Selected Halachos relating to Parshas Vayakhel
By Rabbi Doniel Neustadt
The following is a discussion of Halachic topics related to the Parsha of the week.
For final rulings, consult your Rav.
You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on the
Sabbath day (35:3)
COOKING CHOLENT ON SHABBOS
Of all of the thirty-nine forbidden melachos of Shabbos, the
Torah mentions only one explicitly: Do not kindle a fire. This
prohibition is singled out to disabuse us of the notion that
cooking may be permitted on Shabbos since, after all, Shabbos is
a day of oneg, pleasure (1). In fact, as we know, regular cooking
is a forbidden melachah, and anything akin to cooking which is
permitted on Shabbos is governed by complex halachos, with
modern technology only increasing their complexity. As cholent
is the classic example of a food which is partially cooked on
Shabbos, we will outline the relevant halachos:
There are three possible methods of preparing cholent for
Shabbos: on top of the stove, inside the oven and in a
crockpot (2), and all three are susceptible to the following
Shabbos violations:
- The Biblical prohibition of cooking on Shabbos;
- The rabbinical prohibition of putting food on a heat source
before Shabbos and leaving it on during Shabbos. The reason for
this ordinance is to prevent one from inadvertently "stoking the
coals," or its modern equivalent, adjusting the knobs to raise
the temperature.
- The rabbinical prohibition of returning [on Shabbos] food to a
heat source, since then, too, one would be inclined to adjust
the temperature. In addition, this is prohibited because it
appears to be "cooking".
To avoid these potential violations, the following guidelines
must be followed:
ON TOP OF THE STOVE
On Friday:
Although not halachically mandated, it has become customary
that the fire is covered by a blech, even if the cholent is
already cooked completely before sunset (3). If cholent is less
than half-cooked [or under extenuating circumstances it may be
only a third cooked], a blech is halachically required. Some
poskim recommend covering the knobs which control the flame in
addition to a blech (4), while other poskim require it
(5).
On Shabbos:
To remove a cholent pot from the fire with the intention of
putting it right back on, e.g., to add water to it or to serve
it at a kiddush before a meal, the following conditions must be
met:
- The fire [and knobs (6) ]
must be covered with a blech [a blech
may be placed over the fire on Shabbos (7) ];
- The cholent must be completely cooked and still warm when
returned to the flame;
- L'chatchillah, one should not rest the cholent pot on any
surface.
INSIDE THE OVEN
On Friday:
It is advisable that cholent be completely cooked before
Shabbos begins. If it was not, or b'dieved, as long as the
cholent is half cooked [or under extenuating circumstances it
may be a third cooked], it may be left in the oven. If the
cholent is not cooked to even this extent, then the cholent may
not be left inside the oven - unless an oven insert is placed
inside it.
On Shabbos:
In the opinion of many poskim, if cholent was removed from
inside the oven it may not be returned to the oven - unless
there is an oven insert inside (8). A minority opinion holds that
if the stove knobs are covered or removed, then the cholent may
be returned to the oven even without an insert, if the
conditions listed above are met (9).
CROCKPOT
On Friday:
It is advisable that cholent be completely cooked before
Shabbos begins. If it was not, or b'dieved, as long as the
cholent is half cooked [or under extenuating circumstances it
may be a third cooked], the cholent may remain in the crockpot
and continue cooking. If the cholent is not cooked to even this
extent, then the cholent may be left in the crockpot only if
heavy duty silver foil covers the heating element (base) of the
crockpot (10) and the control knobs are covered
(11).
On Shabbos:
Cholent may be taken off the heating element and returned to
the crockpot later on Shabbos provided that the conditions
listed above are met. The heating element of the crockpot must
be covered with aluminum foil (12) .
ADDING WATER TO CHOLENT
Boiling water may be added to cholent under certain
circumstances - if the cholent is completely cooked and the
source of heat is covered with a blech or aluminum foil. Since
there are several permissible methods of adding boiling water to
cholent, we will list them in order of their halachic preference:
Where should the cholent be when the water is added?
- Removed from the heat source and held in the air, not resting
on any surface at all (13);
- Removed from the heat source and balanced partially on a
surface (14);
- Removed from the heat source and placed on a surface without
releasing one's grip on the pot (15);
- Removed from the heat source and shifted over to an area of
the blech that is still hot (16);
- On the heat source itself. This method should be utilized
only as a last resort when the other options are not
available (17). The water must be poured in slowly and gently.
How Should The Water Be Transferred From The Kettle or Urn To
The Cholent Pot?
- Directly from the urn to the pot.
- Insert a [parve] ladle into the urn [leave it in for several
seconds (18) ] and then ladle the water into the pot
(19). Either
of these methods is preferred.
- Pour the water into a cup and empty immediately into the
pot (20) . This should be done only as a last resort when other
options are not available, since some poskim do not approve of
this method (21) .
General notes concerning adding water to the cholent:
Water from a Shabbos urn often does not reach the boiling
point. When added to the boiling cholent, however, the water
will be boiled - a possible violation of the Biblical
prohibition of cooking (22). One must be sure that the
temperature of the water in the urn reaches 212 degrees (23), or
at the very least 175 degrees (24), or else the water may not be
added. [If, however, the water had previously reached 212 or 175
degrees, it is permissible to pour it into the cholent even
though it has cooled off a bit (25) .]
When pouring directly from an urn into the pot, one must be
extremely careful not to make the kettle or urn fleishig from
the steam which rises from the cholent. When uncovering the
cholent pot, first allow the steam to escape before bringing the
urn next to the pot (26).
L'chatchillah, water should be added to the cholent before it
has completely dried out, since some poskim hold that a dried
out cholent is considered to be roasted, tzli. If so, pouring
water into the pot recooks this "roast", which is
prohibited (27). Other poskim, however, hold that one need not be
concerned about this issue (28).
After the water is poured in, the pot cover should be replaced
before the pot is returned to the fire, since some poskim (29)
hold that one may not place a cover on a pot while its on the
fire even if the item is completely cooked. Many other poskim
are not particular about this (30).
FOOTNOTES
1 Ramban 35:3.
2 This discussion will not address the problem of certain
crockpots which may be prohibited to use because of the issue of
hatmanah. See Weekly Discussion to Parshas Vaeschanan 5756 for a
complete analysis of that issue.
3 The custom is based on the ruling of the Rama 253:1 according
to the explanation of the Biur Halachah. See Chazon Ish OC 37:3
who disagrees and holds that a blech is not required when the
cholent is completely cooked nor does it help when the cholent
is not cooked Most poskim do not agree with his view, see Kaf
Hachayim 253:11; Igros Moshe OC 1:93; Tzitz Eliezer 7:15.
4 Igros Moshe OC 1:93; Be'er Moshe 7:3-4.
5 Harav Aharon Kotler (quoted in Sefer Hilchos Shabbos pg. 338);
Shevet Halevi 1:93.
6 According to the various views quoted earlier.
7 Igros Moshe OC 1:93; 4:74-29; Minchas Shlomo 46; Shevet Halevi
1:91.
8 Igros Moshe OC 4:74-26; Minchas Yitzchok 3:28; Harav S.Y.
Elyashiv (Shvus Yitzchok pg. 89).
9 Harav Aharon Kotler (quoted in Sefer Hilchos Shabbos pg. 354);
Shevet Halevi 3:48.
10 Harav S.Y. Elyashiv (Shvus Yiztchok pg. 96; Otzros Hashabbos
pg. 404).
11 According to the various views quoted earlier
12 Harav S.Y. Elyashiv (Shvus Yiztchok pg. 96; Otzros Hashabbos
pg. 404).
13 This is the preferred halachic method but not always
practical, particularly when only one person is available for
the job.
14 Ruling of Harav S.Y. Elyashiv (quoted in Shvus Yitzchok pg.
161) and Debreciner Rov (Am Hatorah vol. 2 # 1 pg. 13) that a
pot held in this manner is not considered as having been "put
down" and returning it to the fire is permissible.
15 Igros Moshe OC 4:74-33 rules that even when the pot is held
this manner it is not considered as if it was "put down". Other
poskim disagree, see Meleches Shabbos pg. 128.
16 Igros Moshe OC 4:74-12 (see also 4:61); Harav S.Z. Auerbach
(Shmiras Shabbos K'hilchasah 1: fn. 111); Harav S.Y. Elyashiv
(Shvus Yiztchok pg. 78; Otzros Hashabbos pg. 405). In order to
satisfy all views, it is best to place the pot on a place on the
blech which is 160 degrees or more. If this is difficult, the
pot may be placed on any hot area of the blech.
17 Although several poskim do not recommend this method (Harav
S.Z. Auerbach at first permitted this but later hesitated - see
Tikunim U'milluim pg. 1 and Meor Hashabbos pg. 455; Igros Moshe
OC 4:74-13 also seems to prohibit this), Harav S. Y. Elyashiv
rules that when no other possibility exists one can rely on this
method, so long as the water is poured in slowly and gently
(Shvus Yitzchok pg. 198). See also Ktzos Hashulchan (Badei
Hashulchan 243:10) who is lenient.
18 Based on Mishnah Berurah 318:87.
19 Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Shmiras Shabbos K'hilchasah pg. 6).
20 Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Shmiras Shabbos K'hilchasah pg. 6 and
Tikunim U'milluim); Harav Shmuel Auerbach quotes the Steipler as
permitting this (see haskamah to Masas Binyomin).
21 Minchas Yitzchok 6:20;10:18; Shevet Halevi 3:93-2; Harav S.Y.
Elyashiv (Shvus Yitzchok pg. 204-206); Zachor V'shamor (section
11 pg. 46).
22 In the view of many poskim, it is Biblically forbidden to
boil water even if the water is already at the temperture of yad
soledes bo - see Shmiras Shabbos K'hilchasah 1: fn. 15 and fn.
96).
23 Minchas Yitzchok 10:28; Harav S.Y. Elyashiv (Shvus Yitzchok
pg. 142); Shevet Halevi 7:42-3.
24 Igros Moshe OC 4:74-1. The Shiur of 175 degrees is based on
Igros Moshe YD 2:52.
25 Igros Moshe OC 4:74:1,13; Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Shmiras
Shabbos K'hilchasah pg. 13); Shevet Halevi 7:42-3. "Cooled off a
bit" means that it is hot enough that one who wants a hot drink
would consider it hot.
26 See YD 92:8 and Badei Hashulchan; Minchas Yitzchok 5:81;6:20;
Meleches Shabbos pg. 98
27 Kinyan Torah 2:106; Tshuvos V'hanagos 2:173.
28 Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Shmiras Shabbos K'hilchasah pg. 5);
Meleches Shabbos pg. 99
29 Shvisas Hashabbos (Mevashel 26:81); Igros Moshe OC 4:74-10;
Meleches Shabbos pg. 101.
30 Ktzos Hashulchan (Badei Hashulchan 124:10); Harav S.Z.
Auerbach (Shmiras Shabbos K'hilchasah pg. 5); Harav S. Wosner
(M'bais Levi 6); Tzitz Eliezer 7:15-4; Eimek Hateshuvah 42;
Be'er Moshe 6:115.
Weekly-Halacha, Copyright © 1997 by Rabbi Neustadt, Dr. Jeffrey Gross and
Project Genesis, Inc. Rabbi Neustadt is the principal of Yavne
Teachers' College in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also the Magid Shiur of a daily
Mishna Berurah class at Congregation Shomre Shabbos.
The Weekly-Halacha Series is distributed L'zchus Hayeled Doniel Meir ben
Hinda. Weekly sponsorships are available--please send email to the moderator, Dr.
Jeffrey Gross jgross@torah.org.
The series is distributed by the Harbotzas Torah Division of Congregation
Shomre Shabbos, 1801 South Taylor Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118--HaRav
Yisroel Grumer, Marah D'Asra
