Wednesday 4 May 2016

halacha - Eating with Gentiles according to the Rambam



So, I am aware that in the Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 152, I think it talks about the prohibition of eating with idolaters. But my question is what does the Rambam specifically say about being able to eat with the gentiles? Where in the Mishneh Torah or in the Rambam's other writings could I find his specific opinion in regards to sitting at the same table as gentiles and dining with them, if any place?



Answer



This passage in Shulhan Arukh (YD 152) is based on Avodah Zara (8a) which states:



עובד כוכבים שעשה משתה לבנו וזימן כל היהודים שבעירו אע"פ שאוכלין משלהן ושותין משלהן ושמש שלהן עומד לפניהם מעלה עליהם הכתוב כאילו אכלו מזבחי מתים שנאמר וקרא לך ואכלת מזבחו ואימא: עד דאכיל! אמר רבא: אם כן, נימא קרא ואכלת מזבחו, מאי וקרא לך? משעת קריאה.


If, for example, an idolater gives a banquet for his son and invites all the Jews in his town, then, even though they eat of their own and drink of their own and their own attendant waits on them, Scripture regards them as if they had eaten of the sacrifices to dead idols, as it is said, 'And he will call thee and thou wilt eat of his sacrifice.' (Exod. 34:15) But does not this apply to actual eating? — Said Raba: If that were so, the verse would have only said, And thou shalt eat of his sacrifice; why then say, And he will call thee? That extends the prohibition to the time of the participation. Hence



Rambam codifies this in Hilkhot Avodah Zara (9:16). He writes that included in this is participating in a non-Jewish wedding feast. This prohibition includes any meals from when they begin preparing the wedding food, until 30 days after the festivities, plus any additional specifically wedding themed feasts.


He explains (ibid 17) that this is motivated by the verse "and he will call you and you will eat from his sacrifice".


Regarding some of these laws, Rambam writes (9:2) that it does not apply if one knows that the gentile is not an idolater. Although he does not specify this with regards to wedding attendance.





This all relates to wedding attendance; the subject of that chapter of Shulhan Arukh. However, Rambam writes in Hilkhot Ma'akhalot Assurot (17:10) that there are various activities which the rabbis forbade lest they lead to intermarriage. One such prohibition is drinking at a non-Jewish party, even if the wine is kosher. Importantly, he specifies that "a non-Jewish party" is defined as a party at which most of the participants are not-Jewish. Thus, this prohibition would not apply to drinking at the same table with gentiles if there are more Jews at the party.


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