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

7-4

Pizza Deliveries

It is very common for pizza to be delivered by a non-Jew to one’s home without a seal or tape on the box. Is this a concern?  

As mentioned above, if there is no concern that the non-Jew will benefit from switching the food then there is no need for a seal on the package. The non-Jew derives no benefit by switching the kosher pizza for non-kosher, since if he is hungry he can buy pizza anywhere. However, others say that it is preferable to make sure that the pizza box is sealed with tamper proof tape.⁸³ 

Sending a Worker to go Shopping

Sometimes a non-Jewish housekeeper will be sent to the store to buy some kosher items.

Since she can benefit from buying less expensive non-kosher items and keeping the extra money, one cannot accept the food without a proper seal.⁸⁴ However, one can ask the worker for an itemized bill of what she bought and check to see if it was purchased at a kosher store.  

Workers Will Not Jeopardize Their Livelihood

There is a concept in halacha that a non-Jewish worker will not commit an act that can jeopardize his livelihood. This applies to these halachos as well.⁸⁵ Therefore, if it is a situation where he can lose his livelihood if he is caught tampering seals, then we do not have to be concerned that he will do so.⁸⁶ 

Based on the above, the custom it to permit a non-Jew to cook food for someone in his home (aside from any bishul akum concerns).⁸⁷ However, one should not rely on this heter without consulting with a Rav.