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...
Purim – If Somebody Will Not Have Access to a Megila on Purim
Purim – If a Person is Able to Read the Megila Only Once on Purim
Purim – The Preference For an Eleven-Line Megilla
Seudat Purim- Proper Time for the Meal, and The Foods of Purim
Purim- Taanit Esther
Purim – The Importance and Obligation of Matanot La’ebyonim
Purim- Skipping “Al Ha’nissim” In Order to Recite “Nakdishach”
The Meaning and Halachot of Ta’anit Ester
Purim- Learning Torah on the Day of Purim and Is It Permissible To Celebrate 2 Mitzvot with One Seuda
Fulfilling Matanot La’ebyonim on Purim by Foregoing on a Loan, Paying a Poor Person’s Debt, or Writing a Check
Purim- Prioritizing Matanot La’ebyonim Over the Other Misvot of Purim
May A Megilat Esther Be Written By A Woman
Singing "Mi Chamocha Ve'en Kamocha" on Shabbat Zachor
Purim- The Laws & Importance of Matanot La'evyonim
Purim: Take Hair Cut on Purim Day & Reading the Megila with Many People
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found