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We are continuing in siman 4, where the Chayei Adam is discussing squeezing lemons onto a solid food. We learned that the Chayei Adam is machmir against squeezing lemon onto sugar and then adding the mixture to the drink (what he called punch), but the Mishnah Berurah is meikil. The Mishnah Berurah follows the logic of the Shulchan Aruch, that he is not convinced that lemon has the halachic status of a mashkeh, since even lemons squeezed for drinking purposes is never drunk by itself but as a flavor for water. Therefore, the Mishnah Berurah concludes that even if one were to be machmir in general for the opinion of Rabbeinu Chananel, there is no need to be machmir here.
The Chazon Ish disagrees, and holds that when the intention is to take the lemon-sugar mixture and add it to the drink, it demonstrates that the purpose of squeezing the lemon was for the creation of a liquid. The fact that one first mixes the lemon and sugar does not negate the fact that one is eventually making it into a mashkeh, because it is essentially used as a mashkeh and therefore maintains the status of a mashkeh. Therefore, he holds that one cannot rely on this heter and cannot squeeze lemon onto sugar.
It comes out that both the Chayei Adam and Chazon Ish agree it is assur to squeeze lemon into sugar to add to punch but for different reasons. The Chayei Adam holds it is a safeik that it may become a mashkeh, due to his concern for Rabbeinu Chananel’s opinion; the Chazon Ish holds the halacha is not in accordance with Rabbeinu Chananel, but when the solid (sugar) exists to be converted into a liquid, it cannot be argued that the liquid serves to enhance the sugar (a solid) but rather the punch (a liquid).
It is interesting to note that the Chazon Ish does not bring a source for his psak, but nevertheless writes it without any hesitation, because it is clear to him that this is the halacha. The language of the Shulchan Aruch is that mashkeh ba la’ochel is muttar when the liquid serves to enhance the food. This language would possibly indicate that it is only muttar when the purpose of the mashkeh is to give flavor to food, but not if it’s purpose is to flavor the eventual liquid. Thus, this Shulchan Aruch may be a source for the Chazon Ish’s psak.
In siman 5, the Chayei Adam will discuss mashkeh absorbed into a food which is not part of its natural juices, but rather something like water absorbed through a process such as cooking, soaking or pickling. We will discuss this siman in the upcoming shiur, be’ezras Hashem.
Summary
- Although the Chayei Adam is concerned for the opinion of the Chayei Adam regarding squeezing liquid onto a food, the Shulchan Aruch paskens that one does not have to be concerned for it, but one who is machmir for it tavo alav bracha.
- Regarding squeezing lemons onto food specifically, the Mishnah Berurah paskens that there is no need to be machmir whatsoever.
- Regarding squeezing lemons into punch, where the lemon is first squeezed onto sugar and then mixed into the punch, the Mishnah Berurah extends his psak and maintains it is muttar. The Chayei Adam and Chazon Ish both hold it is assur (for different reasons).
