1. We discussed yesterday which types of changes are necessary in order to prepare a thin mixture (belilah rakkah) on Shabbat. As has been noted previously, creating a thick mixture (belilah avah) is a Torah prohibition, and is treated more strictly than preparing a thin mixture, which is rabbinic – many of the examples of shinyim discussed previously are invalid in this case. Therefore, one may not create a thick mixture on Shabbat in most cases, even with one or more shinuyim. Instead, one would have to prepare the food as a thin mixture. If it turns into a thicker paste even after being prepared as a thin mixture (e.g., thick oatmeal cereal or instant mashed potatoes prepared thinly that then thickened), it would be forbidden to prepare them even as a thin mixture (Igrot Moshe, O.C. 4:74, Losh; “The 39 Melochos,” p.542).

2. Ashkenazi poskim are lenient to allow preparing thick mixtures only in cases of necessity (based on Taz, O.C. 321:12; “The Shabbos Kitchen,” p.155). These are defined as either: A) Food will spoil if prepared before Shabbat B) Food needed for a young child or one who is ill. In these cases, one may employ 2 shinuyim:

1. Reverse the order of pouring
2. One of the first two of the three shinuyim mentioned previously for stirring/mixing: either mixing with one’s hand or using criss-cross strokes. Using the handle of a spoon/fork, or using a knife is not acceptable in this case, since it is not considered an entirely unusual method of stirring with respect to a Torah prohibition (R. Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, cited in “The Shabbos Kitchen, p.153).

Sephardic poskim allow preparing thick mixtures in any case where one employs a shinui both for the pouring and the mixing, even if it is not a case of necessity (Ohr L’tzion 2:33).

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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.