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Considering that the secular government is permitting or even promoting outdoor restaurant dining beginning with the Phase 2 reopening following the Chinese coronavirus, while prohibiting indoor dining, it may be worthwhile reviewing the halachic restrictions regarding eating in the street.
CC: Yair Hoffman
Subject: Idea for your next articleDoes eating in an outdoor area that has been specifically designated for eating fall under the category of “eating in the street”?
Is an outdoor restaurant any different than eating my own food in the picnic area of a park? Or eating my own food in my backyard?I reviewed the halachas in Kidushin 409,2, SA CHM 34,18 where it was considered demeaning oneself to eat on the street so they compared him to a dog and was paasul leedus. When he does not care about himself, he will not care about telling the truth. Currently this is set up for the purpose of enjoying the fresh air and even talmidei chachomim eat in this environment outside in a restaurant, so the halachas don’t apply.
It should above Kidushin 40,2. Sitting outside at a table is certainly not included in this restriction as the reason above does not apply.
Reb Eliezer: But wasnt the seudas Haraah in the times of the gemoroh served outdoors to the aveilim?
What the gemora is talking about buying a sandwich and walking and eating. I don’t think seating outside on a bench and eating, a picnic with the family, is included in this restriction.
I asked a Posek who agreed with me.
Joseph, look at the Bach ב”ח חושן משפט סימן לד
והוא דאינו פסול לעדות אלא בדאית ביה תרתי דאוכל בשוק בפני הכל וגם בשעת אכילה הולך ואוכל ואינו יושב במקום אחדAt the time of the Jerushalmi it was improper to eat outside for talmidei chachomim but they were not pasul leeidus currently it is dangerous to eat inside with other than the family, it becomes acceptable for them to eat outside.
I can give situatiions where the talmidei chachomim are moving their Beis Hamedrash to learn and lunch outside or have a business meeting outside.
Dogmatic fundamentalism is not evident in Jewish classical literature.
Joseph
“on a personal level I’d feel (and know many others who’d feel) extremely uncomfortable or foolish fressing on a sidewalk in the street.”
so I spent All Shabbos looking for a solution for you. I think I found one that just might work. You need to halt kup a bit as it is veyr complicated but probably worth the effort as it will entirely solve your conundrum .
Ok here goes now, bear with me, if you feel uncomfortable or foolish ferssing in the street, then, and I know this is crazy but just hear me out, don’t free in the street .
This step should entirely solve your problem.
LEt me know if it gets confusing
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