From the ruling of the Mehaber and the Rama, to the arbitration of the Taz, the Shach, the Pri Hadash
and the Pitchei Teshuva, all the way to the contemporary Sephardic and Ashkenazi poskim
Subject:
שולחן ערוך יורה דעה סימן קי״ז (סעיף אחד)
עם נושאי הכלים: ט״ז, ש״ך, פרי חדש, פרי תואר, פתחי תשובה
⚠ Level disclaimer:
This level is not "Da'at HaRav": the Shulchan Aruch HaRav
(the Admur HaZaken) does not cover Yoreh De'ah, hence not Siman 117.
It is a level of practical psika: what one does, and whom to ask.
Writing and iyun:
הרב יוסף חיים סממה · DAAT
How to read this level. Every statement is anchored either in the text of the Shulchan Aruch and its nossei kelim (Taz, Shach, Pri Hadash, Pri Toar, Pitchei Teshuva), or in a named responsum of the poskim. On Yoreh De'ah there is neither a Mishnah Berurah (which comments only on Orach Chaim), nor a Shulchan Aruch HaRav / Da'at HaRav (the Admur HaZaken did not write the YD). Every concrete application (le-ma'asse) concludes with the referral to your Rav: real cases blend factual details (the exact nature of the product, the intention, whether it is de-oraita or de-rabbanan, the legal structure of the investment) that only a posek who sees your situation can decide.
כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁאָסוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמֻּתָּר בַּהֲנָאָה, אִם הוּא דָּבָר הַמְיֻחָד לְמַאֲכָל — אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹ סְחוֹרָה (וְכֵן אָסוּר לְהַלְווֹת עָלָיו, וַאֲפִלּוּ לִקְנוֹתוֹ לְהַאֲכִילוֹ לְפוֹעֲלָיו).
חוּץ מִן הַחֵלֶב, שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר בּוֹ « יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה ». וְאִם נִזְדַּמְּנוּ לַצַּיָּד חַיָּה וְעוֹף וְדָגִים טְמֵאִים — מֻתָּר לְמָכְרָם, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִתְכַּוֵּן לְכָךְ.
הגה: וְצָרִיךְ לְמָכְרָהּ מִיָּד ; וְכֵן מֻתָּר לִגְבּוֹת דְּבָרִים טְמֵאִים בְּחוֹבוֹ מִן הַגּוֹי, דַּהֲוֵי כְּמַצִּיל מִיָּדָם. וְאָסוּר לִמְכֹּר נְבֵילָה בְּחֶזְקַת כְּשֵׁרָה. וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין אִסּוּרוֹ אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם — מֻתָּר לַעֲשׂוֹת בּוֹ סְחוֹרָה.
The principle. Anything forbidden by the Torah, even if permitted in benefit (mutar be-hana'a), if it is an item designated as food (davar ha-meyuchad le-maachal) → it is forbidden to trade in it (sechora) (likewise: to lend against it as collateral, or even to buy it to feed one's workers).
Except for the chelev (forbidden fat/suet), for it is said of it "יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה" (it may be used for any work). And if a hunter/fisher (tzayad) happens upon impure animals, birds or fish → he may sell them, provided he did not intend to do so.
Rama: he must sell it immediately (miyad) ; and one may collect a debt in impure items from a non-Jew, since it is like rescuing from their hand (ke-matzil mi-yadam). But it is forbidden to sell a neveila represented as kosher. And anything whose prohibition is only rabbinic (mi-derabbanan) → trading in it is permitted.
— Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 117:1 · basis: the sugya of Pesachim כ״ג and the responsum of the Rashba · Sefaria YD 117:1
The Taz (s.k. 1) objects: in Pesachim כ״ג, the prohibition of trading in forbidden things is presented as de-oraita, derived from the verse "לכם — שלכם יהא" (regarding chametz and neveilot: "it shall be yours", for your use, and not as an object of trade). Hence a fundamental chakira: is the issur sechora a mere rabbinic decree (Rashba) or a de-oraita din (Taz)? This root governs the scope of the prohibition — it is the axis of Level 2, and it weighs le-ma'asse (see §3).
Siman 117 has only one seif (a single seif), but it must be broken into seven rules: the Mehaber lays the framework (the prohibition, its extension to collateral lending and to workers, the chelev exception, the incidental case of the tzayad) ; the Rama (hagaha) glosses ("miyad", ke-matzil mi-yadam, the prohibition of fraud "be-chezkat kesheira", and the leniency of the rabbinic case). Here is the overall map, as it emerges from the text itself.
| Rule | Topic | Psak (anchored in the text) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The principle (sechora) | Forbidden to trade in a davar ha-meyuchad le-maachal forbidden de-oraita, even mutar be-hana'a. Reason (B"Y in the name of the Rashba): gezera shema yavo le-echol. Taz s.k. 1: per Pesachim כ״ג, de-oraita ("lachem — shelachem"). |
| 2 | Lending on collateral (lehalvot alav) | Likewise forbidden to lend against such a food as collateral (Terumat HaDeshen sim. ר': "mechu'ar" ; and per the Rashba's reason, a real prohibition). |
| 3 | Buying to feed one's workers | Even buying it to feed one's non-Jewish workers is forbidden (Hagahot Maimoni). But Shach / Pri Hadash (via PT s.k. 4): buying to feed is not "ke-ein sechora" — a nuance to set out. |
| 4 | The chelev exception | Permitted, for "יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה": the Torah authorized it for any use. Likewise the dam, hukash le-mayim (PT s.k. 1). |
| 5 | The incidental case (nizdamnu la-tzayad) | A tzayad (professional hunter/fisher) who happens upon impure animals, or one to whom a neveila/treifa falls, may sell them — provided he did not intend to. Taz s.k. 3: only the tzayad whose trade it is. |
| 6 | miyad · ke-matzil mi-yadam · chezkat kesheira | Rama: sell at once (miyad), without waiting for it to fatten. Collecting a debt in impure items from a non-Jew → permitted (ke-matzil mi-yadam, Rashba). But forbidden to sell a neveila be-chezkat kesheira (fraud — Choshen Mishpat רכ״ח). |
| 7 | Forbidden only mi-derabbanan | Anything whose prohibition is only rabbinic → trading permitted be-chol gavna (Taz s.k. 4: "miyad" and "shelo yitkaven" apply only to the de-oraita case). |
Le-ma'asse (the root of the prohibition). Whether one holds the issur sechora to be a rabbinic decree (Rashba) or a de-oraita din (Taz), the practical conclusion is the same for the de-oraita case: one does not trade in a food forbidden by the Torah. But the precise scope (a product not meant to be eaten? a mere shareholding? a doubtful prohibition?) depends on this root. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
| Item | Designated for food? | Sechora | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impure animals/birds/fish (meat) | Yes (meyuchad le-maachal) | Forbidden (de-oraita) | Mehaber ; Shach s.k. 1 |
| Horses, donkeys, camels (stamam le-melacha) | No (for work) | Permitted — not meyuchad le-maachal | Shach s.k. 1 |
| Fats for smearing hides / lighting (R"T) | No (for use) | Permitted | Shach s.k. 1 in the name of R"T |
| Pig (chazir) | Yes — and all of it is forbidden | Forbidden entirely (mishum ma'aseh she-haya) | Shach s.k. 1 |
Le-ma'asse (meyuchad le-maachal). The dividing line is the item's normal use: meyuchad le-maachal → sechora forbidden ; designated for work or industrial use → permitted (except the pig). But qualifying a modern product (additive, by-product, derivative) as "designated for food" or not is a question of fact and definition. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
Le-ma'asse (collateral / feeding). Hold the line: lending on collateral, or buying-to-resell a food forbidden de-oraita → forbidden ; buying to feed (without trade intent) → several poskim are lenient. Whether a concrete operation (a secured loan, a bulk purchase, feeding animals) counts as "trade" or simple use is a question of fact. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
| Exception | Reason | Practical consequence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| chelev (forbidden fat) | "יֵעָשֶׂה לְכָל מְלָאכָה" — the Torah authorized it for use | Trade permitted (industrial uses: soap, candles, etc.) | Mehaber ; Taz s.k. 4 |
| dam (blood) | הוקש למים — likened to water | Trade permitted (likewise ever min ha-chai) | PT s.k. 1: Pri Toar, Noda BiYehuda, Chatam Sofer |
| Forbidden only mi-derabbanan | Its prohibition is only rabbinic | Trade permitted be-chol gavna ; no "miyad" nor "shelo yitkaven" | Rama ; Taz s.k. 4 |
Le-ma'asse (the exceptions). Three gates of leniency: the chelev (for industrial use), the dam (hukash le-mayim), and any prohibition that is only rabbinic (trade permitted). But qualifying a modern product — "is it a de-oraita or de-rabbanan prohibition? is it a non-food derivative like chelev?" — demands precise examination. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
Le-ma'asse (the incidental). If a forbidden product falls to you by chance (goods received, a non-conforming lot), you may dispose of it at once — without having sought it and without waiting to add value. But qualifying "incidental / intentional" and "at once" in a real operation (stock, delivery, resale delay) is a question of fact. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
Le-ma'asse (debt / fraud). Recovering a debt in forbidden products from a non-Jew is permitted (ke-matzil mi-yadam) ; but it is forbidden to present as kosher what is not (Choshen Mishpat רכ״ח) — including in a label, a hechsher, or a commercial description. Whether an operation is a "collection" or a "trade", and what constitutes a misleading presentation, are questions of fact and law. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
Method note. The responsa that follow (Yabia Omer, Yalkut Yossef) extend the principles of siman 117 above to modern cases. They are not in the corpus of the siman ; they are cited as recognized streams of psika, to be confirmed with a Rav before any application.
| Concrete case | Sephardic orientation (to verify) |
|---|---|
| Trading in treif / neveila / food forbidden de-oraita | Forbidden (davar ha-meyuchad le-maachal) ; one does not monetize such stock. |
| Product forbidden only mi-derabbanan | Trade permitted be-chol gavna (Taz s.k. 4) ; leniency adopted. |
| chelev / dam / non-food by-product | Trade permitted (ye'aseh le-chol melacha ; hukash le-mayim). |
| Buying to feed (workers, animals) | Not trade → lenient (Shach / Pri Hadash) ; reselling to a Jew → forbidden (Ba"h). |
Method note. Same remark: these streams extend the Rama and the nossei kelim ; they are cited as reference points of psika, to be confirmed with a Rav.
| Concrete case | Ashkenazi orientation (to verify) |
|---|---|
| Trading in a food forbidden de-oraita | Forbidden (gezera shema yavo le-echol / de-oraita per the Taz). |
| Incidental (nizdaman) | Sell at once (miyad), reserved for the professional and without intent. |
| Collecting a debt in forbidden products | Permitted (ke-matzil mi-yadam), from a non-Jew. |
| Presenting neveila as kosher | Forbidden — fraud (Choshen Mishpat רכ״ח). |
| Modern case | Tool of the siman | Orientation (to confirm with the Rav) |
|---|---|---|
| Investing in / holding a non-kosher business (shares of pork or seafood companies, a treif restaurant, a food-truck) | The principle (sechora on a davar ha-meyuchad le-maachal de-oraita) | This is the heart of the prohibition: to trade, oneself or through one's company, in a food forbidden de-oraita is forbidden. The structure (holding, stake, control) changes the analysis — to examine. |
| Selling treif / neveila / chametz she-avar alav ha-Pesach | The principle + mi-derabbanan / de-oraita | Food forbidden de-oraita → forbidden. Chametz she-avar alav ha-Pesach (forbidden de-rabbanan per many) may fall under the rabbinic leniency (Taz s.k. 4) — but this depends on the qualification, to be decided. |
| Presenting it as kosher (label, hechsher, description) | chezkat kesheira (Choshen Mishpat רכ״ח) | Absolutely forbidden: passing off as kosher what is not is fraud. |
| Pet-food / feeding workers containing neveila | Buying to feed (Shach / Pri Hadash, PT s.k. 4) | Buying to feed (animals, employees) is not trade → several are lenient ; but reselling it is sechora (Ba"h). |
| Non-food by-products (suet → soap/candles ; blood ; industrial gelatin) | Exceptions (chelev, dam) | chelev "ye'aseh le-chol melacha" and dam "hukash le-mayim" → trade permitted for a non-food use ; the product's qualification is decisive. |
Le-ma'asse. These situations blend questions of fact and law — the de-oraita or de-rabbanan status of the product, the structure of the investment, intent to trade or merely to use, food or industrial use — that only your Rav can decide upon seeing the case. The practical rule: reconstruct precisely what is bought/sold, for what purpose, and under what halakhic status, then ask. For the application to your situation, consult your Rav.
| Case | Rule (for us) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Food forbidden de-oraita, meyuchad le-maachal | Sechora forbidden | gezera shema yavo le-echol (Rashba) / de-oraita (Taz) |
| Lending on collateral / buying to resell | Forbidden | Terumat HaDeshen sim. ר' ; Ba"h (even to a Jew) |
| Buying to feed (without trade) | Several are lenient | Shach / Pri Hadash (PT s.k. 4) |
| chelev (suet) | Trade permitted | "ye'aseh le-chol melacha" (industrial uses) |
| dam (blood) | Trade permitted | hukash le-mayim (PT s.k. 1) |
| Forbidden only mi-derabbanan | Trade permitted be-chol gavna | Taz s.k. 4 |
| Incidental case (nizdaman to a tzayad) | Sell miyad, without intent | Reserved for the professional (Taz s.k. 3) |
| Presenting as kosher (chezkat kesheira) | Forbidden (fraud) | Choshen Mishpat רכ״ח |
| Posek | Decisive contribution (corpus-anchored) |
|---|---|
| Mehaber (single seif) | The issur sechora on a davar ha-meyuchad le-maachal de-oraita ; lending on collateral ; buying to feed one's workers ; the chelev exception ; the tzayad's incidental case (shelo yitkaven). |
| Rama (hagaha) | Sell "miyad" ; "ke-matzil mi-yadam" for the debt ; prohibition of neveila "be-chezkat kesheira" (Choshen Mishpat רכ״ח) ; the mi-derabbanan leniency. |
| Beit Yossef | The reason for the prohibition in the name of the Rashba: gezera shema yavo le-echol ; the extension to buying for the workers (Hagahot Maimoni). |
| Taz (Turei Zahav) | s.k. 1: the root — Pesachim כ״ג, de-oraita ("lachem — shelachem") ; s.k. 3: the incidental reserved for the tzayad ; s.k. 4: "miyad" / "shelo yitkaven" apply only to the de-oraita case — mi-derabbanan permitted be-chol gavna ; the chelev principle. |
| Shach (Siftei Kohen) | s.k. 1: "davar ha-meyuchad le-maachal" — excludes horses/donkeys/camels ; R"T on fats for smearing/lighting ; the pig wholly forbidden. On buying-to-feed (via PT). |
| Pri Hadash / Pri Toar | Pri Hadash: buying to feed is not sechora (PT s.k. 4). Pri Toar: the dam permitted because hukash le-mayim (PT s.k. 1). |
| Pitchei Teshuva | s.k. 1: dam hukash le-mayim — Pri Toar, Noda BiYehuda, Chatam Sofer ; ever min ha-chai. s.k. 3: the Taz's principle contested (Chavot Yair, Panim Meirot). s.k. 4: buying to feed (Shach/Pri Hadash) ; Ba"h forbids le-Yisrael acher. s.k. 6: Tiferet Yisrael (hares). s.k. 7: Chavot Yair — cooked treif meat → takala. |
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