Bal teshaktzu

Bal teshaktzu (Hebrew: בל תשקצו, lit. 'avoid disgusting activity') is a Jewish Halakhic law. This law comes from the Torah verse of Leviticus 11:43: "You shall not draw abomination upon yourselves through anything that swarms; you shall not make yourselves impure therewith and thus become impure."[1][2] The first portion of the verse---"You shall not draw abomination upon yourselves through anything that swarms"---implies that the reader must not consume insects. However, the rabbis interpreted the verse as a general prohibition of consuming and engaging in disgusting things in general.[3]

Examples

Examples of bal teshaktzu violations include:

  • withholding defecation or urination (Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 4:1)[4]
  • consuming food contaminated with vomit or feces (Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah 116:6)[5]
  • eating food with a placenta (שליא, shilya)
  • eating uncooked food
  • chewing with one's mouth open[6][7]
  • usage of vulgar or inappropriate language[8]
  • dishonoring someone else to attain honor for oneself[8]
  • consumption of live fish and grasshoppers[9][10]

Exceptions

One may eat food with a placenta if the placenta is found within a slaughtered animal.[11] One may consume disgusting medicine to treat an illness "because pikuach nefesh overrides all Torah and Rabbinic prohibitions, except for three cardinal sins" (murder, forbidden sexual relations, and idol worship.[12][13] One may withhold defecation or urination if the appropriate facilities are not available, as the principle of kevod ha'briyot (respect of all human dignity) overrides the principle of bal teshaktzu.[2]

Controversy

Rabbis disagree on whether or not eating foods that you simply dislike counts as a violation of bal teshaktzu.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Leviticus 11:43". Sefaria. The Contemporary Torah, Jewish Publication Society, 2006. 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "What is the prohibition of "bal teshaktzu"? – Halacha Yomis". OU Kosher Certification. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  3. ↑ "What is the prohibition of "bal teshaktzu"? – Halacha Yomis". OU Kosher Certification. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  4. ↑ Ganzfried, Shlomo. "Kitzur Shulchan Arukh 4:1". Sefaria. from an Ashkenazi Jewish handbook. Archived from the original on August 2, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  5. ↑ Karo, Joseph. "Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah 116". Sefaria. from a halakhic book based on Sephardic teachings. Ashlei Ravrevei: Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah, Lemberg, 1888. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  6. ↑ Enkin, Ari (June 12, 2012). "Disgusting Behavior - Torah Musings". Torah Musings. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Sofer, Yaakov Chaim. "Kaf HaChayim on Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah 116:76:1". Sefaria. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Enkin, Ari (June 12, 2012). "Disgusting Behavior - Torah Musings". Torah Musings. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Bal Teshaktzu - Live Fish - OU Kosher Halacha Yomis - OU Torah". OU Torah. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  10. ↑ Karo, Joseph. "Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah 13:1". Sefaria. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ "I dislike many foods. If I force myself to eat something that tastes awful to me, is this a violation of bal teshaktzu (acting in a repulsive manner)? – Halacha Yomis | OU Kosher Certification – OU Kosher Certification". OU Kosher Certification. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Is one permitted to violate bal teshaktzu for medical reasons? – Halacha Yomis | OU Kosher Certification – OU Kosher Certification". OU Kosher. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Big 3 Cardinal Sins | Aish close arrow-circle-o-down chevron-left ellipsis-v". Aish. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
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