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Out to Lunch


Question:

I’m trying to keep kosher both at home and outside the home. It’s been fun and I’ve learned a lot so far. However, I have a question that involves my professional life and keeping kosher. Can I go out with my co-workers for lunch to a non-kosher restaurant?



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

I’m glad you’re enjoying the experience — and mitzvah — of keeping kosher, and hope you continue to enjoy it. Of course, anything really worthwhile involves a challenge, and if your work-related question is your only challenge I think you’re doing extremely well!

It seems from what you write that you are asking if it’s okay to eat or drink certain things in a non-kosher restaurant based on two concerns. First, is there anything kosher there to eat or can I bring my own lunch? Second, is there anything wrong with people seeing me — a “kosher Jew” — eating in a non-kosher place?

First question first. I’ve been asked this question many times over the years and have been taught that it is not necessary to completely abstain from the meal. It is permitted to drink coffee or tea or cold kosher beverages in a non-kosher café or restaurant from disposable utensils. If there are no disposable utensils available one may even drink from the regular cups. Bringing your own food into a restaurant that wants you to buy their food depends on the policy of the place. My experience is that if you explain to the manager that you keep kosher and anyway wouldn’t buy the food for religious reasons, but plan on buying drinks there, it is likely to be allowed.

Regarding your second question, no intrinsic prohibition exists that forbids one from entering a non-kosher restaurant. However, we are commanded to be “clean (innocent) before God and before Israel” (Num. 32:22, Pesachim 13a). We are obligated by this injunction to not only do that which is correct, but also to do that which appears correct. It is obligatory, therefore, to avoid situations which may give the impression that one is transgressing a prohibition. This concept is known as marit ayin (lit. “appearing to the eye”).

Some authorities maintain that since the prohibition of marit ayin only applies in situations which the Talmud explicitly mentions, there is no prohibition for a Jew to sit in a non-kosher restaurant. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (Iggrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 2:40) rules that although the prohibition of marit ayin applies to eating in a non-kosher restaurant, in a case of great need, it is permitted. He adds that if one is seen entering the restaurant by a Jewish acquaintance, he should explain that he is only eating food which is definitely kosher. A person should not remove his yarmulke in such a situation (if he usually wears one), but I’d advise him to sit in an inconspicuous location.

By the way, another option might be to find a kosher restaurant nearby and see if your co-workers are interested in going there, at least occasionally. And I’d imagine that if you would be generous enough to offer to pay for lunch there they’d likely take you up on the offer and maybe even pay their way in the end!


 
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