DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 770 KB)
How to Squeeze Fruits and Vegetables on Shabbat

It is prohibited to squeeze fruits on Shabbat to extract the juice. Whereas in previous generations only certain types of fruit were used for juice, such as grapes, olives, pomegranates and berries, nowadays most fruits, and even vegetables, are juiced, and therefore one must refrain from squeezing any fruit.

However, Maran, in Siman 320:4, rules that one may squeeze a fruit over a solid food, because that is considered a food, not a liquid juice. The Poskim disagree as to how much juice must actually be absorbed in the food. The majority of the Poskim, including the Taz, Peri Megadim, Hacham Ovadia and Hacham Bension, hold that as long as the majority of the juice is absorbed, it is not a problem if some of the liquid remains on top. The Hayeh Adam (Rav Avraham Danzig, 1748-1820, Vilna), on the other hand holds that it must be totally absorbed, with nothing remaining on the top. The Halacha is in accordance with the lenient opinion, even though the Menuhat Ahaba was strict.

One might be concerned that when he squeezes the fruit over the solid food, some of the juice will inevitably squirt off to the side and not even land on the food. How then can it ever be permitted to squeeze over a food? Isn’t this a "Pesik Reshe"-inevitable consequence that some juice will be extracted as a liquid? Rabbi Shlomo Miller answers that in this Halacha it is the intent which matters, not the actual outcome. Since he intends to extract juice exclusively for food, it is no longer defined as the Melacha of Mefarek.

Accordingly, it is permitted to squeeze a grape over a dry banana to soften it for a baby.

SUMMARY

One may squeeze a fruit to extract its juice into a solid food, if the majority of the liquid will be absorbed.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Scale of Misvot and Sins
The Four Categories of Atonement for Sins
Earning Atonement Through Repentance
Special Customs for the 25th of Elul (TODAY)
The Five Sins For Which it is Difficult to Repent
The Primary Components of Teshuva
Recommended Modes of Conduct as Part of the Teshuva Process
The Four Grievous Sins That Impede the Process of Teshuva
The Status of Informers and Those Who Impose Authority on the Community; Earning a Share in the World to Come Through Repentance
Forfeiting One's Share in the Next World by Leading Others to Sin, Isolating Oneself from the Jewish People, or Brazenly Transgressing the Torah
The "Apikorsim," "Kofrim" and "Minim" Who Have no Share in the Next World
Saying The Yag Midot in Selichot
Coming Closer To G-d from Rosh Chodesh Elul Until Yom Kippur
The Meaning of “Sabri Maranan”
Must the Person Who Leads Birkat Ha’mazon Drink the Wine?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found