Factory Bread in the Aseres Yemei Teshuva

Question: I usually buy commercially baked bread with a hechsher from my local supermarket. Do I need to avoid eating such bread during the aseres yemei teshuva?

Answer: The Mishna (Avoda Zara 35b) teaches that we must not eat pas akum, bread baked by a non-Jew. The Gemara explains that Chazal instituted this in order to prevent assimilation with non-Jews. Tosafos writes that according to the Yerushalmi, the ban on bread was lifted, as it was too restrictive to limit such a staple food.

The Shulchan Aruch (YD 112:2) writes that while one may never buy bread from a non-Jewish ‘home baker’, one may buy from a commercial baker (pas palter) when there is no local Jewish baker. Nonetheless, the Rema (ibid; Toras Chatas 75:1) writes that one may buy pas palter even when there is a local Jewish baker (see Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 38:1; Aruch Hashulchan YD 112:17). Thus, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 2:33) writes that one may eat factory bagels if they prefer them to the local bakery. R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 5:596) writes that R’ Moshe Feinstein maintained that bread baked in modern factories can be eaten, and would not even be considered pas palter. Nonetheless, R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 6:108:6) writes that the Chazon Ish argued that it is preferable to buy from one’s local Jewish baker.

The poskim write that one should be meticulous in their observance during the aseres yemei teshuva (See Baer Heitev OC 603:1). Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 603:1) writes that one who eats pas palter during the year, should refrain from eating it during the aseres yemei teshuva. Seemingly, R’ Moshe Feinstein would allow one to eat commercially baked bread during the aseres yemei teshuva, though others, including R’ Shmuel Wosner would not.

The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 603:2) warns against taking on certain chumros during this time, as doing so may necessitate that they continue observing it. Instead, he urges that one examine their actions and do teshuva.

In conclusion, it is preferable to avoid buying commercially baked bread during the aseres yemei teshuva, though if faced with no choice, one may buy it.