Losh: Difference between revisions

# Many hold that there is no prohibition of losh on a cooked food. Therefore, one may mix margarine into a baked potato or mix cinnamon or raisins into a cooked cereal (like oatmeal).<ref> Shulchan Aruch 321:19 rules based on the Rambam (responsa 109) that one may stir a dish of grits and meat and mash them so that they dissolve and form into one mass. Bach 321 questions the Rambam and says that one may only stir gently. Magen Avraham 321:28 agrees. However, the Taz 321:14 writes that since the meat and grits have been mixed with water and cooked before shabbos, there is no problem of losh in mixing it again. Chazon Ish 58:9 agrees if there is some liquid there from before Shabbos, one may then put in more on Shabbos. Biur Halacha 321:14 s.v. shema adds another reason to be lenient with stirring food that is already cooked; since it is already fit for eating, the kneading becomes part of the process preparing it for eating, derech achila, and would be permitted if you stirred a little bit at a time. Mishna Brura 321:77 advises following the strict views of the Bach and Magen Avraham. Chazon Ish 58:9 allows stirring even vigorously. 39 Melachos (pg. 540) writes that you can mix margarine into a baked potato. Shemirat Shabbos KeHilchata (8:24) agrees and adds (8:25) that you can mix cinnamon or raisins into oatmeal.<br/> </ref>

# If one needs to wash his hands or urinate on the ground, he should look for an area without any loose sand or dirt. In case of need however, one may be lenient.<ref> The Mishna Berura 321:57 cites the Magen Avraham that it is forbidden to urinate on mud because of losh and the same would be true of loose dirt or sand, even though it is unintended. He also cites the Beit Meir who is lenient in a case of need, to urinate even upon mud since he rules like R’ Yosi Bar Yehuda (cited in Masechet Shabbat 155b) that it is only dirabanan if you don't mix but merely pour water. Mishna Brura concludes that one may be lenient in case of need when the mud doesn’t belong to you, since one doesn’t benefit from the dirt mixing with the liquid. Kitzur S”A 80:14 and Menuchat Ahava 2:9:2: pg. 287 agree that if possible one should be careful. See also Ketzot Hashulchan 130:8.<br/> </ref>

# It is forbidden to pour water on sand. Therefore, children playing in a sandbox should not pour water into it.<ref> Rambam (Shabbos 8:16) based on the gemara Shabbos 18a writes that kneading water and dirt is forbidden from the torah as a tolada of losh. Based on that, Shemirat Shabbos KeHilchata 16:4, Children in Halacha (Rabbi Simcha Bunim, pg 137-8), and 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 2: pg 253-254) write that children who are playing in a sandbox may not pour water into it. <br/> The Gemara (155b) cites a dispute as to when one would have violated losh. According to Rebbi, pouring water into flour is enough, while according to Rabbi Yosi bar Yehuda, one isn’t liable until he kneads them together to form dough. The Rif (67b), the Rambam (21:34) and the Rosh (24:3) rule like R’ Yosi bar Yehuda that it is only forbidden midirabanan to pour water without mixing it, while the Yereim (Ch. 274, 133b), the Teruma (Ch. 220), the Semag (Prohibition 65, lash) and the Semak (Ch. 280) hold like Rebbe. The primary opinion of Shulchan Aruch 321:16 is like R’ Yosi, however, he also cites the opinion of Rebbi. Chacham Ovadia Yosef (Livyat Chen 67) and Menuchat Ahava (vol. 2: 9: note 9) are lenient. Rama is strict and this view is accepted by the Ben Ish Chai (Mishpatim 18) and Kaf Hachayim (324:14). <br/>

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