Some Rules
1. In the previous issue (347) we mentioned some rules about the issur of meat left unattended [בשר שנתעלם מן העין], as well as some potential heterim in various circumstances. We will review some principles as an introduction to common shailos today, the topic of the current issue.
2. Rav, Levi. The Mechaber paskens like Rav, who is concerned for the issur of meat left unattended (ibid., par. 6), but many poskim pasken like Levi, who is not concerned for this issur. The Rama is meikel if the meat was found where it was left (par. 8).
3. חבי"ת and חמפ"ג. We mentioned that “חבי"ת,” i.e., a piece of fish [תיכת דגח], meat [שרב], wine [יןי], or techeiles [כלתת], sent via a non-Jew requires two seals to ensure it is the same item that was sent and to remove the concern the non-Jew will swap a nonkosher item for the kosher item. “חמפ"ג,” i.e., milk [לב ח], fish brine [ורייסמ], bread [תפ ], or cheese [בינהג], on the other hand, only requires a single seal when sent via a non-Jew (10-11).
Cases of Heter
4. Non-Jew. We cited (17) some who hold that חבי"ת only requires a double seal when sent with a suspected Jew, but a single seal suffices when sent with a non-Jew (רמ''א ).
5. Will see the seal again. We mentioned that if the sender will see the seal again or describes to the recipient what the seal looks like, one seal is enough (18-19).
6. Doesn’t benefit from the swap. We also mentioned (20) that if the non-Jew will not benefit or profit from the swap, we are not concerned he swapped it, and the meat is mutar even without a seal. Some only rely on this b’dieved, while some allow it even l’chatchila (23).
7. Public area. If the non-Jew can only travel through an area with lots of people, e.g., the neighborhood streets, b’dieved one can rely on the fact that he is afraid someone will see him making a swap (24). If there is a single seal, it is mutar l’chatchila (26).
8. Comes and goes. We cited an additional heter (27) for meat put in a non-Jew’s house or for when a non-Jew is in a Jew’s house, namely that if a Jew is coming and going and the non-Jew does not know when exactly someone will enter and see him, the meat is mutar because he is afraid to swap it.
9. Professional worker. We also cited (28-29) a machlokes among the poskim whether one may rely on a non-Jewish professional worker or one doing professional work, as he will not undermine himself professionally.
