Thursday
22 Iyar 5771;37th Day of the Omer
May 26, 2011
1) Ice or snow may not be crushed and turned into water on Shabbos. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 320:9)
According to some Rishonim (including the Rambam Hilchos Shabbos Perek 21:13) the reason for this prohibition is that doing so is [like] Sechitah ; extracting water from ice is like extracting juice from fruits. (Other Rishonim, although they agree it is prohibited, maintain that the reason is not due to Sechitah, rather due to Molid or Nolad, Melachos which we shall discuss more at length B'Ezras Hashem when we get to Hilchos Muktzeh)
2) However, it is permissible to place ice into a glass of water or other liquid, even though the ice will melt, as this is happening by itself and isn't being done deliberately with your hands. (Shulchan Aruch ibid.)
Some Poskim even allow crushing the ice deliberately with your hands, if it is being done while the ice is in the glass of water or other liquid. (See Mishna Berura Siman 320:34)
L'Chatchila, however, it is best to be stringent with this. (See Biur Halacha Siman 320:11 Dibur Hamaschil Yizaher)
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:
Shabbos comes in at a set time. We greet shabbos kodesh with shabbos candles and tefillos.
My question is regarding Motzei shabbos. As much as we love shabbos and dont want her to leave, shabbos goes out at a certain time (based on each's minhag i.e. 45, 60 or 72 minutes past Shkia). What is the reason behind saying "Hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" (when doing activity before havdalah)?
Is it necessary?
Or is it a way that we escort the shabbos queen away, along with havdalah? If I do malacha once shabbos is completely over, without saying "hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" and without hearing havdalah is this wrong-Shabbos is only here for 25 hours, after that isn't shabbos kodesh over?
Also, a few of my friends and I were once debating what exactly should be recited? "Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'chol" "Boruch Hamavdil bein kodesh lchol", or "Boruch Ata HaShem Elokeinu Melech Haolam Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L'chol"?
Answer:
There is a concept known as "Tosfos Shabbos" , adding on to Shabbos, both at the onset and at its conclusion. (See Biur Halacha Siman 261:2, that this is a biblical obligation)
There is no set amount that needs to be added, but at least a short amount needs to be added, and it is up to each individual how long to add. For example, a woman that lights candles 18 minutes before sunset on Friday night (or men who daven maariv early on Shabbos in the summer months) accept Shabbos upon themselves early, and may not do any Melachos after that time, even though it is technicalyy not Shabbos yet according to the clock!
The same applies to Motzei Shabbos, where each person should extend Shabbos for as long as possible. For example if one is still in middle of Seudah Shlishis well past sunset, it is still Shabbos and Retzei is still recited in Birchas HaMazon, even if the clock shows that Shabbos is over for a long time already!
Thus, the only real way to know that Shabbos is over and that your "Tosfos Shabbos" is no longer being observed, is by reciting Havdalah[in Shemona Esrei of Maariv and then again on a cup of wine], or at a minimum saying "Baruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol". Doing Melacha before saying these words, even if the clock says its Motzei Shabbos, is very problematic, and should be avoided.
The accepted text to say is "Baruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol"
Even after saying this short text, no real Melacha should be done until after a proper Havdalah on a cup of wine has been said/heard.
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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אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
"Some people believe that holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go... "
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