Compiled by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits who can be reached at [email protected]

Reviewed by Rabbi Ben-zion Schiffenbauer Shlita

All Piskei Harav Yisrael Belsky Shlita are Reviewed by Harav Yisrael Belsky Shlita

Volume 6 Issue 6

6-30-11

What Constitutes Yotzei V�nichnas L�chatchilah

The l�chatchilah situation to leave a non-Jew in the home or store is when the Jew will be returning within eighteen minutes.⁶³�

Concern of Switching

The only time a seal is required is if there is a concern that the non-Jew will exchange the kosher item for a non-kosher item. There are many details as to what it means �concern of being switched� which we will begin to discuss. �

Benefit From the Switching

One main factor which determines whether or not a food requires a seal is whether the non-Jew will benefit from switching the kosher item with a non-kosher item.⁶⁴ Some say that if the non-Jew will not benefit then one can send the food with him l�chatchilah (see below). However, others say one should try to avoid this when possible.⁶⁵ As stated above, the halachos regarding benefiting from switching pertain to leaving a non-Jew alone in one�s home as well.⁶⁶ �

In any case, the halachos of switching apply as long as the non-Jew will benefit in some way from switching the kosher for non-kosher.⁶⁷�

The Non-Jew Does it to Spite

There is a discussion in the poskim if the non-Jew will switch the food just to spite the Jew even if there is no real benefit from the switching. �

The opinion of most poskim is that there is no concern about this issue.⁶⁸