DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 994 KB)
Squeezing Fruits Over Foods on Shabbat

It is prohibited from the Torah to squeeze grapes and olives for their juice. The Hachamim extended this prohibition to include any fruit or vegetable commonly squeezed for its juice. Today, this would apply to a very wide range of fruits and vegetables.

The Shulhan Aruch in Siman 320 brings the Halacha that permits squeezing any fruit, including grapes and olives, if the juice is extracted directly over e a solid food. For example, one may squeeze a lemon over a piece of fish or a salad, (even according to the opinion that the prohibition of squeezing applies to lemons, which is not the accepted ruling for Sepharadim, who hold there is no problem to squeeze lemon juice directly into an empty cup.) Similarly, it is permitted to press a piece of bread onto an oily piece of fish to extract its liquid directly into the solid food.

However, Maran proceeds to bring the opinion of Rabbenu Hannanael who is strict and does not permit squeezing juice onto solid foods, and one who does so is liable to bring a Korban Hatat. Maran did not bring this strict opinion in the "Stam" (unattributed opinion), only as a "Yesh Omrim." Therefore, clearly Maran is lenient.

Nevertheless, Hacham Bension writes that since Rabbenu Hannanael is one of the foremost earliest Rishonim, his opinion cannot be discounted altogether. Therefore, he rules that "Hamachmir Tavo Alav Beracha"-one who is strict and refrains from squeezing fruit over solid foods is worthy of blessing. This is the opinion of the Mishna Berura, as well.

SUMMARY

Although it is permitted to squeeze fruit over solid foods, one who refrains from doing so is praiseworthy.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Beracha Over Cooked Fruits and Vegetables
If People Recited the First Three Words of Birkat Ha’mazon Without a Zimun, and Then Realized Their Mistake
May One Use a Microphone for a Zimun?
The Beracha on Coffee
What Beracha Does One Recite on “Mebushal” Wine?
Does One Recite a Beracha on Unhealthy Foods?
The Beracha Over Chocolate
The Beracha Over Green Tomatoes; the Beracha Over Seeds
The Beracha on Crushed Fruits or Grains – Cornflakes, Apple Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, Amardeen, Peanut Butter, Falafel Balls, Popcorn, Humus and Tehina
Which Beracha Does One Recite When Drinking Straight From a Fruit?
Birkat Ha’ore’ah – The Guest’s Blessing for His Host
Zimun When One Member of the Group Finished Eating Before the Others
Insights on “Reseh Ve’hahalisenu”
The Rule of “Tadir” in Birkat Ha’mazon and the Amida
Answering to a Zimun if One Did Not Eat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found