Are Olives Kosher?

Why do people not eat olives?

Shalom!

Good Question!

Correct. There does exist an aversion to eating olives, although it is not forbidden to do so.

The Talmud teaches that eating olives can cause one "to forget," generally assumed to refer to forgetting one’s Torah knowledge. (1) There is a concern that if one were to forget one's Torah knowledge due to indulging in olives one might be in violation of the Torah prohibition against causing oneself to forget one's studies!(2)

If this is true, how is it permitted to eat olives? Why do many God-fearing Jews eat olives?

It is noted that there is no mention of a ban on eating olives in the Shulchan Aruch (though there are a number of things that are indeed listed there that are forbidden lest one come to forget one's studies.). As such, it is suggested that eating olives is not truly forbidden, rather, it is merely advisory in nature not to do so.(3)

Furthermore, some explain that the Talmudic ban against eating olives only applies to raw olives. According to this approach, one’s memory would not affected by eating any of commercial olives that are found in stores nowadays. All such olives are cured, soaked, or otherwise marinated in some way. Indeed, it is virtually impossible to eat raw olives. (4) Even adding salt to a raw olive removes it from the designation of “raw”. Indeed, the sages of the Talmud seemed to be comfortable eating such olives.(5)

It is also noted that the Talmud says that eating olives is only a problem when they are eaten “ragil,” meaning, eaten regularly. Eating olives occasionally, however, wouldn’t be a problem. Eating olives along with olive oil is also said to negate the harmful effects of olives.

[1] Horiyot 13b.

[2] Divrei Malkiel 4:1. But see Sefer Chassidim 1008.

[3] Nevertheless, the Magen Avraham OC:170 and Aruch Hashulchan OC 170:2 rule that one should not eat olives.

[4] Mor Uktzia 170.

[5] Berachot 38b.