In a recent TftD, I wrote about the importance of having a close relationship with a rav, focusing on the fact that even today there are things you just can't get from s'farim alone. A real, personal connection to a rav is key to becoming a ben Torah. Along the way, I mentioned an open question I have concerning how I like to drink my scotch. Of course the scotch preparation got the most response 😎
To save you following a link, here is the basic issue:
One takes a sliver of citrus rind, twists it to squeeze out some of the fragrant oils, then drops it into the glass on top of the ice/drink. It is not being used to flavor the scotch, only the fragrance from the aromatic oils of the citrus peel mixes with that of the scotch, and that wafts over my mouth and enters my nose as a prelude and enhancement to the drink.
Is it permitted to twist the rind on Shabbos? It is by hand and for immediate use, as it just doesn't have the same appeal (of course pun intended) if done earlier. I want the extracted aromatic oils and I am simply releasing them. I don't want them added to the liquid; I really want them just exposed so they can waft and stuff. Moreover, those fragrant oils are inevitably expressed when peeling a citrus fruit, which is permitted on Shabbos.
That last line about the inevitability that oils are expressed during peeling was a new dimension to this question. I thought of it as I was working on the TftD. R' Siegel, shlit'a, has told me that R' Aaron Kotler, z"tzl used to say that his pen was his best chavrusa. There seems to be a part of one's brain that is only traversed when expressing an idea in writing. Writing things down brings out new, previously undiscovered dimensions. That is one of the reasons I keep working on this TftD. The fact that people read it is just an added incentive to keep me going.
In any case, that line elicited one or two (depending on how you count) suggestions. Namely, just decide to eat an orange, then take the peel (or a portion thereof) and pop it into the drink Problem solved, right?
Unfortunately, no... problem not solved. Let's break this down. If I am allowed to twist the peel, I don't need the subterfuge. If there is a violation, then the subterfuge doesn't help. Why not? Suppose I do a permitted act that has an associated inevitable consequence, adoringly know as פסיק רישא, which is itself a forbidden act. There is a lot of halachic literature around פסיק רישא; it depends on how inevitable (I know that technically doesn't make sense, but you know what I mean), how long after the initiating act the פסיק רישא occurs, and finally, if you are happy with, distraught about, or just don't care about the effect of the פסיק רישא.
For example, you left the lights on in your refrigerator. Opening the door is 100% permissible, but the light going on -- the classic and all too familiar פסיק רישא -- means you are not allowed to open the door. There are two reasons: (1) it happens immediately every time, and (2) you are happy to have the lights on.
But here the first act -- peeling the orange -- is completely permissible! Yes, but once you have the intention for the second -- placing that twist in the drink -- then you have tied these two together. Another example is washing your hands for bread -- completely permissible, but over your lawn -- oops... forbidden. Since the watering of the lawn is immediate and inevitable and desirable, no go.
However, I am allowed to wash my hands over my neighbor's lawn. Since I don't care about his lawn, then the פסיק רישא is irrelevant. On the other hand, remember, TftD, when Shprintze wanted that onion out of her cholent? If she just wants it out, then it is transgression of בורר/selecting since she is taking the good from the bad. If, however, she wants to give it to her Tati, it is no longer a forbidden בורר/selecting, because she is taking the good from the bad.
In our case, that leniency becomes a stringency. If my neighbor asks me to wash my hands over his lawn... does that still mean I don't care about his lawn? Not 100% clear, and needs further investigation. Similarly here, if I ask my friend to eat an orange or lemon (yes, I have a friend who likes to eat lemons, smart guy), then maybe his peeling in order to both eat the fruit and serve me a drink becomes as bad a washing your hands over your neighbor's laws because you like him.
I still haven't had that scotch with a twist on Shabbos... but the idea of that drink is generating a lot of Torah! There is no לחיים greater than that!
Comments