Permissible ways to heat up food on Shabbat: Difference between revisions

## According to Ashkenazim, the pot must remain in one’s hand or in one’s hand while resting on a table or ground, however according to Sephardim, as long as the pot wasn’t placed on the ground, one may return it. <ref> Rama 253:2 writes that one of the conditions of [[Hachzara]] is that one keeps the pot in one’s hand. Mishna Brurah 253:55 writes that it’s forbidden to return the pot even if one put it down on a table or bench. The Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 1:18 writes that if one keeps one hand on the pot as one rests in on a table one may return the pot to the covered fire. Many achronim including Torat [[Shabbat]] 253:11, Demesk Eliezer 253:11, Sh”t Igrot Moshe 4:74:33, and the 39 Melachos (vol 2 pg 619, by Rabbi Ribiat) rule that as one as one keeps one’s hand on the pot even if the pot was rested on a table or bench one may return the pot. [However, from the Biur Halacha 253:2 D”H Velo it seems not like this.] On the other hand, S”A 253:2 writes that one of the conditions is to make sure not to place the pot on the ground. Magen Avraham 253:20 writes that the S”A argues on the Rama and permits leaving it on a table or bench if one intends to return it to the fire. Thus, Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] vol 1 pg 103) writes that there’s no requirement to have the food in one's hand. </ref>

## According to Ashkenazim, the food (liquid and solid) should be slightly warm in order to return it to the fire, however some argue that solids don’t need to be warm at all. On the other hand, according to Sephardim, the liquids must still be 113 degrees (and solids can be cold). <ref> S”A 253:2 writes that a condition of [[Hachzara]] is that the food is still boiling meaning that it’s 113 degrees. This condition is referring specifically to liquids as the Mishna Brurah 253:54 explains that this condition is dependant one of [[bishul]] and not [[Hachzara]]. Since S”A 318:4 rules that a liquid may not be heated up once it’s not 113 degrees, so too here a liquid may not be put back on the covered fire unless it’s 113 degrees. However, Rama 253:2 and 318:15 writes that Ashkenazim are lenient to allow returning a fully cooked liquid as long as it’s now slightly warm. This is also the opinion of Mishna Brurah 253:54 and Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 1:18. Regarding solids, the Magen Avraham 253:36 writes that it also must be somewhat warm in order to return it to the fire. However, the Beiur Halacha 253:5 s.v. Ubilvad argues on the Magen Avraham based on the Buir HaGra. [It seems that Mishna Brurah 253:54, 91 rules like the Gra against the Magen Avraham even though he quotes the Magen Avraham (in 253:68).] The Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 1:18 seems to rule like the Magen Avraham, however, it’s unclear what he holds based on the footnote. Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]] vol 1 pg 103) and Menuchat Ahava (3:2, vol 1 pg 50) agree with the Beiur Halacha that one may be lenient like the Gra. </ref>

# One may not return the inset of a crockpot to the base unless it was covered with aluminum foil (or the like) and it's preferable to cover the knob as well. <ref> [[Shabbos]] Kitchen (Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, p. 60)</ref>

===Clarification of the fourth requirement===

# According to Ashkenazim, in cases of need one may return food if it was placed on a table or bench as long as one had intent to return it a covered fire. <Ref> Beiur Halacha 253:2 s.v. VeDato writes in cases where one had intent to return the pot to the fire, and left it on the ground, in a case of need there’s room to be lenient. Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 1:19, Orchot [[Shabbat]] (vol 1 pg 85) agree. (It seems, however, that the Orchot [[Shabbat]] quotes Beiur Halacha even in cases where there’s no need). </ref>