Thursday, November 09, 2006

Daf Yomi - Beitza 14 - Separating Impurities on Yom Tov

Beis Shamai maintains that separating is forbidden on Yom Tov just like it is on Shabbos. Beis Hillel disagrees and holds that one may separate on Yom Tov in the usual manner since it is a preparation of the food.

Reb Akiva Eiger asks that even if separating is permitted according to Beis Hillel, one should not be allowed to handle the impurities of the mixture since the impurities shouls be regarded as muktza. It would be a stretch to answer that all cases of separating are referring to cases where the impurities are fitting to be eaten by animals.

Reb Akiva Eiger answers that this Gemora will be a proof to a principle that Tosfos states many times in this Mesechta. Tosfos holds that handling muktza for the sake of food preparation is permitted on Yom Tov. Tosfos on daf 8 rules like this regarding removing the ashes from an oven in order to bake.

The Reshash is perplexed by Reb Akiva Eiger's question and comments that it would seem that Reb Akiva Eiger forgot a Tosfos in Shabbos (142b) that explains why separating would be permitted even though the impurities should be muktza. Tosfos states that since the food items are considerably more than the impurities, the impurities are negated by the food majority thereby permitting one to handle the impurities and discard them.

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach asks on this that while it is true that when the impurities are mixed with the food items, the impurities can be negated; however as soon as one separates them, the impurities should be considered muktza and he should be obligated to discard them immediately?

The Reshash cites a Tosfos (3b) that maintains that when one is holding muktza, he is permitted to bring it to any place that he desires. The Magen Avrohom (308:7) rules like this Tosfos, however the Even Haozer (266) disagrees and holds that Tosfos is only referring to a utensil that is normally used for issur and not by any other type of muktza.

Chazon Ish (47:15) offers a different reason as to why this would be permitted. Since it is impossible to consume the food unless the impurities are removed, handling the impurities would not be considered handling muktza, rather it is regarded as food preparation.

This entire discussion is relevant to peeling an egg on Shabbos and Yom Tov.


eliezer said...

Doesn't the discussion of if you are holding muktzah are you allowed to put it down wherever you want also involve the disagreement between the Gra and other achronim about something like a milah knife after the milah on Shabbos if the mohel has to let go of it or can put it down where he wants?