DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.95 MB)
Mukse: Firewood, Matches and Disposable Pans

Hacham Yishak Beracha, in his book Birhat Yishak on Hilchot Mukse (p.10), establishes a principle based on the Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (p. 124) that any item not considered a Keli (utensil), is completely Mukse, and may not be moved even L'Sorech M'komo-for its place, or L'sorech Gufo-for a permitted function. Therefore, a log of firewood is altogether Mukse and may not be moved for any purpose. A log is not a Keli (utensil), since it only has a one-time use; it is consumed as soon as its purpose is fulfilled.

Hacham Yishak applies this principle to matches, cigarettes and charcoal, as well. These items are not considered a Keli, since they are consumed and destroyed with their use. However, he cites Hacham Bension who distinguished between a natural log of firewood and these items which were designed and produced expressly for this purpose. Therefore, he considers the match a Keli (utensil), and it may be moved L'Sorech M'komo-for its place, or L'sorech Gufo-for a permitted function-such as a toothpick or collar stay. Rav Moshe Feinstein (Russia-New York, 1895-1986) was stringent and did not view matches as a utensil, rather as firewood.

However, all agree that this line of reasoning does not apply to a disposable utensil whose function was prohibited, such as an aluminum foil baking pan. Although like firewood, it too is discarded upon completing its function, there are two major differences. First, while the disposable pan may be thrown away after use, it does not disintegrate as the log, match and cigarette. Moreover, it is common to reuse aluminum foil pans nowadays. Therefore, disposable pans have the same Halacha as cooking pots and are designated Keli She'm'lachto L'isur, which may be moved L'Sorech M'komo-for its place, or L'sorech Gufo-for a permitted function.

SUMMARY
A log of firewood is completely Mukse and may not be moved for any purpose.
Disposable baking pans are utensils and may be moved L'Sorech M'komo-for its place, or L'sorech Gufo-for a permitted function.
One should avoid using matches for a permitted function, such as for a toothpick, although there are those who are lenient.



 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Beracha Recited Over Falafel, Fruit Roll Ups (Amardin) and Sesame Candies
The Beracha Acharona if Eating Half Measure of Fruit from Outside of Israel and Half Measure from Israel
What Is The Beracha on Vegetable Soup
What is the Beracha for Bread Dipped In Soup
What is the Beracha on a Calzone
What is The Beracha Rishona and Acharona on Bourekas
Reciting Birkat Ha’gomel After Air Travel
The Beracha for Coconut Milk and Fruit Juices
What is The Minimum Quantity of Wine for the Beracha of “Ha’tov V’hametiv?”
The Beracha of “Hatov V’hametiv
If One Remembers That He Forgot to Make a Beracha While Drinking
Does The Beracha HaGefen Cover All Beverages
Does the Beracha of HaMotzih Cover Beverages
Which Beracha Goes First: Boreh Peri Ha’adama or Ha’etz or Shehakol?
Interruptions After Reciting a Beracha of HaGefen
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found