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I heard that it was preferred, or perhaps even required, to avoid eating food while standing. For example, as people often do at a cocktail party.

With the reason being that "animals eat standing up thus we Jews only eat while sitting"

Is it a minhag? Chumra? Halacha? Sources? Thanks.

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Your language (in the title and first sentence) is confusing; surely you don't entertain the possibility that it is preferred to eat while standing up? – Dave Apr 5 '12 at 5:45
@Dave I've edited to match what I believe Larry's intended meaning was... if I have failed to do so accurately, I encourage him to edit accordingly. – yoel Apr 5 '12 at 5:48
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Al Pi Kabala there is a very serious inyan to sit while eating. The Arizal used to make sure to sit down before taking the first sip of the Kidush cup. – Hacham Gabriel Apr 6 '12 at 1:56
My mother always warned me that if I ate standing up I would get really big feet. – Double AA♦ May 2 '12 at 0:38

2 Answers

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Maseches Derech Eretz Zuta Ch. 5 states: "One who is a Talmid Chacham (Torah scholar) should not eat while standing." From the context it is evident that this behavior is considered unrefined. Apparently there would not be anything halachically wrong for a non-scholar to eat while standing, though it's quite understandable why one would want to avoid it. Certainly it is not forbidden to do so -- the Gemara in Berachos 51b actually discusses cases where one ate while traveling or standing. (I would note that regarding this matter, a "Talmid Chacham" is probably anyone who is perceived as a Torah scholar, even if he does not consider himself to be particularly learned.)

Another point is that the Gemara in Gittin (70b) lists eating (or drinking) while standing as something that damages a person's body. Rambam (Hilchos De'os 4:3) simply states that one should sit or lean to his left side when he eats.

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up vote 2 down vote

From Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim Siman 182:9 and 206:6 it would seem that there is no Issur to eat/drink while standing or walking.

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I don't see that anywhere in my edition of the Ktzos. Unless you mean simanim in a different book... – Baal Shemot Tovot Apr 5 '12 at 5:57
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Siman in which Sefer? – Shmuel Brin Apr 5 '12 at 6:18

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