Bishul Yisrael facts for kids

Bishul Yisrael is a Hebrew term that means "cooking by a Jew." It's an important rule in kashrut, which are the Jewish laws about food. This rule says that certain foods cannot be eaten if they are cooked only by people who are not Jewish.

The opposite term is bishul akum, which means "cooking by a non-Jew." This is the type of cooking that is forbidden by the rule. The word Akum is a short way of saying "worshippers of stars and zodiac signs," but it's used as a general term for non-Jews in this context.

Why is Bishul Yisrael Important?

This rule was created by ancient Jewish leaders, called rabbis of the Talmud. They made these rules, known as decrees, to help Jewish people stay connected to their traditions. One main reason was to encourage Jewish people to marry within their own community.

The rule of bishul akum applies to meals that are prepared completely by non-Jews. This is true even if all the ingredients themselves are kosher.

How Does the Rule Work?

The rule only applies if the food is cooked completely by non-Jews. If a Jewish person takes part in the cooking, even a little bit, the food can be kosher.

Different Jewish leaders have slightly different ideas about how much a Jewish person needs to do:

• Sephardi rabbis (from Jewish communities in the Middle East and Spain) say that a Jewish person must light the fire and place the pot on it to start cooking.
• Ashkenazi rabbis (from Jewish communities in Eastern Europe) say that just lighting the fire is enough. Some even say that making a small adjustment to a fire already lit by a non-Jew is enough.

What Foods Are Included?

This law only applies to foods that are considered "fit for a king's table." This means foods that would be served at a fancy dinner or special event. These foods are also usually not eaten raw.

Foods that are not fancy enough for a "king's table" are usually exempt from bishul akum. This means they are kosher even if cooked entirely by non-Jews. Of course, all other kosher rules must still be followed for these foods.

A famous Jewish thinker named Maimonides explained this rule. He said it was made to prevent Jewish people from being invited to meals by non-Jews. This could lead to closer relationships that might result in intermarriage. People usually don't invite others to dinner for simple, everyday foods.

Bishul Yisrael Today

Today, people who supervise kosher food are called mashgichim. They make sure that food is prepared according to Jewish law. Part of their job is often to help start the stove or take part in the cooking process. This ensures that the rule of bishul Yisrael is followed.