CLD #718

Baruch Hashem Hurricane Sandy is in our past. After all, the aftermath of the hurricane is not and we see the entire East Coast of the powerful United States of America in ruins. Hundreds of poor people are without homes, there are over one hundred people dead, subway stations are flooded, entire counties in New Jersey are under water and chaos is everywhere. Almost every area on the map of the east coast was hit hard with the power of Hashem. What does this mean? No one really knows but it is surely not a coincidence since Elections 2012 are next week and Hashem wants to send us a message.

Our job, on an individual scale, a community scale and an overall scale regarding all of Am Yisrael is to look deep into the aftermath of the storm and see what Hashem wants to tell us. Everyone can look at something that happened and get strength in order to work Hashem on a more straight path of Kedusha (purity) and overall yashrut (straight viewpoint at life with the Torah). On the other hand, we can all definitely learn a simple lesson from this whole mess.

The lesson is directly connected to all of us. For example, in Queens alone after calling ConEdison we are told that it will take anywhere from 7-10 days to take care of the power outages. Wow. 7-10 days. What does this teach us? When someone does an avera (sin) we must understand that we are physically and spiritually destroying ourselves. Sometimes we do not see this and sometimes Hashem sends us direct messages after any act against the Torah that shows us: "Wake up, what you did was wrong!" However, we must know to move on, push forward and look at the bright side that there is hope to do Teshuva and stay away from that impure/immoral act and continue to fight off those urges.

How do we see that from the Hurricane? After someone does a sin, they destroy. Our bodies have 365 limbs. Each limb has a living connection from Shamayim (the Heavens) which gives it energy to live. After doing an avera, a sin, these connections get broken and cut like trees and electric lines on our local streets. It takes more than a week to rebuild and reconnect them. The same is with our spiritual and physical selves. We need to understand the only way to get back to our spiritual track of success is to stick it through and make sure there is no more damage. This is called in Tehillim Sur MeRa, turn away from evil. The first step is just to stop the sinning, stop the evil, and only then work on the good deeds. Good Luck and know that praying for this help- to do good -is always an option!

Judaism=Think.

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

From Yalkut Yosef Online (Yalkut.info):

1. It is forbidden for parents to dress their young daughters with immodest clothing, including dresses without sleeves and really short skirts. Even though there are those who say until the age of eight girls do not relate to the law of erva (immodesty), in any case their parents must teach them the customs of tzeniut (modesty). It is certainly true not to bring these girls to Bet Kenesset (synagogue) dressed immodestly, rather they should be put in the Ezrat Nashim (women's section).

2. The simple minhag (custom) is for single women to go in public revealing their hair, because the ikar hahalacha (the base of Jewish Law) states that a woman who is not married is not obligated to cover her hair. Only in the time that single women pray or bless with Hashem's name (mazkirot shem shamayim) they should cover their hair. 

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CLD #717

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

Kohelet 9:17 Divrei Hachamim BeNachat Nishmayim, The Words of our Sages are heard when spoken softly.

In Orhot Tzadikkim’s Sha’ar (Gate-Chapter) of Ka’as (Anger), he explains that power of rebuking a friend. It says in VaYikrah 19:17 You shall surely rebuke your fellow, but you shall not bear a sin on his account. What does the Torah mean? The Orhot Tzadikkim explains simply that this is speaking about an individual who wants to rebuke his friend and how he should do it. The greatest way to pass on a message to another friend, especially if that person is rebuking them, is through soft words.

If anyone has ever met an inspiring Rabbi, mentor or teacher, they know that these individuals are filled with knowledge and pass on their intellect through calm and sweet tones of voices. The most famous is the big Rabbis of our generation, such as the Chabad Rebbe ZT’L or Rav Mutzafi from Yerushalayim, if anyone hears their speeches they hear their calm and soft words of Torah. How should one rebuke another? Take him/her to the side of the room or after the event. Explain to them what happened and how other people saw whatever the behavior was as a bad approach. However, if one rebukes their friend with a booming voice in front of the entire crowd or even alone in a harsh tone of voice, the message will not be felt from heart to heart rather it will be felt as a cut and a bruise.

This greatness was seen in Hillel, over 2,000 years ago, who from his great Anava (modesty), he was close to the Divine Presence and always had an aura of greatness and kindness around him. When one succeeds to hold a reputation for the sake of Heaven like Hashem filled with love for all am Yisrael and forever kindness to all, they succeed in acting like Hashem. Think about it, Hashem is unlimited so His love is unlimited. No matter how spiritual dirty or low an individual is, Hashem will always love them and provide for them life, so how much do we need to learn from Him and judge favorably and always look at everyone with a good eye?!

Judaism=Think.

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Is Using the Internet AGAINST JUDAISM?

Due to Hurricane Sandy I am sure people will be all over the Internet for the next 24 hours. Here is the Halacha Yomit on 'The Internet'
Question: Is there a halachic prohibition (not a stringency, I wish to know only the letter of the law) to connect to the internet via a regular (unfiltered) connection for any reason? 

Answer: The root of this question is that it is well-known that by connecting to a regular internet connection, one can receive many beneficial services and information. On the other hand, through the internet, one can read things which border on heresy and denial of the basic tenets of our religion as well as watch forbidden things. Since many individuals in our times depend on internet usage, it is difficult to completely ban its usage. 

Already several hundred years ago, various books, including “Emmanuel the Roman,” a book mostly comprised of romance, useless joking, and immorality, made their way into the market. Maran HaShulchan Aruch (Chapter 307, Section 16) writes that one may not read this book. Included in this prohibition is reading any romance novels, for by doing so, one transgresses the prohibition of “Don not turn to the idols,” about which our Sages expounded (Shabbat 149a), “Do not shut Hashem out of your thoughts,” meaning that one may not do things which cause him to forget Hashem. 

Certainly watching forbidden things on the internet causes one to sin as the Torah warns in several places, among them, “Do not stray after your hearts and after your eyes,” “You shall guard yourself from any evil thing,” and others. Similarly, our Sages teach us in the Gemara (Sotah 8a) that the Evil Inclination can only control someone based on the images his eyes have seen. Merely gazing at forbidden images causes one to transgress several explicit Torah commandments. 

Some claim that one can connect to the internet and he shall restrain himself from entering forbidden sights. If so, why should connecting to the internet be forbidden? The answer to this is that anyone who has connected to a regular internet connection can attest about himself that he has descended one-thousand levels in spirituality due to the evils of the internet and so many precious Jewish souls who were Torah and Mitzvah observant fell to the deep abyss because of this evil tool. 

Thus, connecting to the internet via a regular connection is forbidden, for by doing so, one increases the effect of the Evil Inclination upon himself more so than before and one is considered to be “provoking the Evil Inclination against himself” (he Gemara in Masechet Niddah 13a states that one who provokes the Evil Inclination against himself shall be in a state of excommunication) and is very close to sin. 

One connecting to the internet which is open to all of the world’s impurities is compared to one travelling on the road with his suitcase packed with newspapers filled with filth, books of sorcery and witchcraft, obscene pictures made by lowly beings, and many other sorts of evil things (which besides for the religious standpoint, any descent individual would distance himself from for all of this contradicts basic human morality) and the person claims that he does not read or look at these items and is merely carrying them around for convenience. Any intelligent person would distance himself from such an individual who is so close to the depths of impurity. 

Nevertheless, many people who cannot do without the internet can avail themselves of the services provided by several companies which “block” sites displaying forbidden articles and images such that one cannot watch or read these forbidden things while at the same time taking advantage of the benefits of the internet. One must certainly not laziness control his life and quickly make arrangements to connect to the internet only through such companies and services. 

One should remind himself that through one impure thought brought about by connecting to the internet in a regular manner, many Mitzvot of his are cancelled out, he transgresses several negative Torah commandments, and he becomes distanced from Hashem instead of meriting so much goodness by connecting to the internet via a filtered connection. We must publicize that the reward of those who connect only to filtered internet is boundless and unfathomable. Although it seems that this is merely a small matter, this is not the case, and as experience has taught us, one must make a strong effort to overcome the Evil Inclination regarding the internet. Only after one connects to filtered internet will one see that it was not so hard to begin with. 

Our Sages have already taught us in the Midrash and Gemara (Chapter 3 of Baba Batra) that if one has the option of looking at forbidden sights but vanquishes his Evil Inclination and does not look at them merits greeting the Shechina. This is besides the great reward for one who pains himself to fulfill the words of the Torah. Based on all of the above, who can ignore all this and not quickly disconnect from the “regular” internet and connect only via a secure, filtered connection to save his own soul and the souls of all of his family members from descending into the deep abyss? 

In the merit of disconnecting from the “open” internet, one will merit seeing his children and grandchildren toiling in the holy Torah while ascending level after level in Torah study and fear of Heaven through peace, tranquility of the soul, and clarity of mind all the days of his life. Hashem is surely gladdened by those who do not connect to the regular internet in our days similar to what our Sages say in the Gemara (Pesachim 113a). Thus, even if one has no other choice and must be connected to the internet, one must exert all of his efforts to immediately transfer over to a company which provides filtered internet or any similar service. Whoever does so shall be handsomely rewarded by Hashem. 

Response by Harav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a, grandson of Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

From Yalkut Yosef Online (Yalkut.info):

1. One who shaves off their armpit hair and/or the hair in private areas is obligated to receive the punishment of mardut (lashes). This Law is related to places where women tend to shave off their hair and was instated in order for men to avoid following women customs. However, in bodily parts where both sexes tend to shave/cut off hair it is permissible to do so.

2. There was once a time when men looking at themselves through mirrors was violating the law of lo tilbash (not to dress in a woman’s garment), however; today there is no suspicion in violating this law when looking at the mirror and even Talmidei Hachamim (Torah Scholars) can look at the mirror to fix their outfit.

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

WHO ARE YOU VOTING FOR NEXT WEEK?

Shavua Tov.

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CLD #716

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

Orhot Tzadikkim is a worldwide famous Mussar book that is probably in every single Yeshiva and Bet Midrash (Torah Learning Center) around the world. In the sha’ar of Anava (the chapter on modesty), the author discusses the power of modesty in this world. Basically, from the following three situations a person can see if the fortunate (financially) or wise individual is being tested, provided with a gift or cursed.

These three different situations all speak about wisdom and wealth. All these cases show that if one is wise or wealthy (or both), then you can see that they are really receiving the wisdom/fortune as a gift, as a test or as a curse. Orhot Tzadikkim says that if the wealthy individual uses their money not to do any damage in anyway to other people, or if the wise person does not use his/her wisdom to pride him/herself over other people with it, then using this fortune/wisdom, these individuals add to their service of Hashem and create a healthier and happier environment of spiritual success. This shows that the fortune/wisdom is really for the good, it is really a gift from Shamayim (the Heavens).

 

The sign of nisayon, testing is as follows: If the fortunate individual is always worrying about his/her money and in fear that they will loose it and avoids enjoying from it, to eat from it and at the same time they do not use the money for any damage or for any self-pride (showing off). Also if the individual avoids giving Tzedaka (charity), avoids showing mercy to the poor and constantly worries about the money’s security, then it is given to the person as a nisayon (test). Also for the wise person, if they use their wisdom ONLY for their own needs, meaning they come up with an algorithm just to finance their expenses and do not use it for good or bad in the world, then it’s a test.

The sign of (to explain how it’s a curse, the Orhot Tzadikkim uses the word revenge) revenge from Hashem: If the wealthy person uses his/her money to bring evil to the world and damage other peoples’ lives and prides him/herself with their money, and does not do Tzedaka and just cares about spending the money for their own benefit and enjoyment, the pasuk from Yeshaya (22:13) says about this individual that their wealth is for their own wickedness. Sometimes Hashem gives money to wicked individuals so they can do evil deeds and with those deeds Hashem punishes them on purpose. The same goes for the wise individual who uses their wisdom and genius for evil, their wisdom is really their own obstacle in life.

Therefore, the person running after wisdom and knowledge should use their wisdom for good and add to themselves modesty and lower their status of pride to read a level that they can longer do good with their wisdom. The individual who sees money is just landing in their pocket with little effort should worry that this is their reward for all their good deeds in this world and Hashem is paying him/her NOW and will not receive anything in Olam Haba (the next world), G-d forbid. Not everyone is like this but this teaches us to always use what G-d gives us for the good. What’s good? Maybe its time to attend Torah Learning classes or continue learning Halachot (Jewish Law) the way we learn for our business and maybe we will begin to learn to live a life with Hashem.

SHAVUA TOV!

Judaism=Think.

Want today’s CLD to be for the Ilui Nishmat (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Sponsor theCLD today! Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the proper information! 

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

From Yalkut Yosef Online (Yalkut.info):

1. People who are accustomed to loan money without any witnesses or contracts will not have anything to lean on in the time that they need to receive the money. People need to be stringent upon lending and borrowing money with witnesses or with a contract.

2. One who signs a contract that makes him obligated to the instructions within and later complains that he did not understand the content of the contract and it was not read in front of him, has no legitimate excuse. Once an individual signs a contract they are obligated to whatever is written down.

SHAVUA TOV!

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CLD #715

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

When you are faced with five powerful Kingdoms battling against you, you turn to your allies. When  you only have three allies (you are four in total), you are outnumbered and your power for war is less then the enemy. You are scared. This was the story in our Parasha, Parashat Lech Lecha. There was a huge war in the area of Israel (Cena’an) and Avraham was in the middle of it all. What did Hashem do? He made the four Kingdoms unite and they actual overcame the battle power the larger army (of five Kingdoms) and won the war.

This meant that Lot, Avraham’s nephew, was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. Even though it is taught that Lot went against Hashem’s will and left the environment of Avraham (the Tzadik, the Righteous), Avraham went out of his way. Stopped his life, just to run after those kings and take Lot out of captivity.

Now imagine the setting: you have four powerful kingdoms who just beat a larger army then their own and captured trillions of dollars in captive land, belongings, people, gold, silver, valuables, etc. They are on top of the world. They think they own everyone. Some 75 year old immigrant from another country is going to come up to them and take his nephew and create an entire scene?! Who does he think he is?

But this is the power of Real Emunah LIVING WITH HASHEM! Avraham is all about Emunah, faith, beliving in Hashem that He is with us all the time. When someone is living that thought process, there is nothing in the world that can stop them. Even fighting four countries with all their resources and power is nothing in front of Hashem. Building our Emunah today will be the foundation to withstand the toughest challenges in our future.

This directly connects with the ‘so called reality’ of surrendering and giving up. Rav Ben Tzion Aba Shaul ZTK’L explains in his famous book, Hochma VeMussar, that giving up is the essence of destruction because it is like a broken vessel. Would you use a vessel that has the most simplest functions or a vessel that is broken? Its always better to say to yourself: I know I am not perfect and I messed up, but there is hope for success. This attitude is exactly what we need to infuse in our daily struggles, because if not we will never move forward. It can begin today with Shabbat wrapping itself around the world in a few hours. Its easy and foolish to say “I can’t keep Shabbat,” but the real wisdom is behind saying “It is hard for me to keep Shabbat, but I know if I try Hashem will help me.” Your success is up to you.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

Judaism=Think.

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L, Yissachar ben Yona ZT’L and Haviva bat Yocheved Z’L.

From Yalkut Yosef Online (Yalkut.info):

1. Children under the age of Reaching Mitzvot are allowed to play with Legos and Building Blocks that connect together on Shabbat, these type of games has no suspicion of violating the melacha (forbidden labor) of Boneh (building) on Shabbat. It is allowed to give them permission to pull apart these toys from one another as well. It is also permissible to hand the toys to children because one can lean on the opinion that these toys are not Muktzeh even though an individual above the age of 13 may not play with them. The toys in our time that are manufactured for the purpose of being toys are allowed to be held and given over to children for sure.

2. A Shtender (type of stand made of wood/metal which people put books on to learn Torah) made with adjustment screws to be lifted or pushed down may be adjusted on Shabbat. A chair that has a handle that you turn underneath the chair may be turned on Shabbat in order to raise or lower the chair.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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CLD #714

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L & Yissachar ben Yona Z’L.     

[Yesterday’s CLD]

In Masechet Berakhot, the first tractate in the Talmud, there is a teaching that one should not eat before they learn, as it says in Parashat Kedoshim (The Book of VaYikrah), Lo Tochlu Al HaDam, Do Not Eat on The Blood. Our Hachamim (Sages) learn from this that before one eats, they should pray on their own flesh and blood. The Hachamim continue in Masechet Berakhot (10b) that this directly connects to one’s Ga’ava and shows that one has this horrible trait of self-pride (or boastfulness) that is despised by Hashem and the Tanach (which is packed with verses against this attitude).

The Ben Ish Hai in his famous book on the Shas, Ben Yehoyada on this page of Berakhot discusses this teaching and asks what this has to do with one being a Ga’avtan (filled with self-pride)? He continues to say that the reason why one should pray before they eat or drink is to show that without food, drink and money to buy anything, I show that everything is from Hashem. He brings a beautiful mashal that must be shared. There was once a man who received a large fortune from the king of the country that was given in the beginning of the year every year of his reign. The individual is financed and supported fully from the king and the fortune was enough to support him for everyday. Before going to the marketplace to buy food, drink and clothing, this man would walk out of his way and stand for a couple seconds in the garden of the palace and then would continue to the shuk (the market).

His friend in the marketplace would see him come later than other people everyday and found out this individual would go to the king’s palace, stand there like a fool for a couple seconds and only then would arrive at the store. He asked him, my dear friend, why do you go out of your way completely without any reason?! He answered: even though I take out money from my own pocket every morning and buy my necessities, in the end of the day these coins and bills do not belong to me and even though my family and friends see me take out the money from my own pocket. Therefore, every morning I walk to the palace to remind myself and to remind my family that we have financial security from the king.

The nimshal (lesson) is obvious. Everyday we need to come to The King’s Palace, the Bet Kenesset (synagogue), to pray for our needs, to show even though I take out money from my own bank account and my own wallet, really in the end of the day it comes from Hashem’s table of fortune and rahamim (mercy). The Ben Ish Hai ends that because of this act of remembering where the money comes from, this individual will never stop appreciating life and all the good Hashem does for him. Therefore, an individual who eats before praying in the morning is showing that he thinks his own strength and power caused him to bring food to the table. This is why Hashem teaches us through our Sages in the Talmud that one who does not pray before they eat is the ultimate Ga’avtan, the haughty individual.

Judaism=Think.

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Yaakov Hai ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Rav Ovadia’s Halacha Emails:

1. The law of a Talmid Hacham (Torah Scholar) stands today as well in regards to all the relative laws. Meaning if an individual sees a true Torah Scholar who is fluent in Torah learning and in Fear of Heaven, who teaches and directs the people of Israel, they should say a Berakha (blessing) of Shehalak MeHochmato Lire’av. A person must watch for the respect of his Rabbi more than his own father. It is a Mitzvat Aseh (positive Mitzvah from the Torah) to get up before all Hachamim (Torah scholars), even if he is not old or his Rabbi.

2. One is allowed to ask a Talmid Hacham to do Hessed (a favor) for him/her, to lend him a vessel/tool or to pass over an object/item across the table, and the like. This is allowed in the case where one does not cause the Talmud Hacham to stop his Torah Learning.

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CLD #713

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L & Yissachar ben Yona Z’L.

Every Jew has a Tachlit (purpose), every Jew is another Neshama (soul) in this world that was brought down to our generation. Why? Because we all need to fix a major issue in our lives. How do we know what that issue is, we must see which Mitzvah is the toughest for us to accomplish. For some people it may be waking up in the morning, for some it may be putting on Tefillin, for some it may be wearing modest clothing, for some it may be arrogance in general and on and on.

We must understand that when working on ourselves we feel the most satisfaction and benefit. We actually feel that we are succeeding and doing something worth it in our lives. Forget the money for a second, forget the diploma and your future spouse and children. Just think for one second between you and yourself: Why am I in this world? I know its deep and it is something that does not make sense for someone especially in the tri-state area to do, but our whole existence is based on our though process. Our Rabbis teach Sof Ma’aseh BeMahshava Tehila, the end action is done through the beginning’s thought.

This is all a small introduction for the topic of Using Drugs. On a general level, everything we should G-d willing should helpus reach this tahlit, or pathway of reaching completion. If you pay attention, a child never accepts an opened snack or opened candy because they always want something completed. In human nature we want to reach completion and we are attracted to perfection. Do drugs help us reach this perfection?

The Peleh Yo’etz writes that some people have in their nature this characteristic of zerizut (speediness) and some people have the characteristic of a speed of a turtle and are the ultimate lazy couch potatoes. After explaning this, Rav Eliezer Papo ZTK’L explains that each person can take out a bad characteristic trait by constantly working on themselves and becoming accustomed to the opposite behavior. For example, if someone is an angry individual, in order to permanently reach bliss and happiness, they should go to the extreme and ALWAYS refrain from becoming angry, no matter what befalls them.

This teaches us the idea that if one wants to succeed, they must be persistence. Be’ezrat Hashem we should all succeed on being persistant with our work of Serving Hashem in doing it in a respectful fashion according to the Torah and avoiding the thoughts of: “But what will my friends think?” or “How will my teacher react?”

Your future is up to you.

Judaism=Think.

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Yaakov Hai ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Online (Yalkut.Info):

1. A cooked dish that a Non-Jew cooked is prohibited by Hazal (our Sages) because they did not want food to connect Jews and Non-Jews and lead to weddings also to avoid a Jew from eating cooked foods that are impure (regarding the Laws of Purity and Impurity in the times of the Bet HaMikdash). Even if a Non-Jew cooked the dish in a Jew’s home and it is Kosher for sure, we are not allowed to eat it. This only stands in two conditions: 1) if the food will not be eaten raw and 2) the food is qualified to be eaten at a King’s table. But if the food is raw or it is not qualified to be eaten at a King’s table has no prohibition in regards to Bishulei Goyim (Non-Jewish cooking).

2. A cooked dish that is not eaten raw and is served on a King’s table or important people, such as rice, meat or the like; if cooked by a Non-Jew, meaning he/she placed the cooking vessel on the fire, the food is prohibited according to Bishulei Goyim (our Ashkenazi Brothers are lenient in this matter and just have the Jew start the fire). But a food that is eaten raw, like vegetables, fruits or cheese and the like has no prohibition in regards to Bishulei Goyim.

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