Is it permitted to put a chalah,
wrapped in foil, into the oven before Shabbos (and the oven is either on or off)?
The
problem of totally wrapping a chalah is the issue of hatmana – meaning
enwrapping. In simon 257:1 we find that it is permitted to do hatmana before
Shabbos in towels etc. if there is no heat source present. Therefore, the answer to
this common question must be divided as follows:
1. If
the chalah is not entirely enwrapped in the aluminum
foil it is permitted even if the oven is turned on.
2. If
the chalah is entirely enwrapped in foil, then it depends:
a. If
one’s intention is to enhance the heat, it is forbidden even if the oven is turned
off.
b. If
one’s intention is only to prevent the chalah from drying out, it might be
permitted. However, the correct way is to leave the foil a little open and not enwrap the
chalah entirely.
What is the halacha regarding
switching on an electric Shabbos urn close to Shabbos?
One is
forbidden to put a pot of raw food or uncooked water on an open flame close to Shabbos,
unless there is a sizable piece of meat in the pot, which will not be ready for the night
meal. Since an electric urn does not incorporate a blech it is considered an open
flame. Therefore:
Sephardim must fully boil the water before Shabbos.
There
are, however, poskim
who hold that water hot to the degree of yad soledes bo is considered fully cooked,
and when there is not enough time before Shabbos to bring it to a boil, it is sufficient.
Ashkenazim should also l’chatchila fully boil the
water before Shabbos.
If
boiling water was poured onto a tea bag, may one drink the tea?
The Mishna
Berura
writes that pouring hot water from the urn onto tealeaves involves an issur Torah
(a Torah prohibition), and therefore, the tea is ossur to drink.
How
does one prepare tea essence before Shabbos?
The
preferred method is to make tea essence before Shabbos by placing tealeaves/bags in a
small kettle and cook them on the fire, or at least to pour boiling water onto the
tealeaves/bags, stirring the leaves while pouring the water.
On
Shabbos one pours hot water into a clean, dry cup and adds the tea essence to the water.
If
one forgets to prepare tea essence before shabbos, how is one supposed to drink tea on
Shabbos?
1.
Borrow from a neighbor.
2.
According to the poskim who hold that ein
bishul bik’li sh’lishi, one may put the teabags into
a k’li sh’lishi. I.e. Pour water from the urn into a cup, pour it into
another cup and then put the teabag into the water.
3.
However, many poskim are of the opinion that
items that cook easily may not be placed even into a k’li sh’lishi, or
any other k’li that is yad soledes bo. Accordingly he will have to
forgo a hot cup of tea that Shabbos.
Summary: 1&3 are preferred, 2 only if your Rav paskens
so.
A Vort on the
Parsha
Yosef calmed his brothers saying
that they should not feel guilty about sending him to Egypt, because it was part of the
Divine plan (45,8).
HaRav Sternbuch shlita points out that we see that it is not
enough to just forgive a person who did you wrong, one must even give him a good feeling!
Food
For Thought
Is it permitted to pour hot water
into a thermos on Shabbos?
May I reheat food by placing it on
the radiators spread around the house?
The fire under my blech went out,
and I would like to enwrap my pots within my bed linen, may I?
Is
it permitted to warm my baby’s bottle by placing it inside a pot of hot water?
Answers
coming next week.
Iggeres
HaGra - (part 3)
And of what benefit is
gratification to man - whose end is dust, maggots and worms, as he is bound to die - when
all his enjoyments turn to bitterness in the grave? And what is this world, whose days are
full of anguish and pain which prevent one from sleeping? Neither is death a mikveh. Man
will be judged for everything he says; even the slightest expression is not overlooked. Therefore I exhort you to train yourself to sit as
much as possible, because the sin of the tongue is the most severe, as our Sages said
(Tosefta Pe'ah 1): "These are the things...and lashon hara is equivalent to them
all."
|
