HALACHA OF THE WEEK: Removing Food from a Pot on Shabbat The prohibition of cooking on Shabbat includes not only cooking but also doing anything on Shabbat that will speed up the process of cooking – such as stirring food that on the fire and only partially cooked [Orech Chaim 318:18].
But what if the food is already cooked – can you remove some of the food from the pot, even though it will, in effect, “stir” the entire mixture?
If the food is no longer on the fire, it is permitted to remove food from the pot [Mishna Brurah 318:117]. But if the pot is still on the fire, the Elya Rabba (Rabbi Eliyahu Shapiro of Prague 1660-1712) rules that it is prohibited. Why? Because he was concerned that despite appearances to the contrary, some of the food might not be fully cooked and therefore, taking food out would be the equivalent of stirring uncooked food. [Mishna Brurah 318:113].
Of course, one can avoid this controversy by merely removing the pot from the fire. However, this is not always possible due to the size of the pot or a Halachic impediment to returning the pot to the fire after the food has been removed. If so, can one rely on the lenient opinion and remove the food with a spoon even while the pot is still on the fire?
The Chazon Ish [Orech Chaim 37:15] rules that it is permissible, as does Minchat Yitzchak [2:127:]. However, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein disagrees, and forbids removing fully cooked food from a pot that is still on the fire [Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:74:9] Nevertheless, if the pot was moved to a portion of the blech that is not directly over the fire, Rabbi Feinstein would permit removing the food.
DVAR TORAH Between the story of last week’s parasha and the story in this week’s parasha, thirty-eight years have suddenly elapsed. This fact becomes apparent with the death of Miriam, and the disappearance of the well that had accompanied the Jews throughout their years in the desert.
In response, G-d miraculously offers them water from the rock, and the Jews once again sing a song of praise, beginning with the familiar phrase “Az yashir”. However, this time, unlike the first song that was sung at the Red Sea, it is missing any mention of Moshe Rabbeinu. Instead, the verse reads “Az Yashir Yisrael et HaShirah Hazot” [lit. “Then Israel sang this song”]. According to the Targum, it was because Moshe and Aharon had dug this well (see Rashi, verse 20), and therefore, it included praise for them as well. While the midrash Tanchuma suggests that the absence of Moshe’s name was because Moshe had sinned, hitting the rock to draw forth the water, and therefore it would have been inappropriate for him to join in the praise of Hashem.
However, Rabbi Dov Weinberger, in his work Shemen HaTov, suggests a fascinating alternative based on the time frame when this song was sung versus the first song at the splitting of the sea. As he explained, the absence of Moshe’s name may not have been a result of Moshe’s sin, but as a "silent" testimony to the success and effectiveness of Moshe as a leader.
For the greatest accomplishment that any leader can claim is to prepare his flock to function on their own. Forty years before, this was an impossibility, and therefore “Az yashir Moshe u’vnei Yisrael” – Moshe had to lead the people in song. But no longer – because in this parasha, the people are now able to sing on their own!
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MAZAL TOV * to Beverly Siegel and Howard Rieger on the engagement of their granddaughter, Eden Levi, daughter of Sunny and Daniel Levi (Scottsdale, AZ) to Yisroel Kumer (Tzfat, Israel).
* to Yoel and Yehudit Goldberg on the upcoming marriage of their daughter, Michali, to Avi Berger, son of Kenny and Esti Berger. Mazal Tov to grandparents, Norman and Malke Goldberg, Dr. Israel and Minna Berger and Rabbi Pesach Wachsman. Special Mazal Tov to great grandmothers, Mrs. Connie Chaitovsky and Mrs. Pearl Schiffman.
* to Hillel and Faye Meyers on the Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Shimon Zharnest, son of Moshe and Orit Zharnest (Fair Lawn, NJ).
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* to Art and Sandy Aberman on the recent marriage of their grandson, Yaakov Aberman, to Devorah Ortega.
* to Morris and Malka Loterstein on the marriage of their son, Yoni to Shana Edery (Israel).
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