rambam writes that if a person intends to eat two foods, the one that is lighter and easier to digest should be eaten first. For example, chicken should be eaten before meat. Since fish is lighter than both chicken and meat, it is customary to serve fish first at the beginning of a meal.

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