[Avodah] What is bishul Akum?

[Prof. L. Levine]

The following is from today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis


A. Chazal forbade certain foods cooked by an aino-Yehudi. (In a future Halacha Yomis we will discuss which foods are included in this restriction.) Such food is known as bishul Akum. Rashi offers two reasons for this decree. First to diminish fraternization, which might lead to intermarriage (Rashi, Avoda Zara, 35b). Secondly, an aino-Yehudi may add non-kosher ingredients to the food as it is being cooked. By requiring the involvement of a Yehudi in the cooking process, the kosher integrity of the food is more easily safeguarded (Rashi, Avoda Zara 38a).


It is clear from the Talmud that if a Jew contributes to the cooking process, the food is treated as bishul Yisroel and not bishul Akum. What level of Jewish involvement is necessary for the food to be permissible? According to Rav Yosef Cairo (Shulchan Aruch YD 113:7), this participation must consist of a Yisroel putting the food on the fire. Sefardim follow this opinion. However, Ashkenazim follow the opinion of Rema that if a Yisroel turns on the fire, or even adjusts the fire, this is considered bishul Yisroel and the food may be eaten.


Professor Yitzchok Levine

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