Compiled by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits who can be reached at [email protected]

Reviewed by Rabbi Ben-zion Schiffenbauer Shlita

All Piskei Harav Yisrael Belsky Shlita are Reviewed by Harav Yisrael Belsky Shlita

Volume 6 Issue 6

7-2

Passing Through a Heavily Populated Area

It is permitted b’dieved to send food without a seal with a non-Jew⁷⁶ who is delivering through a heavily populated area⁷⁷ (even if not by mostly Jews).⁷⁸ The reason is that he is afraid to switch the food, for someone might see him enter a non-kosher store and will tell the Jew who is getting the food. L’chatchilah one should not rely on this, and should send the food with the proper seal(s).⁷⁹ If the delivery man will go through an all Jewish area to deliver the food then it is permitted to send the food without a seal even l’chatchilah.⁸⁰ 

The above is only true if there are people in that area, but if it is early in the morning or late at night where there are not too many people around then the food would have to be sent with the proper seal(s).⁸¹ 

Food Sent With a non-Jew in a Car / Bus etc.

The above heter only applies if the non-Jew is delivering the food by foot or bike, but if he is traveling in a car or on a bus he can act at will. Therefore, a seal is required. For this reason, one should not send unsealed food with a car service since the driver can do what he wants⁸² (unless he is scared of getting caught and losing his job).