#245: The Tolada of Sechitah - Introduction

1. In the next few posts, we will focus on the halachot of sechitah (squeezing), which is a toladah (subcategory) of dosh (Tractate Shabbat 143b). The reason is that both squeezing and threshing involve extracting material from inside an outer material (kernel from shell, or juice from fruit).

2. The halacha differentiates between three levels of squeezing fruit (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 320:1): [EO1]

a. Olives and grapes – squeezing these involves a Torah prohibition since the liquid (oil and wine) is more valuable than the fruit (Rashi). Any liquid that oozes out of these fruits on its own is also forbidden to consume.

b. Mulberries and pomegranates – squeezing these involves a rabbinic prohibition since in the time of Chazal they too were often squeezed for their liquid. Liquid that oozes from them on its own is permitted. This category also includes any fruits that are commonly squeezed for liquid (Rema 320:1, to be discussed more tomorrow).

c. Other fruits – In Chazal’s time, other fruits were not usually juiced and were therefore permitted to squeeze since the liquid removed was not considered significant. The status of these fruits today will be discussed tomorrow.

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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.