Pas Yisroel facts for kids
Grain products
|
|
| Halakhic texts relating to this article | |
|---|---|
| Mishnah: | Avodah Zarah 35b |
| Babylonian Talmud: | Avodah Zarah 36b |
| Shulchan Aruch: | Yoreh De'ah 112:2 |
In Jewish law, Pas Yisroel or Pat Yisrael (Hebrew: פת ישראל which means "Bread of an Israelite") refers to grain products that were cooked or baked with an observant Jew involved in the process.
Even though any bread made with kosher ingredients is generally considered kosher, it's seen as a special and good deed to only eat Pas Yisroel. This is a stricter rule that many people follow. During the time between Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), it's a common custom for all Jews to eat only bread that is Pas Yisroel.
What is Pas Yisroel?
For a grain product to be considered Pas Yisroel, an observant Jew must at least light the flame used for cooking or baking it. This rule mainly applies to products made from the five species of grain: wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye. It also means that the special Hallah portion has been taken from the dough, as required by Jewish law.
Who is an "Observant Jew"?
To be considered an "observant Jew" for Pas Yisroel purposes, a person must be Shomer Shabbat. This means they observe the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat) according to Jewish law. This rule applies no matter which Jewish group or "denomination" they belong to.
For example, imagine a baker who is a Reform Jew and an Orthodox Jew who wants to buy bread from them. If the Orthodox Jew believes the baker is:
- A Jew, and
- Observes Shabbat according to Orthodox Jewish rules,
then the bread made by that baker could be considered Pas Yisroel by the Orthodox Jew's preferred Hechsher (kosher certification).
How is Pas Yisroel Made Today?
In today's large food factories and bakeries, it can be tricky to have an observant Jew light every oven. To solve this, many commercial bakeries use something called the "Shain system." This system, named after its inventor Rabbi Yehuda Shain, allows an observant Jew to remotely start or ignite the ovens or cooking equipment. This way, the products can still meet the Pas Yisroel standard.
