#201: Watering Plants (Part 2)
1. We mentioned yesterday that one may not pour water over vegetation outside on Shabbat even if one’s intent is merely to wash one’s hands. The Rema (O.C. 336:3) adds that ideally, one should not even eat or drink outside in a garden on Shabbat due to concern that one will inevitably spill liquid on the grass or other plants when washing hands and pouring drinks.
2. Some poskim rule that the Rema’s stringency does not apply if one is careful not to let water or other drinks spill on the grass, especially if one uses a table. In such a case, it would be permitted to make a “Kiddush” or eat one’s Shabbat meal outside in the garden (Yalkut Yosef, O.C. 336:4 and n. 5; The Shabbos Home, vol. 2, p. 244).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
