Q&A: The Smell of Paradise, Literally 👃
The Smell of Paradise, Literally 👃
Question
The non-Jewish guy with me at work just heated up his lunch in the non-kosher microwave.
The smell that came out of there was literally mind-blowing.
Wonderful—an actual whiff of paradise.
I have never smelled such a delicate and unique pleasant aroma.
Out of sheer excitement, I decided to follow in the ways of my forefathers—our patriarch Jacob: “and he smelled the aroma of his food and blessed him.”
I complimented him according to Jewish law, as was proper and fitting, and of course he offered me a taste.
Naturally I refused, and he knows I’m Jewish and that it’s forbidden.
But he claimed that even smelling it is forbidden 👃
Is he right?
Answer
There are food prohibitions that are not forbidden for benefit, and there are prohibitions of benefit. But even with benefit, smell has no tangible substance. Therefore there is no prohibition against smelling it.
Discussion on Answer
See overviews here: https://olamot.net/shiurim/%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%97-%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%A5-%D7%95%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%95%D7%93%D7%94-%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%94/
and here: https://www.ypt.co.il/2343
I haven’t read them now, but in principle idolatry is different in its law.
I also saw in Yoreh De’ah, siman 108, that something not intended for smell is permitted to smell.
I didn’t see that in the Shulchan Arukh there. It does appear in the Pri Chadash there. In any case, that is speaking about the smell of idolatry, which is forbidden. With other prohibitions, smell is not forbidden at all.
If smell has no substance, why is it forbidden to derive benefit from the smell of idolatry?