✦ ❖ ✦ D A A T · L E V E L 3 — S Y N T H E S I S / R E V I E W ✦ ❖ ✦
Siman 113 — Food Cooked by Non-Jews (Bishul Akum): Kings' Tables, the Jew's Role, and Maachal Ben Drusai
דִּינֵי בִּשּׁוּלֵי עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים
The 2 conditions (not eaten raw + kings' table), the Jew's role (שגירה / הדלקה / חיתוי / הנחה), מאכל בן דרוסאי, and salting / smoking / pickling are not "cooking"
Structured review, master grid, fast memorization
Source: Shulchan Aroukh, Yoreh De'ah קי״ג — 16 seifim
Nossei kelim: ש״ך (Shach) · ט״ז (Taz) · פר״מ (Pri Megadim) · פתחי תשובה (Pithei Teshuva)
Compiled by: הרב יוסף חיים סממה · DAAT
For students who have mastered Levels 1 and 2
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📑 Outline of the synthesis
- The axiom: the 2 conditions of the prohibition of בישולי עכו"ם
- The 3 reflex questions: eaten raw · kings' table · did the Jew take part
- The master grid: the 2 conditions and the grid of the Jew's role
- The 5 golden rules
- Mnemonic — the "BISHUL" memory aid
- The 4 classic pitfalls
- Recap of the 16 seifim — one line each
- Final flashcard
1. The axiom: the 2 conditions of the prohibition of בישולי עכו"ם
The starting point:
Siman 113 (the counterpart of 112 on bread) deals with food cooked by a non-Jew (בישולי עכו"ם). The Sages forbade it out of concern for closeness / intermarriage (חתנות) — and "שמא יאכילנו דברים אסורים". But the prohibition applies only if two conditions are met (seif 1): the thing is not eaten raw (אינו נאכל כמו שהוא חי) AND it comes onto the table of kings (עולה על שלחן מלכים) to accompany bread or as a delicacy (פרפרת). Both met → forbidden "אֲפִלּוּ בִּכְלִי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל". One missing → permitted.
| Condition | If yes | If no |
|---|
| Not eaten raw (אינו נאכל חי) | 1st condition of the prohibition met | Eaten raw → no בישול עכו"ם (permitted) |
| Kings' table (עולה על שלחן מלכים) | 2nd condition of the prohibition met | Unimportant food → permitted (e.g. roasted legumes) |
| Jew's utensil / home | Does not ease: the prohibition stands | Does not ease: the prohibition stands |
💡 The marker: this siman does not speak of a "milk / meat" mixture but of the identity of who cooks. Two locks: raw-inedible and kings' table. Lift either one → the prohibition falls. And the reason is closeness (חתנות): that is why an unimportant food, not served to guests, does not enter the decree.
2. The 3 reflex questions
■ EATEN RAW? (נאכל כמו שהוא חי) — is the food eaten as is, raw? If yes → permitted even cooked by a non-Jew (seif 1). Eaten raw only with difficulty (ע"י הדחק) = like not eaten raw → enters the prohibition (seif 12, 15).
↓ we look at the importance
■ KINGS' TABLE? (עולה על שלחן מלכים) — is the food worthy of being served to distinguished guests (to accompany bread / as a delicacy)? If not → permitted (e.g. roasted peas, ערבשי"ן). Both conditions met → forbidden as בישולי עכו"ם (seif 1-2).
↓ we look at the Jew's part
■ DID THE JEW TAKE PART? (בישולי ישראל מעט) — did the Jew cook a little (start or end: kindle, stoke, place, stir, turn)? If yes → permitted, even if it would not have cooked without the non-Jew (seif 6). The non-Jew's unintentional cooking → also permitted (seif 5).
⚖ The grid of the Jew's role (seif 6-7)
Anything a Jew cooked a little (start or end) is permitted (seif 6). But which act of the Jew suffices to lift the prohibition? The Mehaber (seif 7) requires placing (הנחה): kindling the oven or the fire changes nothing for dishes (שגירה counts only for bread). The Rama / the custom: kindling the fire, stoking the coals (חיתוי) or throwing a chip of wood (קיסם) suffices as for bread — even a חיתוי without intent, and even if the non-Jew merely kindled his fire from a Jew's fire.
3. The master grid: the 2 conditions and the Jew's role
An absolute must to memorize. Basis: Mehaber seifim 1-7, read with the Rama, the Taz (s.k. 1-7) and the Shach (s.k. 1-11).
| Jew's act | Mehaber (Sephardi) | Rama (Ashkenazi custom) |
|---|
| שגירה — kindling the oven |
🔴 Counts only for bread, not for dishes |
🟢 Helps for dishes too (like bread) |
| הדלקה — kindling the fire |
🔴 Does not suffice for dishes |
🟢 Suffices (the custom) |
| חיתוי — stoking the coals |
🔴 Does not suffice (only placing) |
🟢 Suffices, even without intent |
| קיסם — throwing a wood chip on the fire |
🔴 Does not suffice |
🟢 Suffices (helps the cooking) |
| הנחה — placing the pot / the pan |
🟢 Required: the Jew places the food on the fire |
🟢 Helps a fortiori |
| The non-Jew kindles his fire from a Jew's fire |
🟡 (not addressed by the Mehaber) |
🟢 Permitted (יש אומרים, the custom) |
| בישולי ישראל מעט — the Jew stirs / turns |
🟢 Permitted (start or end) |
🟢 Permitted, even if it would not have cooked without the non-Jew |
📌 Key reading: for the 2 conditions, ask eaten raw? then kings' table? — both are needed to forbid. For the Jew's role, the divide is sharp: Maran requires הנחה (placing), the Rama is content with kindling / stoking / a wood chip. And the non-Jew's unintentional cooking is always permitted.
4. The 5 golden rules
- The two conditions. Forbidden only if (a) not eaten raw AND (b) worthy of the kings' table; otherwise permitted (Mehaber seif 1).
- עיקר / שומן בעין. A mixture of raw + non-raw → follows the essential part (עיקר); but fat in substance (בעין) is not nullified — פנאד"ה and vegetables cooked with meat are forbidden (seifim 2-3).
- בישולי ישראל מעט. Any participation of the Jew (start or end, even a little) lifts the prohibition, even if it would not have cooked without the non-Jew (seif 6). And the non-Jew's unintentional cooking is permitted (seif 5).
- מאכל בן דרוסאי. It suffices that the Jew brought the food to a third of cooking (the non-Jew may then put it back / finish); and any doubt of בישול עכו"ם → lenient (ספק דבריהם להקל) (seifim 8-11).
- מליחה / עישון / כבוש ≠ בישול. Salting, smoking and pickling are not "cooking"; only cooking by fire was forbidden (seif 13).
5. Mnemonic — the "BISHUL" memory aid
"B-I-S-H-U-L" — after the בישול of the siman
- Brute-inedible raw: 1st condition — the food is not eaten raw (otherwise permitted).
- Importance / kings' table: 2nd condition — עולה על שלחן מלכים (otherwise permitted).
- Shituf of the Jew: בישולי ישראל מעט — any participation (start or end) lifts it.
- Hadlaka / חיתוי: for the Rama, kindling-stoking-a wood chip suffices (Maran: הנחה).
- Up to a third cooked: מאכל בן דרוסאי by the Jew suffices; doubt → lenient.
- Lightly salted / smoked / pickled ≠ cooking: מליחה / עישון / כבוש do not count.
The ladder of "eaten raw" (seif 12-15)
- Small salted fish → like partly cooked; roasted by a non-Jew = permitted
- Large salted fish (eaten ע"י הדחק) → forbidden (יש מתירין)
- Salted meat (not eaten raw at all) → forbidden if cooked by a non-Jew
- Egg · bitter dates (eaten ע"י דוחק) → forbidden if cooked by a non-Jew
6. The 4 classic pitfalls
❌ Pitfall 1 — Thinking one condition suffices: you need both — not eaten raw AND kings' table. A fruit eaten raw stays permitted even cooked until it melts into a dish (hence the פובידל"א / povidl, seif 2); and roasted legumes (peas, ערבשי"ן) are permitted because they do not come onto the kings' table (Rama seif 2). Never forbid on a single condition.
❌ Pitfall 2 — Forgetting שומן בעין: בישול עכו"ם is nullified in a majority (cross-ref 112), but fat in substance (בעין) is not nullified. The פנאד"ה (filled pastry) is forbidden even for one who is lenient on bread, because the fat soaks into the dough; and vegetables eaten raw cooked with meat are forbidden because the meat's fat soaks into them (seif 3).
❌ Pitfall 3 — Confusing the Jew's acts: for the Mehaber, kindling the oven (שגירה) counts only for bread; for a dish, the Jew must place (הנחה) the pot at the spot fit for cooking. The Rama / the custom broadens it: kindling, stoking (חיתוי), throwing a wood chip (קיסם) suffices — even without intent. This is the modern application of the mashgia'h who lights the fire in a restaurant (seif 7).
❌ Pitfall 4 — Extending "cooking" to salting / smoking / pickling: salting (מליחה), smoking (עישון) and pickling (כבוש) are not "cooking" — מליח אינו כרותח, מעושן אינו כמבושל, כבוש אינו כמבושל — for only cooking by fire was forbidden (seif 13). But beware: what is eaten raw only with difficulty (large fish, salted meat, egg, bitter dates) is forbidden if cooked by fire by a non-Jew (seif 12, 14, 15).
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
7. Recap of the 16 seifim — one line each
| Seif | Topic | The essential |
|---|
| 1 | The 2 conditions | A thing not eaten raw AND that comes onto the kings' table (to accompany bread / פרפרת), cooked by a non-Jew — even in a Jew's utensil and home — is forbidden as בישולי עכו"ם. |
| 2 | Mixture · עיקר | Raw + non-raw cooked together: follows the essential part (עיקר) → forbidden if the essential bears the reason. Rama: roasted peas / ערבשי"ן permitted (not kings' table); except a pan smeared with fat. Fruit eaten raw, even melted into a dish → permitted (פובידל"א). |
| 3 | פנאד"ה · שומן בעין | פנאד"ה forbidden even for one lenient on bread, since fat בעין is not nullified and soaks into the dough; vegetables eaten raw cooked with meat → forbidden (the fat soaks in). |
| 4 | The maidservants | יש מי שמתיר the cooking of our maidservants, יש מי שאוסר even בדיעבד. Rama: בדיעבד we rely on the lenient; and even לכתחילה the custom is lenient in a Jew's home (impossible that no member of the household stirs a little). |
| 5 | לא נתכוון לבישול | Cooking without intent to cook → permitted (fire in a marsh where locusts cooked; a singed head). But if he aimed at cooking (heated the oven to cook, meat inside unbeknown to him) → forbidden. |
| 6 | בישולי ישראל מעט | Whatever a Jew cooked a little (start or end) is permitted: turned the meat, stirred the pot, or the Jew stirred and the non-Jew finished. Rama: even if it would not have cooked without the non-Jew's help. |
| 7 | שגירה / חיתוי / הנחה | Mehaber: שגירה counts only for bread; for dishes, only הנחה (the Jew places). Rama (יש חולקין): kindling the fire or חיתוי helps as for bread; even without intent; and even the non-Jew who kindles from a Jew's fire → permitted. |
| 8 | Removing and putting back | The Jew placed and removed, a non-Jew put it back → forbidden, unless it had reached מאכל בן דרוסאי (a third of cooking) when removed. |
| 9 | בישל עכו"ם כמאב"ד | The non-Jew cooked to מאכל בן דרוסאי and the Jew finished → there is room to forbid, except on Shabbat / Yom Tov eve or great loss. יש מתירין in all cases — and such is the custom. |
| 10 | Dying coals | The Jew placed it on dying coals (גחלים עוממות) unfit to cook to מאב"ד, a non-Jew turned it and it cooked → forbidden. |
| 11 | ספק בישול עכו"ם | The Jew placed it, let a non-Jew watch; he turned it, and it is unknown whether he removed it before מאב"ד → permitted (ספק דבריהם להקל). Likewise any doubt of בישול עכו"ם → permitted. |
| 12 | Salted fish | Small salted fish = like partly cooked → roasted by a non-Jew permitted. Large fish (eaten ע"י הדחק) → forbidden; יש מתירין. Rama: anything eaten raw with difficulty = like large fish; salted meat (not eaten raw) → forbidden. |
| 13 | מליחה / עישון / כבוש ≠ בישול | Fish salted by a non-Jew, smoked fruits made edible → permitted: מליח אינו כרותח, מעושן אינו כמבושל. Rama: כבוש (pickled) is also not like cooked — only cooking by fire was forbidden. |
| 14 | The egg | An egg, though fit to be gulped raw, if a non-Jew cooked it → forbidden. |
| 15 | Bitter dates | Somewhat bitter dates eaten only with difficulty, if a non-Jew cooked them → forbidden. |
| 16 | Utensils · the sick on Shabbat | Utensils in which a non-Jew cooked before us → require הכשר; יש אומרים they do not; earthenware (כלי חרס) → three הגעלות suffice (the prohibition has no root מן התורה). Rama: a non-Jew who cooked for a sick person on Shabbat → permitted after Shabbat even to a healthy person (there is a היכר). |
8. Final flashcard
| Question | Reflex answer | Source |
|---|
| Food cooked by a non-Jew: forbidden? | Only if not eaten raw AND kings' table | Mehaber seif 1 |
| Roasted legumes / fruit melted into a dish? | Permitted (not kings' table / eaten raw) | Rama seif 2 |
| פנאד"ה / vegetables cooked with meat? | Forbidden: שומן בעין is not nullified | Mehaber seif 3 |
| Unintentional cooking by a non-Jew? | Permitted (לא נתכוון לבישול) | Mehaber seif 5 |
| The Jew stirred / turned / placed? | Permitted (בישולי ישראל מעט) | Mehaber seif 6; Rama seif 7 |
| Does kindling / stoking suffice? | Maran: no (הנחה); Rama: yes (חיתוי / קיסם) | Mehaber + Rama seif 7 |
| The Jew brought it to a third of cooking? | מאכל בן דרוסאי suffices; doubt → lenient | Mehaber seif 8, 11 |
| Salted / smoked / pickled by a non-Jew? | Permitted: this is not "cooking" | Mehaber + Rama seif 13 |
| Egg / bitter dates cooked by a non-Jew? | Forbidden (eaten only with difficulty) | Mehaber seif 14-15 |
| Utensils in which a non-Jew cooked? | הכשר (earthenware ×3); no root מן התורה | Mehaber seif 16 |
⚖ The reflex in 3 questions
- The 2 conditions? Not eaten raw AND kings' table → forbidden. Otherwise permitted.
- Did the Jew take part? Cooked a little / placed (Maran) or kindled-stoked (Rama) → permitted; even a third of cooking (מאב"ד) suffices.
- Which process? Cooking by fire = within the decree; salting / smoking / pickling = outside the decree.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
🎓 Recap of the study path
| Level | Content | Acquired |
|---|
| 🌱 Level 1 — Base |
Text of the 16 seifim, translation, clear tables |
Overall understanding |
| ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan |
Yesod of the 2 conditions (חתנות), the שומן בעין, the שגירה / הנחה / חיתוי machloket, מאכל בן דרוסאי |
In-depth study |
| ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis |
Master grid, golden rules, mnemonic, pitfalls, recap of the seifim |
Practical mastery + review |
💡 Suggested next steps:
- Re-read Siman קי״ג in the original Choulhan Aroukh (Hebrew) with the Shach and the Taz
- Study the adjacent Simanim: 112 (bread of non-Jews / פת), 115 (milk and butter / חלב), 118-119 (testimony, מומר), 122 (utensils / הכשר)
- Delve into Avoda Zara 38a (the yesod of בישולי עכו"ם, חיתוי and מאכל בן דרוסאי)
- Discuss personal cases with a Rav (industrial dishes, certified restaurant, coffee and tea, eggs) — the halacha le-ma'aseh is decided with a Rav
📖 Sources of this siman on Sefaria:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAAT · הרב יוסף חיים סממה
תלמיד חכם · מעביר שיעורים בהלכה ובחסידות
סימן קי״ג · Level 3 — Synthesis / Review · דיני בישולי עובדי כוכבים
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