Q&A: Helping advertise a pizzeria that has no kosher certification — but it’s not clear that it’s non-kosher
Helping advertise a pizzeria that has no kosher certification — but it’s not clear that it’s non-kosher
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is it permitted for me to help market a business that has no kosher certification (a pizzeria owned by an Arab),
even though I’m not sure it’s actually non-kosher (nobody checks)? The advertising is also aimed at Jews.
In addition, is it permitted to help advertise someone who is open on the Sabbath (also an Arab), and in the ad itself
it says that the business is open on the Sabbath?
But also
Answer
I think there is no real halakhic prohibition. An Arab is allowed to market and eat non-kosher food, and if Jews buy from him that is their decision and their problem. The same applies regarding the Sabbath. As for whether it is proper or not, that is not clear to me. On the face of it, for the sake of one’s own moral/spiritual education it may be proper to refrain, but as far as the issue itself goes, I do not see any real problem.
Discussion on Answer
By the way, from the question I understand that you’re participating in A.T.’s program or that of one of his students. He’s a charlatan.
Hi Uriel, actually you can’t tell that from the question.
But regardless, I know him and I helped him in the past; I don’t think he’s a charlatan.
Maybe disorganized, but not a charlatan.
In any case, I do advertising on Google and Facebook, and it has nothing to do with him or his methods at all.
Advertise it, absolutely — but tell everyone to go to that pizzeria and ask for a kosher certificate, and when the owner sees that lots of people are asking for a kosher certificate and not buying because of it, maybe he’ll get certification. But as things are now, it’s better not to advertise it. Because it’s better to buy kosher and support people who sell kosher food.
Thank you, Rabbi.
The question is whether I can advertise it (basically encourage) Jews,
since with internet advertising there is an option to request that the ad be shown to Jews or to Arabs (there are ways to filter).