May one make ice on Yom Tov?
First we
must investigate whether one may make ice on Shabbos.
The Rama
writes,
with regards to consuming fat that melted on Shabbos, there
are those who are stringent and will not consume it, on
account of nolad – a new entity, which is a type of
muktze.
What has this to do with making
ice?
The
Tchebiner Rav
learns that making ice is also nolad because the
solid state is “new” compared to the liquid state.
Other poskim argue saying that ice is not a new form
of water, nor is water a new form of ice.
The
Sh’miras Shabbos rules that it is not correct to make
ice on Shabbos but when very necessary, one may.
As we have
learned, the rules of nolad and muktze are
stricter on Yom Tov than on Shabbos and consequently the
same rule applies.
What about making ice cream on Yom
Tov?
One must
beat eggs to make ice cream, which is very hard without a
beater. If however the mixture is ready and all that is
required is to place the liquid in the freezer, provided the
ice cream is to be eaten that day, it is permitted.
Why is it different then to making
ice, which not everyone permits?
Rav
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztz”l
explains
that ice cream can also
be
consumed
in its melted state, just like water and hence the
changeover from being frozen to being melted is
inconsequential.
The
S’mak prohibits melting fat on Shabbos because it
changes from a solid to a liquid and Rav Shlomo Zalman
explains that fat is not eaten in its solid form but only as
a liquid. An item that is consumed in any state, frozen or
liquid, would not be nolad.
But melted ice is nolad, even
though water and ice are consumed?
That is
because ice and water serve different functions. One may
freeze soup on Shabbos even though it changes from a liquid
to a solid, because it is not used in its frozen state and
its purpose is eventually to be defrosted.
To
summarize:
-
one may
freeze ice cream on Shabbos and Yom Tov.
-
One may
beat eggs on Yom Tov.
-
One may
mix eggs, sugar and all the other ingredients on Yom Tov
to make ice cream.
-
It is a
machlokes whether one may make ice on Yom Tov.
May one handle sukkah decorations
on Yom Tov?
Sukkah
decorations are set aside for the sukkah and are muktze
on Shabbos and Yom Tov. This type of muktze is known
as muktze machmas mitzvah – muktze set
aside for a mitzvah. The decorations are muktze
because one may not have benefit from them. On chol
hamoed one may move them but not use them.
What if they fell from the sukkah,
may one use or handle them?
Even if
they fell from the sukkah on Yom Tov or chol hamoed
one may not use or benefit from them. Consequently they
remain muktze even after falling from the sukkah.
If the decorations fell onto the table and disturb one’s
meal they may be removed, in line with the rule that says
that muktze may be moved for ochel nefesh, but
the P’ri Megadim says that if possible they should be
moved kilachar yad – in a backhanded manner.
May I learn torah using the
Chanukah lights?
One may not
use Chanukah lights for personal use because we must show
that they were lit specifically for the mitzvah, not for
personal benefit.
We are also
familiar with the gemora that says that one may not
count money by the Chanukah lights, because it degrades the
mitzvah in one’s eyes.
Why must you introduce a new reason
for counting money? Is the first reason not applicable?
It does not
take that long to count money and is a tashmish aray
– temporary use.
Reading or eating is more lasting and hence more
problematic. Nevertheless both are ossur, even
counting money from afar, because one may not make any use
of the lights.
This is
true also for learning torah or eating a se’udas mitzvah,
as the lights are intended for their specific use. Others
disagree and say one may learn with chanukah lights, see the
Bi’ur Halacha ad hoc.
May one walk past the candles and
use the light to see where one is going?
That is not
called using the lights, because one is not expected to
close one’s eyes. Besides, you are not really doing
anything, you happen to benefit from the light.
