DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 610 KB)
Is It Permissible to Cut Fruit or Crush Ice on Shabbat?

It is prohibited to squeeze fruit on Shabbat. The question is whether one may cut fruit, which may cause juice to be extracted. For example, when making a fruit salad, there is usually juice that forms at the bottom.

The answer can be derived from a different case of crushing ice. Maran rules in accordance with the Rambam that crushing ice or snow on Shabbat is prohibited as an offshoot of "Sohet" (squeezing), since in both instances the action of squeezing extracts liquid. The Mishna Berura cites the Taz (Rabbi David Segal, Poland, 1586-1667) who holds that nevertheless, it is permitted to cut a cube of ice into smaller chips, even though water will form. The reason is that he does not have intent for the water and moreover, the water is going to be discarded.

Based on this precedent of ice, the Minhat Yishak (Rabbi Yishak Ya’akob Weiss, Jerusalem, 1902-1989) (4:99:2) permits cutting the fruit, since he does not have intent for the juice. This is also the position of the Shabbat Shelomo (p. 147).

SUMMARY
It is permitted to slice fruit on Shabbat, even though juice will be extracted.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Leaving Leftover Bread on the Table for Birkat Ha’mazon
Covering or Removing the Knife Before Birkat Ha’mazon
Berachot When There is A Seudah Within A Seudah When Changing A Tablecloth
Must One Eat a Kezayit of Bread for the Hamosi to Exempt Other Foods?
Berachot after Changing Locations: Part IV
Berachot after Changing Locations: Part III
Berachot after Changing Locations: Part II
Berachot after Changing Locations- Part 1
Does The Beracha Aharona of Hagefen Cover Other Beverages?
Saying “Savri Maranan” and “L’haim” Before Reciting The Beracha of HaGefen
Which Beracha Does One Recite Over Sugar?
The Beracha Recited Over Bananas, Strawberries, Squash, Pineapples, Eggplants and Peppers
The Beracha for Fruit Juice
Which Beracha Does One Recite on Cornflakes?
What Beracha Does One Recite Over Fried Bread?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found