Asking a gentile to feed a child non-Kosher food or have him perform another prohibition:[1]
It is prohibited for any individual to instruct a non-Jew to provide a child with non-Kosher food [even if the prohibition is only Rabbinical[2]] or to transgress any other prohibition, even if the child is below the age of understanding.[3]
If the child needs to eat the food, such as for medical necessity:[4] If a child requires non-Kosher food for medical reasons, such as mild illness, it is permissible to request that a non-Jew administer the forbidden food to the child, [even if the food is Biblically prohibited[5]].[6] This allowance, however, applies only when no Kosher alternative is available for the child. [7] [For clarification regarding the age at which one is considered a child in this context, see Q&A below.]
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[1] Admur 343:5 “If a gentile feeds a prohibited item to a child who is not yet capable of understanding, the child’s father is not required to protest. However, it is forbidden for any Jew to tell a gentile to feed the child, since instructing a gentile is prohibited with regard to all prohibitions of the Torah. All the more so is it forbidden to tell the child himself to do so.”; M”A 343:3; Rabbeinu Yerucham Nesiv 1 in name of Rameh
[2] So is implied from Setimas Admur here; however, see the continuation where he writes “since instructing a gentile is prohibited with regard to all prohibitions of the Torah.” Vetzaruch Iyun as Halachically, asking a non-Jew to instruct a child to perform a rabbinic prohibition constitutes a threefold rabbinic prohibition (shevut de‑shevut de‑shevut): instructing a non-Jew is itself rabbinically prohibited; a minor performing a prohibited act involves a separate rabbinic concern; and the underlying prohibition itself is rabbinic. This stands in contrast to instructing a child directly to perform a rabbinic prohibition, which constitutes a double rabbinic prohibition (shevut de‑shevut) and remains prohibited, as explained above.
[3] The reason: This is because asking a non-Jew to perform a prohibited act on one’s behalf is forbidden with respect to all biblical prohibitions. [Admur 343:5; 243:1]
[4] Admur 343:5 “If, however, the child requires it—such as when he is somewhat ill—it is permitted to tell a gentile to feed him, for the needs of a minor are treated as those of a sick person who is not in danger. In such a case, the Sages permitted instructing a gentile even regarding biblical prohibitions, as explained in siman 328. Similarly, if the child requires wine to drink and no Jewish wine is available, but only ordinary wine of gentiles, and the wine is not strong enough to be rendered permissible through dilution of six parts water to one part wine (as explained in Yoreh De’ah siman 134), it is permitted to tell a gentile to give him to drink.”; M”A 343:3; See also Admur 328:19; 22; 450:24-25; Tehila Ledavid 343:4
[5] So is evident from the reason of Admur, brought in next footnote, and so rules Mishneh Berura 343:5
[6] The reason: Since the needs of a child are halachically equated with those of a non‑dangerously ill person, by which the Sages permitted instructing a non‑Jew to transgress on his behalf even by a biblical prohibition. [Admur ibid; 328:19; 22; 450:24-25; Tehila Ledavid 343:4] As for why Admur limits this leniency here to a case where the child is slightly ill—despite the general principle that even the needs of a healthy child carry the status of one who is ill—this is because there is no necessity for a healthy child to consume specifically non‑kosher food, absent medical need. Accordingly, such a case would not arise with respect to a healthy child. [Ketzos HaShulchan 147, footnote 5]
[7] This is evident from the fact that if possible Admur [ibid] requires one to dilute non-Kosher wine of a gentile with water in a way that it no longer retains its prohibition, rather than ask a gentile to feed it to the child in its current state.
