Question: I am Sephardic. My question is: When I am invited to a wedding or Bar Mitzvah celebration by my Ashkenazi friend who does not specifically consume or serve “Chalak Bet Yosef” meat, may I eat there out of respect for the family without finding out whether or not the meat is “Bet Yosef”?
Answer: Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l discusses this question in his Responsa Yabia Omer (Volume 5, Yoreh De’ah, Chapter 3) and after lengthily explaining the importance of Sephardic and Middle Eastern Jews consuming only meat which is “Chalak” according to the standards of the Bet Yosef as we have explained in the previous Halacha, he then deals with our issue.
He quotes Hagaon Harav Shmuel Abohav zt”l (in his Responsa Devar Shmuel, Chapter 320) who was asked a similar question regarding whether or not Sephardic individuals who travel to Ashkenazi cities may eat meat in these places although they customarily do not follow the Sephardic tradition regarding checking the lungs. Hagaon Harav Shmuel Abohav replied that if the guest knows for sure that the meat is not “Chalak Bet Yosef”, he must abstain from eating this meat in an unassuming manner so that they do not understand the reason for his stringency (since this may insult them). He adds that it is a common practice among many pious individuals to abstain from foods that are customarily forbidden by other authorities without divulging the reason for doing so.
Nevertheless, the above applies only when it is known for sure that the meat is not “Chalak”, i.e. that Sirchot (adhesions resembling scabs) were found on the lung and the animal was still rendered kosher according to the Ashkenazi tradition. However, regarding a random piece of “Kosher” meat about which it is unknown whether or not it came from an animal that had Sirchot, Hagaon Harav Shmuel Abohav rules that it seems clear that this meat is permissible for consumption because a double-doubt exists: Firstly, it is possible that the meat it indeed “Chalak” and even it is not, perhaps the Halacha follows the Poskim who rule that it is permissible to consume even non-“Chalak” meat, as we have discussed in the previous Halacha. Thus, he rules that in a situation where it is unknown whether or not the meat is “Chalak”, one may act leniently and consume the meat without any concern. He proceeds to support his view with sources.
Similarly, Maran Rabbeinu zt”l deals with this matter at length and rules that one may rely on the ruling of the Devar Shmuel and as long as it is unknown whether the meat is “Chalak” or just merely “Kosher” (and certainly if the meat is “Glatt Kosher” according to Ashkenazi standards), a Sephardic individual may partake of this meat when he is invited to an Ashkenazi friend’s home or affair. Although Sephardim must take care to consume only “Chalak Bet Yosef” meat as we have established in the previous Halacha, nevertheless, once one has already been invited as a guest, especially if the meal in question is a Seudat Mitzvah (the festive meal accompanying Mitzvot such as a wedding, Berit Milah, Bar Mitzvah, and the like), and it is unknown whether or not the meat is “Chalak”, the above double-doubt may be relied upon.
One must nevertheless take care to purchase only meat under the supervision of a respectable and competent Kashrut agency which adheres to the standards of Maran Ha’Bet Yosef. One who is careful regarding such matters shall merit Hashem’s divine protection that one not fail in these areas.
