During my conversion to Judaism, is it permissible to make a before and after beracha on bishul akum?
A prospective convert finds herself in a strange position. While taking on some practices, converts are Gentiles who are not commanded in the 613 mitzvot, nor to Jewish practice.
Bishul Akum is the Rabbinic prohibition of eating food cooked by Gentiles. According to Sephardic custom a Jew must be involved in every part of the cooking process. According to Ashkenazic practice, A Jew must merely be involved in part of the process, usually the lighting of the fire. Obviously only Jews are prohibited in eating bishul akum, food cooked by Gentiles.
We make a bracha, a blessing, before we eat food. The beracha, while formulated in praise, acts a license to partake of this world. Our Rabbis debate whether one should make a bracha on forbidden food. We follow the opinion that to praise God through food God has forbidden us to eat is nothing short of a chutzpah.
Taking these facts into account, we would assume that a Jew, let alone a Gentile, who is not commanded in making berachot at all, should not make a bracha on the forbidden food of bishul akum. Yet, the Aruch Hashulchan says the opposite. Calling bishul akum a light prohibition, he says it wouldn't be a chutzpah to make a brachah on it. Therefore he holds a Jew, and we can extend his opinion to Gentiles as well, should make a brach on bishul akum.
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