Q&A: Passing Along a Product with a Kashrut Certification I Do Not Rely On
Passing Along a Product with a Kashrut Certification I Do Not Rely On
Question
I happened to come across a meat product with a kashrut certification that, in my circle, it is generally accepted not to rely on at all, and there is a persistent rumor that although the supervision procedures are in order, the actual implementation is very seriously deficient—to the point that your hair stands on end when you hear the stories, and even if ten percent of them are true, God help us. Does giving it to someone else violate “do not place a stumbling block”? I should clarify that there is no halakhic dispute between me and my friend, only a dispute about the facts on the ground, based on different assessments of what is going on there. According to the reports that I regard as true, it is forbidden for any Jew to eat there. But my friend accepts different reports about the reality and thinks it is permitted. Is there a violation of “do not place a stumbling block” in a dispute about facts? I think this piece came from a pig, and my friend thinks it came from a cow—am I allowed to serve it to him while informing him of my opinion, which he already knows, that it is from a pig? Thank you very much.
Answer
A very interesting question. If the dispute were about Jewish law, this is the Talmudic passage in Tractate Sukkah 10b and the Ritva there, as I have discussed at length in several places. But here the dispute is about the facts, not the law, and there is room to be stringent and not permit it. I am inclined to think that you may not cause your friend to stumble. Just make sure that your opinion is indeed firm and based on reliable information. There are hair-raising stories about every kashrut supervision. It depends whom you ask and what circle you move in.