Sunday 4 Iyar 5771;19th Day of the Omer May 8, 2011
We will now resume our journey into the Halachos of the thirty nine Melachos and begin studying the Melacha of "Dosh" and its Toladah, "Sechita".
1) The Av (primary) Melacha Dosh, a Melacha closely related to Borer, literally means to thresh and separate something from its source.
In the Mishkan, wheat kernels were extracted from the chaff, the hard casing around the kernel which is inedible for humans, in order to then produce flour for use in Menachos offerings as well as to produce the loaves of bread to place in the Shulchan as well as for other Avodos.
The Toladah (extension) of Dosh is the Melacha of Sechita, which literally means to squeeze something from its source.
2) The prohibition of Dosh applies to fruits that are normally threshed in the field and not later on when ready for consumption.
Fruits that are normally separated from their hull immediately prior to eating are not subject to this Melacha. (See Eglei Tal, Maleches Dosh; 5; S"K 11)
Thus, for example, grapes may be removed from their stems on Shabbos (immediately before being consumed, in order to avoid Borer) and are not subject to the Melacha of Dosh.
Likewise, peanuts and almonds may be cracked open and the nut removed from the shell, immediately before consumption. (See Shmiras Shabbos K'Hilchasa Perek 3 footnote 92. See also Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 1 Siman 38 and Shu"t Minchas Yitzchak Vol. 3 Siman 32. There are Poskim, based on the Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 319:9, that are stringent, and thus some people use a Shinui when cracking open nuts.)
However, the outer hull of an almond (which protects the inner shell) which is usually removed before reaching the consumer may not be removed on Shabbos. (See Rama Siman 319:6 and Mishna Berura S"K 24)
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:
If we limit our happiness during Sefirah and even more so as you posted that we can not even listen to music for fear of bringing about happiness, why then is Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) not marked.
I have always heard the excuse that Nissan is to be a happy month and therefore it is inappropriate to mourn. Having said that then do the halachas regarding dancing and singing only apply after or on Rosh Chodesh Iyar? That would seem to follow would it not?
Answer:
First of all, according to many customs, the mourning of Sefirah indeed only begins on or after Rosh Chodesh Iyar.
Secondly, who says that Yom Hashoah isnt marked? Many people do in fact commemorate this day as a day of rememberance for the 6,000,000 Kedoshim that were savagely murdered by Hitler and the Nazis Yemach Shemam V'Zichram.
Lastly, many Gedolim, including Rav Yitzchok Hutner, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitzik and Rav Mordechai Gifter Zichronam L'Vracha, just to name a few, were of the opinion that Tisha B'Av was established by the Chachamim to commemorate not only the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, but all subsequent Churbanos as well, including the crusades, the inquisition and the holocaust. In fact we have many inos on Tisha B'Av that commemorate tragedies other than the actual Churban Bais Hamikdash, and even some Kinos authored by the Bobov Rebbe and Rav Shimon Schwab Zichronam L'Vracha which address the holocaust directly.
They held not to establish other days of commemoration for each tragedy, as all subsequent tragedies were extensions of the Churban Bais Hamikdash throughout the ages, as Chazal teach us that any generation that doesnt merit the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdash is considered as if the Bais Hamikdash was once again destroyed in that generation.
Every congregation, with the consultation of their respective Rabbonim, should decide for themselves which tradition to follow.
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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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
"The Jew is enjoined to be like Aharon Hakohen and 'love mankind and bring them close to Torah'.
Should it not be the other way around?
Isn't our first obligation to Torah and then to people?
From here we learn that first we must love another person because the only way to bring another Jew to Torah is to love him."
- Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin -
Important Numbers
