Making Charoses when Pesach Falls on Shabbos
Rabbi Yonason Johnson
One of the 39 Melachos in Losh - kneading. Losh is the act of binding small particles together with a liquid to form a solid or semi-solid mass. Losh is not limited to flour. All fine particles (בני גיבול) are subject to the Torah prohibition when mixed with liquid to form a thick mixture e.g. mixing soil to make mud or making instant mashed potatoes.
When it comes to coarser particles such as bran (לאו בני גיבול) we find a machlokes between the Rishonim whether the Deoraisa Melocha of Losh applies. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 321:14-16) brings two opinions.
The Lenient Opinion
According to the first opinion, coarse particles do not resemble flour and are only subject to a Rabbinic prohibition of Losh. This prohibition only applies to making a large quantity at a time. However, a small mixture can be made even if it forms a thick mixture/mass. This is because making a small mixture is considered a shinui.
If a large quantity is being made, only a mixture of a loose consistency (i.e. runny) can be made. Even then, a shinui is required by reversing the regular order of adding the ingredients. A shinui is also required when mixing; either by using one’s finger, shaking the bowl, or using a spoon /fork in criss-cross strokes.
The Stricter Opinion
According to the second opinion, there is no distinction between fine and coarser particles and both are subject to the Torah prohibition. Furthermore, the prohibition applies not only by stirring or mixing them together, but even by just adding the liquid, since this will create some degree of bonding.
According to this opinion, there is no way to make a thick mixture on Shabbos unless some liquid was added before Shabbos. More liquid could then be added on Shabbos.
If the mixture is loose, it is only subject to a Rabbinic prohibition and therefore can be made if the order of adding ingredients is reversed and a shinui is used when mixing (see the lenient opinion).
These Halachos apply in cases such as; mixing oil or mayonnaise with egg of tuna, making wheatbix, Matzah balls or adding mayonnaise to grated horseradish etc.
If the pieces are significantly large and will retain their distinct identity even when mixed with the liquid, this does not resemble Losh and is permissible. Therefore one may add mayonnaise when making potato salad or coleslaw. Similarly pieces of fruit may be mixed into yoghurt.
Charoses
Charoses is made by mixing finely chopped fruits, nuts and spices (for those who use spices during Pesach) to make a thick mixture which resembles the mortar. It should then be softened by adding wine (preferably red as a remembrance of the blood). Since the wine acts to bind the pieces together, the making of Charoses is subject to the laws of Losh.
Losh is one of the Melachos of food preparation which is permissible on Yomtov. When Yomtov falls on a weekday, Charoses could be made in the regular manner. However, when Pesach falls on Shabbos (as it does this year), the Halocha is as follows:
The Alter Rebbe (OC 473:34) rules that one should add the wine to soften the mixture before Shabbos. If one did not do so, they should make the Charoses on Shabbos by first placing the wine into the bowl and then adding the Charoses mixture (reversed order). The mixing should be done with a shinui - either mixing with one’s finger or by moving the bowl around. This ruling is based on the Magen Avraham.
It is clear that they are following the stricter opinion quoted above, so that even just adding the liquid on Shabbos is forbidden.
Therefore it is surprising that both the Magen Avraham and the Alter Rebbe do not write the requirement that only a loose mixture may be made.
Machtzis Hashekel and Pri Megadim both write that the Magen Avraham is relying on his ruling in the laws of Shabbos, which follows the stricter opinion in Losh. Similarly the Ketzos Hashulchan (130:9) writes that in the laws of Pesach, the Alter Rebbe relies on his ruling in hilchos Shabbos - as evidenced by referring us to what he has written in Simon 321.
(Whilst we no longer have the conclusion of Simon 321, in Simon 324 the Alter Rebbe discusses the mixing of bran for one’s animals on Shabbos. There he brings the two opinions and writes that we have already explained that one should follow the stringent opinion).
Therefore, even though Charoses should be thick, if it was not made before Shabbos, only a mixture of loose consistency can be made (employing the shinuim above).
It remains preferable that the Charoses be made entirely before Shabbos. (For those who do not wet the Matzah, some Charoses should be left without wine for Korech).
Chabad minhog is to prepare the Charoses fruits and nuts before the Seder and to add the wine at the Seder before dipping the Marror. This practice is brought by the Chok Yaakov. (The Rebbe would place some of the dry Charoses into the wine which had spilled into the plate under the Kiddush cup).
Those who still wish to follow this minhog when Pesach falls on Shabbos should take care to follow the guidelines described above, including to be certain that there is sufficient wine in the plate to ensure that the resulting mixture will be a loose one.
Additional Concerns
If the Charoses was not made in advance, on Shabbos the fruits and nuts must be chopped just before the beginning of the Seder, using a knife. One may not use a greater, grinder or masher. The pieces should also be cut larger than they usually would be.
Rabbi Yonason Johnson
One of the 39 Melachos in Losh - kneading. Losh is the act of binding small particles together with a liquid to form a solid or semi-solid mass. Losh is not limited to flour. All fine particles (בני גיבול) are subject to the Torah prohibition when mixed with liquid to form a thick mixture e.g. mixing soil to make mud or making instant mashed potatoes.
When it comes to coarser particles such as bran (לאו בני גיבול) we find a machlokes between the Rishonim whether the Deoraisa Melocha of Losh applies. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 321:14-16) brings two opinions.
The Lenient Opinion
According to the first opinion, coarse particles do not resemble flour and are only subject to a Rabbinic prohibition of Losh. This prohibition only applies to making a large quantity at a time. However, a small mixture can be made even if it forms a thick mixture/mass. This is because making a small mixture is considered a shinui.
If a large quantity is being made, only a mixture of a loose consistency (i.e. runny) can be made. Even then, a shinui is required by reversing the regular order of adding the ingredients. A shinui is also required when mixing; either by using one’s finger, shaking the bowl, or using a spoon /fork in criss-cross strokes.
The Stricter Opinion
According to the second opinion, there is no distinction between fine and coarser particles and both are subject to the Torah prohibition. Furthermore, the prohibition applies not only by stirring or mixing them together, but even by just adding the liquid, since this will create some degree of bonding.
According to this opinion, there is no way to make a thick mixture on Shabbos unless some liquid was added before Shabbos. More liquid could then be added on Shabbos.
If the mixture is loose, it is only subject to a Rabbinic prohibition and therefore can be made if the order of adding ingredients is reversed and a shinui is used when mixing (see the lenient opinion).
These Halachos apply in cases such as; mixing oil or mayonnaise with egg of tuna, making wheatbix, Matzah balls or adding mayonnaise to grated horseradish etc.
If the pieces are significantly large and will retain their distinct identity even when mixed with the liquid, this does not resemble Losh and is permissible. Therefore one may add mayonnaise when making potato salad or coleslaw. Similarly pieces of fruit may be mixed into yoghurt.
Charoses
Charoses is made by mixing finely chopped fruits, nuts and spices (for those who use spices during Pesach) to make a thick mixture which resembles the mortar. It should then be softened by adding wine (preferably red as a remembrance of the blood). Since the wine acts to bind the pieces together, the making of Charoses is subject to the laws of Losh.
Losh is one of the Melachos of food preparation which is permissible on Yomtov. When Yomtov falls on a weekday, Charoses could be made in the regular manner. However, when Pesach falls on Shabbos (as it does this year), the Halocha is as follows:
The Alter Rebbe (OC 473:34) rules that one should add the wine to soften the mixture before Shabbos. If one did not do so, they should make the Charoses on Shabbos by first placing the wine into the bowl and then adding the Charoses mixture (reversed order). The mixing should be done with a shinui - either mixing with one’s finger or by moving the bowl around. This ruling is based on the Magen Avraham.
It is clear that they are following the stricter opinion quoted above, so that even just adding the liquid on Shabbos is forbidden.
Therefore it is surprising that both the Magen Avraham and the Alter Rebbe do not write the requirement that only a loose mixture may be made.
Machtzis Hashekel and Pri Megadim both write that the Magen Avraham is relying on his ruling in the laws of Shabbos, which follows the stricter opinion in Losh. Similarly the Ketzos Hashulchan (130:9) writes that in the laws of Pesach, the Alter Rebbe relies on his ruling in hilchos Shabbos - as evidenced by referring us to what he has written in Simon 321.
(Whilst we no longer have the conclusion of Simon 321, in Simon 324 the Alter Rebbe discusses the mixing of bran for one’s animals on Shabbos. There he brings the two opinions and writes that we have already explained that one should follow the stringent opinion).
Therefore, even though Charoses should be thick, if it was not made before Shabbos, only a mixture of loose consistency can be made (employing the shinuim above).
It remains preferable that the Charoses be made entirely before Shabbos. (For those who do not wet the Matzah, some Charoses should be left without wine for Korech).
Chabad minhog is to prepare the Charoses fruits and nuts before the Seder and to add the wine at the Seder before dipping the Marror. This practice is brought by the Chok Yaakov. (The Rebbe would place some of the dry Charoses into the wine which had spilled into the plate under the Kiddush cup).
Those who still wish to follow this minhog when Pesach falls on Shabbos should take care to follow the guidelines described above, including to be certain that there is sufficient wine in the plate to ensure that the resulting mixture will be a loose one.
Additional Concerns
If the Charoses was not made in advance, on Shabbos the fruits and nuts must be chopped just before the beginning of the Seder, using a knife. One may not use a greater, grinder or masher. The pieces should also be cut larger than they usually would be.
