Pas Yisroel - Included Foods

QUESTION: Which foods are included in the category of Pas in relation to Pas Yisroel and Pas palter?

ANSWER: The word “pas” literally means bread. However, many poskim (e.g. Taz YD 112:6, Pri Chadash ibid., Beis Meir ibid.) explain that Pas Yisroel applies to any baked good on which one would recite hamotzi if one was kovei’a seuda (i.e., if it was used as the staple of their meal). As such, pas haba’ah b’kisnin (e.g. cookies, cakes, crackers, etc.) and certainly pizza and wraps are included in the category of pas in regard to Pas Yisroel/Pas palter. Those who are stringent year-round to eat only Pas Yisroel should purchase Pas Yisroel cookies, cakes and crackers, etc., exclusively. This is the case as well for those who are only stringent during the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, or for Shabbos and Yom Tov.

It should be noted that the OU certifies both Pas Yisroel and Pas palter products. This is based on the ruling of the Rama (Yoreh De’ah 112:2) that Pas palter is permitted even in situations where Pas Yisroel is available. Shach (112:9) writes that this is the accepted minhag of Ashkenazim. However, it is considered meritorious to be stringent and only purchase Pas Yisroel. One should not assume that an OU product is Pas Yisroel unless the product is marked “Pas Yisroel” or the product is listed on the OU’s Pas Yisroel List – 5785.

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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.