1) An item which was already ground up is no longer subject to the prohibition of being ground up again.
Thus, breads, cakes, cookies and similar items, which are made from wheat which was already ground up into flour, may be ground up into crumbs on Shabbos. (See Rama Siman 321:12 and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Lefarer)
2) The grinding up of a previously ground item may even be done with the assistance of a fork or knife. (ibid.)
However, this should not be done with a specialized grinding utensil as utilizing such a utensil is considered "Uvda D'Chol, a weekday way of doing things" (ibid.)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) A sugar cube may be ground up to produce loose sugar, as the cube was originally loose sugar, and thus no longer subject to the prohibition of Tochen.
Likewise, salt or sugar which, due to the moistness in the air, hardened into a clump may be ground up and returned to its original loose state.
However, they may only be ground back into the state from which they started (i.e. regular salt/sugar crystals) but may not be further ground up to make them finer and more powdery than they originally were as doing so would be a prohibition of Tochen.
2) Dried mud or similar grime that got stuck to ones shoes or clothing may not be scraped off on Shabbos as doing so may cause the mud to be ground up. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 302:7)
In extreme circumstances where not removing the mud will be an issue of "Kavod Habriyos, affecting the human dignity of the wearer" a non-Jew may be asked to remove the offending matter from the shoes or clothing. (See Mishna Berura Siman 302:36 and Sha'ar HaTziyun Os 44)
Tam V'Nishlam.
With gratitude to Hashem Yisborach, this brings us to the end of our foray into Hilchos Tochen. Next week we shall, B'Ezras Hashem, begin studying another of the 39 Melachos.
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:
As I was growing up, I remember people (I dont remember if friends or adults) would say that you're not supposed to look at the moon. Is there any truth to this?
Answer:
Yes, there is a lot of truth to this!
The Sefer Chareidim, one of the holy Mekubalim in the times of the Bais yosef and the Arizal, writes (Perek 45:5) "It is prohibited to gaze at a rainbow...It is likewise prohibited to gaze at the moon. Rabbeinu Meir used to be extremely stringent with this...as it is quoted in Sefer Shoshan sodos"
In the Sefer Taamei haMinhagim (Kuntres Achron to Siman 464:22) he quotes the Sefer Shevet HaMussar that Al Pi Kabalah it is just as bad to gaze at the moon as it is to gaze at a rainbow.
In the long Nusach of Vidui from Rabbeinu Avraham, father of the Shla HaKadosh, where he enumerates hundreds of possible sins that a person needs to do Teshuva for, he lists as one of the sins " Gazing at the [new] moon"
The Mishna Berura Siman 426:13 brings this as well, and says that by Kidush Levana when we must look at the moon before commencing the Bracha, acording to some opinions the moon should be glanced at for a moment and that's all, and according to otHERS it can be looked at for the duration of the Bracha, but it seems clear that any extra gazing at the moon is indeed something that should be avoided at best and may even be considered a sin!
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.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HALACHAFORTODAY@YAHOO.COM
Important Numbers
