CURRENT TOPIC: HILCHOS SHABBOS; 39 MELACHOS; FOOD PREPARATION
Now that the Chagim are behind us, we will resume our coverage of the Halachos of the thirty nine melachos of Shabbos.
So far we covered the Halachos of Bishul, Borer, Dosh, Tochen and Lisha.
1) In preparation of food and drink, often certain precautions need to be taken to ensure that no Shabbos prohibitions are transgressed. We will now examine a few common food preparation activities.
Although, coloring and painting items is a prohibition on Shabbos, according to many Rishonim there is absolutely no such prohibition when it comes to food items. (This is halachically referred to as "Ain Tzviah B'Ochlin". see Bais Yosef Siman 320 quoting the Shibolei Haleket and Sefer Yereim)
The reason for this not being prohibited, according to these Rishonim, is that food items are not regularly colored and thus even when they happen to become colored they are not subject to the prohibition.
2) Thus, according to these Rishonim there is never a problem when adding a Turmeric or other colorful spice or dye to a food item (providing that there is no issue of Bishul, cooking) that will then assume the color of the spice.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are 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@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
We are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of Mashiach.
Can you possibly explain what we are waiting for?
I know that I am not the only one of your readers who doesn't really understand what will happen when Mashiach comes. Though I know that my Neshama is yearning for him to come, I don't really know exactly what I should be yearning for.
Answer:
To answer your question, I have translated for you (as best I can) a line of Gemara and a few paragraphs of the Rambam that deal with this issue, which I hope will sufficiently give you at least a little glimpse into what kind of world we can expect when he arrives, may it be soon and may we merit going along with him:
* The only difference between the world as we know it and the world after Mashiach arrives is that the subjugation of the nations over the Jews will cease. (Talmud Brachos 34b)
* For what reason did the Jewish nation and its wise men and prophets crave the arrival of Mashiach? So that they can get a break from the evil governments which didn't allow them to peacefully and properly study Torah and perform Mitzvos.
Ridding them of these oppressive regimes in the Galus will allow them to amass more wisdom and thus help them merit eternal life in Olam Haba, as in the days of Mashiach there will be an increase of Da'as, knowledge, Chochma, wisdom and Emes, truth...
...The king, a descendant of Dovid that will be in place at that time will be wiser than Shlomo Hamelech he will be almost as big a prophet as Moshe Rabbeinu, and therefore he will teach the nation the way of Hashem, and even the nations of the world will come to listen to him...
The [physical] world will continue to function as before with the exception that the reigning kingdom will be the Jewish nation. (Rambam Hilchos Teshuva Perek 9 Halacha 2. He writes similar language in Hilchos Melachim Perek 12 Halacha 4)
* [Regarding the appearance of Eliyahu Hanavi to announce Mashiach's arrival, as well as other details of war and peace that will precede Mashiach] nobody will know what will transpire until it happens, as these occurrences were hidden from all the prophets, and even the Chachamim only deduce certain events based on their interpretation of various Pesukim, and thus even amongst themselves there is a lot of differences of opinion.
Bottom line, knowing exactly how these things will unfold is not an important tenet of Judaism, and is best if the Midrashim and Aggados regarding them are not delved into too deeply, as getting too involved in these matters does not bring to love and/or fear of heaven. Also, it is best to stay away from trying to calculate the timing of the arrival of Mashiach, as the Chachamim said that those who delve into these calculations will lose their minds.
Rather, we must wait and believe in the imminent arrival of Mashiach, as it can be any moment. (Rambam Hilchos Melachim Perek 12 Halacha 2)
* When Mashiach arrives there will be no more hunger, war, jealousy or strife. The abundant goodness of Hashem will be so plentiful and all the pleasures of the world will be readily available like earth. The only thing the inhabitants of the world will busy themselves with is the knowledge of Hashem... (Rambam Hilchos Melachim Perek 12 Halacha 5)
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmas the late Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Yaakov ben Rav Binyomin Moshe Stein Zatzal.
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@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה
The Korban Todah was brought as a means to give thanks to Hashem after a person experienced a miraculous salvation and underwent a life-altering change.
But if a person lives a normal life - he and his family are healthy, blessed with sustenance and happiness - should he be any less obligated to give thanks for the pain that was withheld?
Rav Elazar Menachem Shach Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
