DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is For The Hatzlacha of
 Yosef ben Rivkah and His Family
"Please say Tehillim for a good day following a devastating Sandy occurrence."

Dedicated By
Friends

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 862 KB)
Is It Permissible To Squeeze Grapes and Other Similar Foods In One's Mouth on Shabbat

The Shulchan Aruch (320) codifies the Torah prohibition of "Sechita," which forbids squeezing grapes and olives on Shabbat. Does this prohibition apply as well to sucking juice from a fruit on Shabbat, or does Halacha distinguish in this regard between squeezing with one's hands and squeezing with one's mouth?

The Hagahot Maimoni (glosses to the Rambam's Mishneh Torah by Rabbi Meir Hakohen, Germany, 13th century), commenting on Hilchot Shabbat (chapter 21), forbids sucking juice on Shabbat, and this is the position as well of the Sefer Yerei'im (Rabbi Eliezer of Metz, France, 1115-1198), in Siman 274. According to this view, it would be forbidden on Shabbat to suck juice from any fruit or other food with absorbed liquid, such as moist meat, sugarcane, and bread that had been dipped in soup. However, the Beit Yosef (commentary to the Tur by Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch) held (in Siman 320) that sucking the juice from foods does not represent the standard manner of "Sechita," and is thus not included under this prohibition (listen to audio for precise citation).

Rabbi Moshe Halevi, in his work "Menuchat Ahava" (vol. 2, p. 165), cites both views and sides with the lenient position of the Beit Yosef. This is the ruling as well of Chacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Halichot Olam (vol. 4, p. 106).

Thus, it is permissible on Shabbat to extract liquid with one's mouth from fruits or other foods, such as moist meat, sugarcane, and bread that had been dipped in soup.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
If Somebody Left After Eating Without Reciting Birkat Ha’mazon
Lifting and Holding the Cup of Wine During Birkat Ha’mazon
The Recitation of Birkat Ha’mazon
With What Hand Does a Left-Handed Person Hold the Cup of Wine During Birkat Ha-mazon?
Using a “Defective” Cup of Wine if No More Wine is Available
Using a Cup From Which One Had Drunk for “Kos Shel Beracha”
When Should Birkat Ha’mazon be Recited Over a Cup of Wine?
Performing Netilat Yadayim with Cloudy Water
Must One Dry His Hands Before Washing Netilat Yadayim?
The Importance of Netilat Yadayim After Waking
The Beracha of Asher Yasar after Using the Bathroom
Giving Praise to Hashem Before Blessing Others
Studying The Laws of Berachot-When Eating Grapes & Peanuts
If a Person Mistakenly Recited “Al Ha’mihya” Instead of “Mezonot” Before Eating, or “Boreh Nefashot” Instead of “Al Ha’mihya” After Eating
If One Mistakenly Recited “Al Ha’mihya” Instead of Birkat Ha’mazon
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found