Bishul Yisrael

Bishul Yisrael is a Hebrew term, for one of the laws of kashrut (kosher food) in Orthodox Judaism. The rule prohibits eating certain foods if they are cooked entirely by non-Jews. [cite web|url=http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-issues-bishul.htm|title=Star-K Kosher Certification - Kosher Consumer|publisher=www.star-k.org|accessdate=2008-05-15|last=|first=] The term "bishul Yisrael" (literally "cooking of Israel" - i.e., by a Jew) is the opposite of "bishul akum", (cooking of a non-Jew), which the rule forbids. ("Akum" (עכו"ם) is an acronym of "Ovdey Kochavim U'Mazalot" (עובדי כוכבים ומזלות), literally "worshippers of stars and zodiac signs", but is actually a term for non-Jews). [cite web|url=http://www.shemayisrael.co.il/j/keepingkosher/chap1.html|title=Keeping Kosher in a Non-Kosher World|publisher=www.shemayisrael.co.il|accessdate=2008-05-15|last=|first=]

This rule is part of a set of decrees instituted by the rabbis of the Talmud to prevent intermarriages with non-Jews. [ [http://koltorah.org/ravj/12-16%20Bishul%20Akum.htm Bishul Akum at koltorah.org] ] The purpose of the rule is explicitly to inhibit socializing with non-Jews. The prohibition of "bishul akum" applies to a formal meal prepared exclusively by non-Jews, even if the situation was one which had no other kosher food problems. [ [http://www.oukosher.org/index.php/articles/single/14/ OU Kosher | Playing with Fire, by R. Yaakov Luban] ]

The prohibition applies only if the food is prepared "exclusively" by non-Jews. [ [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/475726/jewish/Is-a-non-Jew-permitted-to-turn-on-the-oven.htm Is a non-Jew permitted to turn on the oven or stove? - Kosher Q&A] ] A small amount of Jewish participation can suffice to keep the food kosher. [ [http://koltorah.org/ravj/12-16%20Bishul%20Akum.htm Bishul Akum at koltorah.org] ] Different rabbis have different views on the absolute minimum: Sephardi poskim state that the minimum participation is to light the fire and place the pot on it to cook, while Ashkenazim are satisfied with merely lighting the fire, or even making a slight adjustment to a fire which was already lit by a non-Jew. [ [http://koltorah.org/ravj/12-16%20Bishul%20Akum.htm Bishul Akum at koltorah.org] ]

The law applies only to foods which, according to the Talmud, are "fit for a king's table" (and could not be eaten raw). [ [http://koltorah.org/ravj/12-16%20Bishul%20Akum.htm Bishul Akum at koltorah.org] ] Foods which would not be served at a state dinner are exempt from "bishul akum", and are kosher even if cooked totally by non-Jews, provided that all the other requirements of kosher food are met. [ [http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-issues-bishul.htm Bishul Akum at star-k.org] , The White House State Dinner Policy] Maimonides explains that this prohibition was originally decreed in order to avoid a Jew being invited over by a non-Jew for a meal (which may lead to intermarriage), and people do not invite each other for dinner over food which is not "fit for a King's table" (Maimonides, Ma'akhalot Asurot 17:15).

In contemporary observance, the mashgiach, along with supervising food preparation, typically helps start the stove and/or provides other participation in the cooking sufficient to ensure that the rule of "bishul Yisrael" is complied with. [ [http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-issues-bishul.htm Bishul Akum at star-k.org] .] In situations where bishul akum would present a problem, our Chachomim have instructed us that this disqualification can be avoided by having the observant Jewish homemaker or a mashgiach, a kosher supervisor, perform an integral part of the cooking process, such as turning on the fire. When a Yehudi, an observant Jew, assists in the preparation, we say that the food is prepared through bishul Yisroel.

In Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism does not observe the rule of Bishul Akum. [ [http://www.schechter.edu/askrabbi/kashrut_cookingnonjew2.htm Kahrut Cooking by a non-Jew, at Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies - SIJS] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.star-k.org/kashrus/kk-issues-bishul.htm Laws of Bishul Akum at star-k.org]
* [http://oukosher.org/index.php/articles/single/14/ Playing With Fire] Introduction to "Bishul Yisrael" from the Orthodox Union
* [http://www.aish.com/literacy/mitzvahs/ABCs_of_Kosher.asp Broad Overview of Kosher Concepts including Bishul Akum]
* [http://koltorah.org/ravj/12-16%20Bishul%20Akum.htm Laws of Bishul Akum at koltorah.org]

ee also

*Kosher foods
*Kashrut
*Cholov Yisroel
*Pas Yisroel
*Kosher wine