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Jews: Is it forbidden for a Non-Jew to help you cook kosher food?
- Thread starter Samantha
- Start date
The most important word in your question is "Help". Sure your friend can help you cook. The prohibition i s on a non-Jew dong all the cooking, because we have no way to know that they actually followed the rules of kashrut.
As the others mentioned, if you turn on the oven, you're OK.
You also should not leave meat or chicken unattended with a non-jew unless it has 2 signs that you could check to make sure that it's the same meat that you left there. This only applies if it's really not supervised.
As for the wine, the rule is a non jew may not touch uncooked wine. The easiest way to get around this is to use "cooked " wine. It will say "mevushal" on the bottle. If it's not mevushal, you will have a problem
As the others mentioned, if you turn on the oven, you're OK.
You also should not leave meat or chicken unattended with a non-jew unless it has 2 signs that you could check to make sure that it's the same meat that you left there. This only applies if it's really not supervised.
As for the wine, the rule is a non jew may not touch uncooked wine. The easiest way to get around this is to use "cooked " wine. It will say "mevushal" on the bottle. If it's not mevushal, you will have a problem
There is a set of laws called Bishul Akum, which is Hebrew for Non-Jews Cooking. They can get pretty intricate, but the basic idea is that non-Jews can't cook food that Jews will eat.
We can get around this law in several ways, however; the easiest way to get around it, and the way non-Jews can cook in a kosher restaurant, is that as long as a Jew turns on the fire or oven that the non-Jew will cook on, it's just fine.
Bottom line: a non-Jew can prepare any cold food, and as long as the oven is turned on by you or your mother, they can cook it.
We can get around this law in several ways, however; the easiest way to get around it, and the way non-Jews can cook in a kosher restaurant, is that as long as a Jew turns on the fire or oven that the non-Jew will cook on, it's just fine.
Bottom line: a non-Jew can prepare any cold food, and as long as the oven is turned on by you or your mother, they can cook it.
RemembertheUtah
New member
Quick answer, you should not ask a non-Jew to help prepare kosher food. You can not watch them 100% of the time and they could do something that will make the meal non-kosher either by intent or by accident. This is particularly important for the Shabbot meal.
Also, you are inviting them over as a guest therefore the polite thing to do is not make them work. You should give them the "Peace of Shabbot" and not require them to do anything that could be considered work under any definition.
Also, you are inviting them over as a guest therefore the polite thing to do is not make them work. You should give them the "Peace of Shabbot" and not require them to do anything that could be considered work under any definition.
justwondering
New member
It is not forbidden at all.
There is nothing in the torah that prohibits on non-jew from aiding in cooking, or even doing all of the cooking. Most observant jews only require that a jew contribute to the cooking process, and this is purely a rabbinical thing.
Here is how this comes about.
1. To ensure no violation of the laws of kashrut.
As jews are required to keep kosher, and non-jews are not, there is usually worry over whether or not food prepared by a non-jew is actually kosher. This has to do with whether or not the person followed the laws of kashrut in the preparation of the food, and nothing to do with the person themselves. It's assumed a jew would be more inclined to follow these laws han a non-jew....of course this is a huge assumption. Many jews don't keep kosher and wouldn't think twice about cooking your potato pancakes in a pan they just fried bacon in.
So on this end, if the food was to be prepared by a non-jew, a jew would usually be required by the rabbis to supervise. This has turned into a misconception that jews may not eat food cooked by non-jews, or that jews have to be involved in the actual cooking process.
2. Food and socialization go together. The most common interpretation of the Torah holds that jews are not to marry non-jews. To prevent the possibility of a jew and non-jew falling in love, many rabbis simply discouraged the mixing of jews and non-jews in a restaurant setting.
So, you would not be violating anything by having your friend over for Shabbos and having her help with the cooking. What a wonderful opportunity for her to learn about Judaism.
There is nothing in the torah that prohibits on non-jew from aiding in cooking, or even doing all of the cooking. Most observant jews only require that a jew contribute to the cooking process, and this is purely a rabbinical thing.
Here is how this comes about.
1. To ensure no violation of the laws of kashrut.
As jews are required to keep kosher, and non-jews are not, there is usually worry over whether or not food prepared by a non-jew is actually kosher. This has to do with whether or not the person followed the laws of kashrut in the preparation of the food, and nothing to do with the person themselves. It's assumed a jew would be more inclined to follow these laws han a non-jew....of course this is a huge assumption. Many jews don't keep kosher and wouldn't think twice about cooking your potato pancakes in a pan they just fried bacon in.
So on this end, if the food was to be prepared by a non-jew, a jew would usually be required by the rabbis to supervise. This has turned into a misconception that jews may not eat food cooked by non-jews, or that jews have to be involved in the actual cooking process.
2. Food and socialization go together. The most common interpretation of the Torah holds that jews are not to marry non-jews. To prevent the possibility of a jew and non-jew falling in love, many rabbis simply discouraged the mixing of jews and non-jews in a restaurant setting.
So, you would not be violating anything by having your friend over for Shabbos and having her help with the cooking. What a wonderful opportunity for her to learn about Judaism.
tattoomomkc
New member
I found this fascinating -- thanks for the education!
I really like learning about food + religion, so please forgive my interruption. I did want to say thanks.
Who, in their right minds, would thumb down the people who answered this question?
I really like learning about food + religion, so please forgive my interruption. I did want to say thanks.
Who, in their right minds, would thumb down the people who answered this question?
CindyComesBack
New member
If the Jew turns on the oven or starts the fire then the non-Jew can cook. This is done in many kosher restaurants.
There is a prohibition on non-Jews touching kosher wine though, that there really isnt any getting around.
There is a prohibition on non-Jews touching kosher wine though, that there really isnt any getting around.