Q. I heard recently that disposing off or throwing out an old stove that has an oven, might be against the Tzavoe of Rabbi Yehuda Hachosid. Is that true, and is there a correct way of doing it?
A. It is true that Rabbi Yehuda Hechasid mentions in his Tzavaa,(#58), that it is perilous to destroy or dismantle an oven and stove that one bakes in, he should rather fix it. The reason, according to Shivim Temarim (58) relates to interfering with Mazikim who may dwell there. According to responsa Ben Porath (2-11), it is similar to destroying a fruit tree, as an oven also produces fruits, the baked goods that emerge from it. He quotes a Talmud Yerushalmi passage (Shevuoth 10-3) that equates the removing of bread from an oven on Shabath to harvesting.
There are those who maintain (Sefer Habais 18 note 18, Milei Dechasidusa 58, ) that one may remove an oven if he will put a different oven in its place. Shemiras Haguf Vehanefesh (p 220) adds that it would be then forbidden to change its place in the kitchen.
Rav. Yosef Engel Z’L in his responsa (Ben Porath ibid.) maintains, that something that is habitually done by most, (Dashu Bo Rabim), should not be affected by the Tzavaa.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a is of the opinion that the Tzavaa applies only to stone or brick or similar build ovens, constructed and attached to the house, not the movable metal ovens that we use today.
Rabbi Abraham Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
