- Q. Dear Rov Shlit’a. One that suffers from protein deficiency in his system and it causes illnesses in him. He was told by his doctor to eat some special chocolate bars that contain high protein content as a cure. Is one allowed to eat them during Shabbat?
A. Our Sages prohibited taking medication on Shabbos out of concern that one may grind the herbs and other materials to make them, which would be a Torah prohibition of grinding (tochein) on Shabbos.
Nowadays, most people don’t make their own remedies; nevertheless, the agreement of contemporary Poskim is, that we cannot undo a rabbinic prohibition even if the reason is no longer applicable, especially when some still prepare compound homemade remedies.
However, in our case, those special high protein chocolate bars, although they contain added and needed protein, they are mainly a common food and can be eaten on Shabbos.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a
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