Sefarim by Rabbi Chaim Cohen: Mekor Chaim ↗ בס״ד

ArchiveShowing posts from November, 2015

  1. Unblocking Sinks on Shabbos

    Question: My kitchen sink often gets clogged up. Can I use a plunger to unblock it on Shabbos? Answer: The Gemara (Kesubos 60a) writes that one can’t normally dislodge debris from a gutter on Shabbos. If the blockage would…

  2. Adding Spices to Food on Shabbos

    Question: Can I add sauces and spices to hot food on Shabbos? Answer: There is a big difference as to whether the sauces or spices are raw or have previously been cooked, whether the food is a davar gush, solid food such as …

  3. Heating food on a Timer

    Question:  Can I place my cold food on the hotplate on Shabbos if the timer is set to heat it up later? If not, can I do so before Shabbos? Answer:  The Shulchan Aruch (OC 253:5) writes that one may heat up a davar gush, dry…

  4. Heating food on Shabbos

    Question: Can I place chicken on a hotplate on Shabbos to heat it up? Answer: Chazal (Shabbos 36b) prohibited reheating even cooked food on Shabbos. According to the Ran (quoted by the Mishna Berura 253:55), the reason is be…

  5. Which Direction?

    Question: I sometimes daven in a shul where the aron hakodesh is on the northern wall. Some people  daven towards the aron while others face east. Which is correct? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 30a) teaches that one should …

  6. Studying on Shabbos

    Question: Can I study for my medical exams on Shabbos? Answer:  The Gemara (Shabbos 149a) writes that one mustn’t read a shtar hedyot (common document) on Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 307:17) writes that there is a machlok…