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...
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