Mochek: Difference between revisions

# The Rambam Shabbos 11:17 writes that a toldah of mocheik would be if one erases a marking, roshem, in order to fix it. The Rosh Shabbos 7:9 however quotes a tosefta and explains it as saying that the fundamental principle to transgress mocheik is the “machshava for ksiva,” for the intent to write, and therefore one would be chayav even for erasing a blur splotch on a page.

==Letters on a Cake==

# Many poskim forbid breaking words, letters, drawings, shapes, or pictures<ref>Mishna Brurah 340:16 notes that some poskim on breaking a picture on a cake as drawing or erasing a picture is equally kotev or mochek as writing a word is. Aruch Hashulchan 340:23 and Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 11:7 agree.</ref> on a cake, while some poskim permit it. Regarding eating cake or cookies with letters or graphics on it, most poskim permit it.<Ref> The Mordechai ([[Shabbat]] 369) cites the Maharam as ruling that on [[Yom Tov]], it is rabbinically forbidden to eat cake that has letters written on it. He explains that it only is a rabbinic prohibition because one is [[erasing]] without intending to write in the place where he just erased. This is codified in the context of [[Shabbat]] by the Rama (O.C. 340:3).

* The Dagul Meirvavah 340 argues that eating the cake should be permitted, since it is only a psik reisha of a rabbinic prohibition that anyway is being done in an abnormal way. He asserts that breaking letters on a cake is an abnormal way of [[erasing]], and certainly breaking the letters in one’s mouth is unusual. Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer O.C. 4:38) adds that it should be permitted because it is only a psik riesha d’lo nicha lei on a rabbinic prohibition. Rav Mordechai Willig (“Hilchos [[Shabbos]] - Kotev/Mocheik #2,” min 39-43), however, argues that there is room to distinguish between a gezeirah, where psik riesha d’lo nicha lei may apply, and an action that is only d’rabanan because of a general principle, such as doing something in a destructive manner, where such a leniency doesn’t apply.  

* See further: Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 11:20, Sh”t Beir Moshe 6:92, Sh”t Az Nidabru 10:8, Sh”t Vayeshev Moshe 1:4 </ref> Sephardim may be lenient. <ref> Sh"t Or Litzion 2:40, Sh”t Yabia Omer O”C 4:38, [https://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipDate=12/24/2006 Rabbi Eli Mansour] </ref>

# Even for those who are strict it is permitted to cut between letters even if that destroys the word.<ref> Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in Shemirat Shabbat Kihilchita 9: footnote 38 </ref>  

# If the cake was cut before [[Shabbat]] and one simply wants to separate the pieces, there is no issue to separate them on Shabbat.<ref> Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in Shemirat Shabbat Kihilchita 11: footnote 30 </ref>

==Letters on a Package==