DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 1.1 MB)
Peeling a Hardboiled Egg on Shabbat

What is the proper manner in which to peel an egg on Shabbat?

Rabbi Chayim Palachi (Turkey, 1788-1868), in his work Kaf Ha'chayim, held that one may not handle an egg peel at all on Shabbat, and that t is therefore forbidden to peel an egg in an ordinary manner. Instead, one should drop the egg on a dish such that the shell cracks, and then somehow remove the egg from the shell.

Most other authorities, including the Ben Ish Chai (Rabbi Yosef Chayim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) and Chacham Ovadia Yosef, disagree, and allow peeling an egg normally on Shabbat. However, a certain problem arises due to the Muktzeh status of the shell. Since the shell serves no functional use after it is removed from the egg, as it is unsuitable for human and even animal consumption, it is deemed Muktzeh and one may not move it on Shabbat. Hence, if one places an eggshell into a dish as he peels an egg, the dish, which serves as a "base" for the Muktzeh item, itself becomes Muktzeh. Now Halacha forbids rendering a functional utensil Muktzeh on Shabbat, a prohibition known as "Mevatel Keli Mei'heichano." (Rashi, in two different contexts in Masechet Shabbat, suggests two different reasons for this prohibition. In one context, he explains that rendering an item Muktzeh resembles "Boneh," building, in that the item may no longer be moved on Shabbat, and it thus becomes "affixed" to its place. In the second context, Rashi explains that this resembles destroying a utensil, as it is now rendered unusable on Shabbat.) Therefore, one may not place an eggshell in an empty utensil on Shabbat. Instead, as Chacham Ovadia Yosef writes (Halichot Olam, vol. 3, p. 211), one should first place a permissible item, such as some edible food, in the plate, and then place the eggshells in the utensil. The utensil thus becomes a "base" for both permissible and Muktzeh items, which Halacha allows moving on Shabbat.

Of course, one must ensure not to move the eggshells after they are removed from the egg, as they are considered Muktzeh on Shabbat.

Although peeling an egg is permissible on Shabbat, it may be done only in close proximity to the meal, within a half-hour or so of the meal. One may not peel an egg on Shabbat morning, for example, in preparation for Se'uda Shelishit; an egg may be peeled only shortly before it will be served.

Summary: One may peel an egg normally on Shabbat, but only shortly before one's meal. The eggshells may not be placed into an empty utensils, and one may not move the eggshells after they are removed from the egg.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
If the Hazan Forgot to Recite Ya’aleh Ve’yabo During the Repetition of the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Should Two Kaddishim be Recited if a Shiur is Given Immediately Before Arbit?
Reciting “Yiheyu Le’rason Imreh Fi” at the End of the Amida
The Kaddish Before Baruch She’amar
The Value of Praying “Vatikin” and Studying Torah Before Prayer
The Importance and Significance of Birkat Ha’lebana
The Custom Among Syrian Jews Regarding the Text of “Ve’la’minim” and Other Portions of the Amida
Adding Prayers for Forgiveness and for One’s Livelihood in “Shema Kolenu”
If One Mistakenly Recited “Morid Ha’tal” Instead of “Mashib Ha’ru’ah U’morid Ha’geshem”
Should a Mourner be Called for an Aliya if He is the Only Kohen in Attendance?
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited if a Non-Jew is Present
If a Kohen Was Mistakenly Called for the Second Aliya; Calling Kohanim for Later Aliyot
How Should the Aliyot be Arranged in a Minyan of Only Kohanim, or if There is Only One Yisrael?
Birkat Kohanim – The Hazan’s Announcement of “Kohanim”; If There is One Kohen or No Kohanim Present
Birkat Kohanim in a Place Without a Sefer Torah; One Who Enters the Synagogue During Birkat Kohanim; Reciting Birkat Kohanim Several Times in One Day
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found