1) One who has a glass of frozen water or other liquid should not place it near a fire or other heat source [in a place where it cannot reach Yad Soledes Bo] in order to thaw the ice, as many Poskim regard doing this as crushing the ice with your hands. (Rama Siman 318:16)
In cases of great necessity (e.g. the water is needed for a non-deathly ill person or an infant) this can be done and we can rely on the Poskim that consider doing this as a causative action (Grama) and thus not prohibited. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 318:16)
2)However, if the proximity of the ice to the heat source is such that it would eventually reach the temperature of Yad Soledes Bo if left there for the duration of Shabbos, it is prohibited even in cases of great necessity (Besides Pikuach Nefesh of course), due to the prohibition of Bishul, cooking. (See Mishna Berura Siman 258:2)
B'dieved, if this ice was placed near the heat source and it thawed, it is permissible to drink the liquid. (Mishna Berura Siman 318:107)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1)If a few ice cubes were placed in an empty bowl and they melted and turned into water, according to many Poskim it is permitted to drink the water, as no action was done to cause them to melt. (Mishna Berura Siman 318:107 quoting the Shulchan Aruch HaRav. See also Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 7 Siman40)
Some Poskim, however, rule that it is best to avoid drinking this water unless in cases of great necessity. (HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal quoted in Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchaso Perek 10:3)
2) In cases of necessity for use on Shabbos, it is permitted to remove a frozen juice or dessert from the freezer and allow them to sit at room temperature until they thaw and melt. (as even the Poskim who prohibit doing this, agree that if it was done it may be eaten. Thus, in cases of necessity L'Kavod Shabbos we rule that it may be done L'Chatchila, even according to them as long as it wasn't placed near a fire or other heat source.)
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.
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Reader's Question:
I learned in halachos of aninus and aveilus that a Kohen may only become tamei (impure, to handle or be near the corpse) for one of his 7 deceased direct relatives if the body is whole and intact. Does this restriction apply to a relative who had during his life a surgery that resulted in an organ like appendix, a tooth, or a sinew being removed, or say some cosmetic surgery was performed?
Answer:
You are correct, that a Kohen may only handle the body of one of his 7 relatives (His father, mother,son, daughter, wife, paternal brother, and paternal sister who was never married) when the body is whole.
According to one opinion in the Shulchan Aruch, organs that were missing while the person was alive, are not a problem, and the body is still considered whole.(See Shulcan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 373:9).
According to Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal (Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 1 Siman 251) only missing organs that are evident on the outside of the body would proclude a Kohen from touching the body of the relative, but internal blemishes (such as the examples you gave) are not a problem.
Of course, for Halacha L'Ma'aseh a Rav should be consulted.
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