Dining Etiquette -Licking the fingers:

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Dining Etiquette -Licking the fingers:

Introduction: Amongst the laws associated with eating, and the proper blessing that should be said before and afterwards, are also laws relating to eating etiquette or table manners. The Torah directs us that our eating is to be done in a polite and respectful format, befitting of respectful individuals, and one should not debase himself while eating to act like an unmannered and low-class individual.

The law:[1] Amongst the laws of table manners is recorded that one should not lick his fingers when he eats. Although eating with one’s hands is sometimes acceptable[2], by certain foods, nonetheless, one should not lick the food from his fingers, and is rather to use a napkin and the like to clean them. This certainly applies when eating with a fork and knife, and one just happened to get food on his fingers.

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[1] Miseches Derech Eretz Zuta 5; Rokeiach 329; Reishis Chochmah Shaar Hanava 7:5; Elya Raba 170:23; Chesed Lealafim 170:5; Kaf Hachaim [Falagi] 22:63; Aruch Hashulchan 170:7; Ben Ish Chaiy Behar 1:9; Kaf Hachaim 170:72; Ketzos Hashulchan 39:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 170:14

[2] See Nedarim 49b; Shelah Shaar Haosiyos Kuf

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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