Sunday
11 Iyar 5771;26th Day of the Omer
May 15, 2011
1) is permissible to squeeze a lemon into a vegetable salad, even though some of the juice will sink to the bottom and not be totally absorbed into the vegetables.
The same applies for squeezing lemons (and oranges according to opinions other than Rabbeinu Chananel) into grated carrots, Cole slaw and similar foods; as long as most of the juice is absorbed into the food. (See Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 505:2)
2) The permissibility of squeezing fruits into food applies only if it is being squeezed straight into the food.
However, it is prohibited to squeeze into a spoon or other empty utensil even if the intention is to then pour it from the spoon directly into a food. (See Mishna Berura Siman 320:18)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
Can you use sticky notes (e.g. POST IT® Notes or Flags) on Shabbos as bookmarks if you use it before Shabbos as a bookmark?
Answer:
Some Poskim prohibit using these sticky notes as bookmarks on Shabbos, regardless if they were used before Shabbos for this purpose or not.
The reasoning is that although you may plan to remove it, it is still possible for it to remain there permanently (i.e at least 30 days).
This is different than the sticky tabs of a baby diaper, which are only meant to stay closed for a short time and will then be removed and discarded. (See Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa Perek 15:81 footnote 250. see also "The Shabbos Home" Vol.1 by Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen Shlita pages 72-74 and in footnote 17.
According to these Poskim, If it is mistakenly placed in a book or on another surface on Shabbos, it is best to remove it right away to ensure that it doesnt remain there for 24 hours.
There are Poskim who are lenient and allow these sticky bookmarks to be used regardless if they will be there for a long time or not, as they rule that "Tofer" and "Koiraya", sewing and removing stitches applies only to something that is difficult to apply and remove, and not to these flags which are easily applied and removed.
In the newly revised edition of Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa he rules that they may be used provided that a) they are removed from the pack before Shabbos and b) they are used for a short time. He doesn't define how short a "short time" is though. (I spoke to a prominent Posek and he said that a "short time" in this case is less than 24 hours)
Thus, if being used for a short time on Shabbos , there is room for leniencey. If planning to leave it there for the entire Shabbos and beyond (i.e. more than 24 hours), it is best to be stringent.
For Halacha L'Ma'aseh a Rav must be consulted.
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
Question:
It was said here we should be close minded and narrow minded. But we heard from a prominent Mashgiach we should be open minded.
Answer by HaRav Avigdor Miller Zatzal:
The answer is this: If your mind is closed and it's only on the subject of Hashem, it's the most open mind there is. If your mind is open to anything that comes in, it's the most closed mind there is. Because let's say your mind is open, so whatever you hear comes into your mind. So what is the result? All kinds of sewage collects in your mind, all kinds of garbage, so there is nothing in your mind at all, nothing there at all.
But when your mind is always full of Hashem, full of Torah, full of noble thoughts, full of Bechina, full of ideals of the Torah, you're closed minded; nothing can come in except the good things.
I'll give you a Mashal:
In a bank vault, it's a closed place. There's nothing there but gold and silver and greenbacks, that's all there is there.
You want an open place, walk out of the bank and stop at the curb and look down into the sewer, that's an open place.
Important Numbers
