Q. We have a babysitter who watches my child every day. She is Hindu. We have once or twice left an open bottle of non-mevushal wine out, and sometimes have unsealed meat in the fridge while she is here alone. In the past we have discarded the wine, but I only recently realized the meat in the fridge might be a problem as well. Is there any difference being that I trust her to care for my child, or must we discard the wine and meat? And how should we seal the meat in the future?
A. Shulchan Oruch (Y.D. 63, 2) quotes two differing opinions in regards to meat that was left unattended at home. The first opinion (Rambam) permits only if it can be identified by a prior known mark or by its known general appearance. The second one (Rashbam), maintains that if it was found where it was left and there is no reason to suspect that it was substituted for another, it is permitted. Remoh (ibid.) rules according to the second lenient opinion.
Teshuvos Vehanhogos (Y.D. 249) mentions in regards to a Gentile house helper that stays alone for a while, that the general custom is to allow the meat if the helper is trusted and honest or is afraid that the owner may return unexpectedly and be caught in the act of exchange. Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur Shulchan Oruch (p. 473) adds another reason to be lenient, namely when the helper has nothing to gain from the switch.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a advises that it is preferable to keep the meat in the original sealed packages. If used, reseal them when possible or keep in mind an identifying mark. The fact that you can tell if it was salted or not is also a siman. However, lacking the above, after the fact, one can be lenient if any of the other above mentioned criteria were met.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
