Kavod haRav,
My friend in South Africa makes a living off making biltong (beef jerky). Due to tremendous shortages of kosher meat that have hit the South African market, it is severely affecting his business and therefore his parnassah.
Is there any heter anywhere that will allow him to start making non-kosher beef jerky to sell to non-Jews?
Answer:
I don’t know of a heter to sell non-kosher meat to non-Jews.
There is a dispute among authorities as whether the prohibition against selling non-kosher meat is a Torah prohibition or a rabbinic prohibition (see Rambam, Forbidden Foods 8:17-18; Rashba 3:223; Beis Yosef, Yoreh De’ah 117; Taz 117:1; Shach 117:2; see also Chasam Sofer Yoreh De’ah 104).
However, according to all authorities it is not permitted to sell the meat, and parnassah needs, though certainly recognized as sha’as hadechak and a reason to lean towards leniency, will not suffice to permit this.
Best wishes and I sincerely hope business will pick up.
