Halachic Highlights

Question: Is there a prohibition of Bishul Akum on milk that was pasteurized by an akum?

Short Answer: Many contemporary poskim rule that there is no prohibition of Bishul Akum on pasteurized milk.

Question: Does the prohibition of Bishul Akum apply to a housekeeper or another akum in a Jew’s home?

Short Answer: According to many poskim, the prohibition of Bishul Akum applies to a housekeeper in a Jew’s home. However, b’dieved, if the food was accidentally cooked by a hired housekeeper in a Jew’s home, some poskim allow the food to be eaten.

Question: Does a person violate Bishul Akum on a food that he eats raw but the general population does not normally eat raw?

Short Answer: According to most poskim, Bishul Akum is based on the general populace’s eating preferences, and thus, the person would violate Bishul Akum. This has practical ramifications for sushi.

Question: Are you permitted to eat food cooked by an irreligious Jew?

Short Answer: Many poskim permit food cooked by an irreligious Jew. However, if the Jew has the status of “mumar” (heretic), there is reason to be strict.

Question: May a respected person (“adam chashuv”) eat foods that were cooked by an akum where the food is edible when eaten raw?

Short Answer: Many poskim are strict on this issue, but the OU appears to rely on the lenient poskim, including the Aruch HaShulchan.

Question: Is a woman obligated to return a lost object that she finds?

Short Answer: Unless it would be improper or inappropriate for a woman to pick up this specific lost item, a woman is obligated in hashavas aveidah like a man.