Mashing Foods On Shabbat

The Daily Halacha Moment - Mashing Foods On Shabbat 🥔

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

May one mash foods for children on Shabbat?

Answer:

It is permitted to mash dates and nuts for a child, an elderly person, or for someone who is ill and finds it difficult to chew his food. However, the mashing should be done in an unusual manner that is not usually done during the weekday.[1] One may mash a banana or cooked vegetables for a child immediately before feeding him, as long as one uses a utensil that is not normally used for mashing this food.[2] Similarly, one may spread a banana or avocado on a piece of bread immediately before eating it.[3]

Excerpted from R’ Yonatan Nacson’s ‘Laws of Shabbat’, vol. 1 p. 376

Sources:

[1]. Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat, vol. 4, p. 253; Halichot Olam, vol. 4, p. 123; Yabia Omer, 10:55, 1:21. Even though in most cases one needs two different types of shinuy when grinding, in this case, one may rely on the opinions that state that grinding does not apply to fruits and vegetables.

[2]. Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat, vol. 4, p. 255; Halichot Olam, vol. 4, p. 117; Levyat Chen §64. See also Ohr LeTzion, 1:28 and vol. 2, 47:26 who states that using a regular fork is considered a shinuy. Others, such as Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchatah 6:8, state that one should use a spoon to mash a banana instead of using a fork. See also Menuchat Ahavah, vol. 2, 8:12. Igrot Moshe, O.C. 4:74, Tochen §2 explains that this is not considered Tochen, since the melachah of Tochen is the act of breaking something down into smaller separated parts. This is not the case, when mashing a banana which combines into one mush and not separate parts. See also Piskei Teshuvot 321, footnote 173.

[3]. Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat, vol. 4, p. 265.

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