Zimun with a secular Jew who does not recite Birkat HaMazon
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Question
A soldier in the army asked me: he sits in the dining hall for meals with secular soldiers who publicly desecrate Shabbat, and he asks regarding zimun: those who sit with him, although they do not themselves recite Birkat HaMazon, do answer his zimun, and this is a nice “ceremony” in their eyes, and they answer "shamayim" and so on. The question is whether he may make a zimun with them (of course, when there are no other religious soldiers present).
A. They are secular and publicly desecrate Shabbat,
B. They do not recite Birkat HaMazon,
C. Perhaps one could permit this, since in this way he might draw them closer and connect them to religion,
D. Perhaps one could permit it in that, by making the zimun and reciting at least the first blessing aloud, he can have in mind to discharge their obligation and tell them that he is discharging them, and presumably they will not refuse.
A. They are secular and publicly desecrate Shabbat,
B. They do not recite Birkat HaMazon,
C. Perhaps one could permit this, since in this way he might draw them closer and connect them to religion,
D. Perhaps one could permit it in that, by making the zimun and reciting at least the first blessing aloud, he can have in mind to discharge their obligation and tell them that he is discharging them, and presumably they will not refuse.
Answer
Shalom u’vracha
They cannot be joined for a zimun.
Source
Mishnah Berurah, siman 199, se’if katan 2
וכ"ש מי שהוא רשע ועובר עבירות בפרהסיא דאין מזמנין עליו [מ"א וש"א]: (And all the more so one who is wicked and transgresses sins publicly, that we do not make a zimun over him [Ma’amad Adam and Shulchan Aruch]).
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