Amira L’Akum Re: Meat and Milk

Q. A Jew is not permitted to cook meat and milk together, but there is no prohibition for a non-Jew to do so. Is it permissible for a Jew to ask a non-Jew to cook meat and milk together?

A. The Gemara (Bava Metzia 90a) discusses a similar question. The Torah forbids muzzling an animal while it is doing work. May a Jew ask a non-Jew to muzzle his cow while it is working? Asking a non-Jew to do something that we may not do is referred to as “amira l’akum.” Regarding Shabbos, the halacha is clear that amira l’akum is forbidden. The Gemara asks, is the concept of amira l’akum limited to Shabbos, or does it apply to all prohibitions, including muzzling an animal? The Gemara cites the opinion of different Amoraim but seemingly leaves the question unresolved. The Ra’avad writes that since amira l’akum is a rabbinic prohibition, and the Gemara does not provide a definitive ruling, we may be lenient. The Rosh (Bava Metzia 7:6) disagrees with the Ra’avad. He writes that since most of the Amoraim who discussed the matter were strict, the halacha follows the majority. Shulchan Aruch (CM 338:6) as well writes that it is forbidden to ask a non-Jew to muzzle your animal while it is doing work, as per the p’sak of the Rosh. The Rema adds that amira l’akum is forbidden for all prohibitions, just as it applies to Shabbos. Returning to our original question, since one may not cook milk and meat, one may not ask a non-Jew to do so either.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.