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We are beginning siman 15. The Chayei Adam discusses a scenario of one who has a hole in their barrel, and wishes to stuff up the hole with rag or cotton. The cloth will certainly absorb liquid, and the concern is that as he stuffs the cloth into the hole, some of the liquid will squeeze out.
It is assumed that it is a psik reisha that the liquid will squeeze out. If the liquid in question was water, we would also have a concern of melabein. Assuming the liquid in the barrel is not water (or possibly white wine), the question is only regarding schita of dosh.
There is a strong possiblity that as the person presses the cloth into the hole, thereby squeezing the cloth, much of the liquid in question will return back into the barrel. If so, the argument that when liquid is discarded it does not approximate the dosh process (where the items are separated in order to use them) no longer applies. Thus, pressing this cloth into the barrel is going to be an issur deoraysa of dosh. Even though it is only a psik reisha, as he is not mechavein, as it is a psik reisha d’nicha lei, since the person is content that the liquid which squeezes out of the cloth returns back into the barrel.
If the hole is on the side, there is a much higher chance that the liquid will flow out of the barrel and become discarded. If so, it may be muttar in such a case. If the hole is closer to the top, there is a lower chance that it is will flow out, so there is a higher chance of the psik reisha d’nicha lei.
We will learn the language of the Chayei Adam:
The Chayei Adam writes that it is assur to take muchin (cut-up peices of garment) and place them into the cracks of an earthenware vessel(to close off the flow of liquid), because once the cloth becomes saturated from the liquid in the barrel there will be an issue of schita. Similarly, if one has a barrel stopper made out of cloth, one cannot place a vessel under the barrel to catch any liquid which will be squeezed out of the cloth during the removal or replacement of the cloth stopper. Placing a vessel underneath means that any liquid which will fall out of the barrel stopper will be saved, so the liquid being squeezed is no longer being discarded, making the squeezing of the cloth an issur deoraysa. If there is no vessel underneath, squeezing the cloth stopper no longer approximates dosh, and it would be muttar to remove and replace the cloth stopper.
Summary
- One may place, remove or replace a cloth in a barrel, even though the cloth will inevitably become saturated and one will end up squeezing the liquid out of the cloth, provided that the liquid which is squeezed it is discarded. If the liquid is not discarded, either because one tries to save it with another utensil, or because the liquid returns back into the barrel, it will be assur mideoraysa
