1) According to most Poskim it is permitted to squeeze fruits and vegetables if their juices are immediately absorbed directly into a food, as the prohibition of Sechitah is to extract liquid from a food, and this juice that is being absorbed by the food is considered "food" and not seen as a liquid. (See Talmud Shabbos 144b and Shulchan Aruch Siman 320:4)
According to a minority of Poskim (Based on the opinion of Rabbeinu Chananel quoted in Shu"t HaRosh Klal 22:1 and in Mishna Berura Siman 320:30) even squeezing into a food is prohibited.
One who is stringent in regard to this will be blessed. (Ibid.)
2) This call for stringency, according to many Poskim, is only relevant in regard to squeezing those fruits which are biblically prohibited (i.e. olives and grapes, and perhaps oranges and other fruits that are usually squeezed, as we discussed a few days ago) (See Chayei Adam Klal 14:3)
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) Squeezing lemons into a food is permitted, and the aforementioned stringency (of being concerned for the opinion of Rabbeinu Chananel) does not need to be applied as there are additional leniencies that apply to lemons that can be relied upon. (See Biur Halacha Siman 320:6 Dibur Hamaschil V'Lischot Limons)
2) The permissibility for fruits and vegetables to be squeezed directly into a food applies only if all of the juice gets absorbed, or is otherwise subordinated to or used to enhance the food.
However, if some of the juice will remain alone in the plate and won't become part of the food or in any way enhance the consumption of the food, it is prohibited to squeeze the fruit. (See Chazon Ish Siman 56:1.)
Squeezing a lemon onto a piece of fish is permitted, as even though some of the lemon juice runs off onto the plate, this is considered the normal way to eat and all the juice is considered to be enhancing the food. (See Sefer Orchos Shabbos page 195 footnote 26)
The final verdict in the Japanese trial of Yaakov Yosef ben Raizel is scheduled for this coming Monday, May 16th, (Sunday in America). The closing arguments for Yoel Zev ben Mirel Risa Chava took place yesterday. Rabbanim are asking that we increase our davening for them in this most crucial week.
Attention women and girls:
This Motzei Shabbos, May 14th, at 10 pm Eastern Standard Time, there will be a Tehillim teleconference for the boys in Japan . The number 212-990-8000. PIN number 3067#.
Mrs. Rena Kanarek will be giving a Shiur on Sefer Tehillim
Mrs. Kanarek is a former high school teacher, having taught in Breuer's in Washington Heights, in Bruria in New Jersey and in Bais Yaakov in Atlanta. Now she gives many lecturers to the women in the Atlanta community covering the whole spectrum of Jewish thinking.
Due to expected high call volume, if you can't get through on the first number, try the new number : 718-258-2008. Choose option 9 and then 9 again
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:
What is the source for a woman who is expecting a child not to look at animals? Does this apply to fish as well?
Answer:
This is something which many people mistakenly attribute to the fact that animals in the zoo are impure (Tamei) and as such will cause the fetus to become impure.
In fact, that is not the reason at all, as pregnant women may go to funerals and cemeteries, which are more impure than zoos (See Shu"t Minchas Yitzchok Vol. 10 Siman 42)
The real source for this is found in the 18th century Kabalistic work "Sefer Habris" (Vol. 1 Ma'amar 17, page 242- 243) where he describes how a pregnant woman can see a strange or scary things and become scared, and can end up having her baby with skin deformities resembling the scary/strange thing . He brings some interesting anecdotes where such things actually happened (and a whole regimen of spitting 13 times over the first 10 days after the baby is born etc. is required in order to cure the deformities)
Thus, it developed the custom that women stayed away from zoos where they were sure to encounter strange/scary creatures.
Nowadays when we are much more familiar with strange and exotic animals, and we often see photos of all sorts of creatures, there is less to worry about, and indeed this is why the prevalent custom is for pregnant women to indeed go to zoos.
Thus, there is no inherent problem with her seeing an animal, and definitely no problem looking at fish. (The above is based in large part on a shiur by HaRav Shmuel Felder Shlita, Dayan in Bais Medrash Govoha, Lakewood NJ) 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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אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
"Some people think very low in their weekday pursuits.
Their activities are devoid of even a spark of sanctity.
Then, when Shabbos comes and work is prohibited, they try to change from their spiritually 'extinguished' mode to one of spiritual fire and warmth.
The Torah tells us, -'You must not kindle a fire . . . on the day of Shabbos'.
One should not light a fire - even a spiritual flame on Shabbos. He must imbue his weekly activities with warmth and sanctity as well, so that when Shabbos comes and he increases sanctity, he is not just beginning to create the fire."
The Chasam Sofer Zatzal quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
