Note: Welcome to our new learners! This shiur is based on the Chayei Adam. The Mishnah Berurah bases much of his halacha on the Chayei Adam, but we will note when the Mishnah Berurah diverges from the Chayei Adam. The framework of the Chayei Adam follows a clear presentation, and lends itself to learning the halachos clearly, so we are following the Chayei Adam.
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We are beginning Klal 20, which discusses the halachos of bishul, shehiya and chazara. Bishul is a unique melacha in that it is one of the few melachos in which a person does not create the result, but sets something in motion for something else–the heat source–to create the result. Arguably, one could view bishul as a form of grama (indirect action), as the person places something on the heat, but it is the heat which affects change. Nevertheless, the Torah obligates a person for the action of using heat to affect something, because using the powers of nature to accomplish something, with the right criteria, is considered a direct action.
There is a machlokes between the Bavli and Yerushalmi regarding whether melachos are learned out of the construction of the mishkan or even from the korbanos offered once the Mishkan was established. According to the Yerushalmi, bishul is learned from the baking of the lechem hapanim. For this reason, the Mishnayos refer to this melacha as ha’ofeh, one who bakes. However, the Bavli learns it from the building of the mishkan. There was no baking within the building of the Mishkan, but cooking took place when they would cook various items to create dyes for the bigdei kehuna and paroches, etc. Thus, according to the Bavli, the primary melacha is actually bishul, cooking. The Bavli explains that nevertheless, the Mishnah calls this melacha ofeh, in order to write a set of melachos which would be clear. The first 11 melachos relate to the process of baking bread, so the Tanna called this melacha ofeh in order for it to remain in consonance with the other melachos in this group.
Thus, ofeh and bishul are stand-ins for each other, and appear to be two forms of the same av. The Ramban writes that if it would have been up to him, he would have counted them as two separate melachos.
The primary definition of bishul is using heat, and not just warmth, to effect change in an item. For example, placing raw chicken in a pot over the fire will soften and change the meat from raw to edible. These changes are irreversible, and is known as a change in the aichus (quality) of the item. (Shinui aichus)
There are other items where the change is not necessarily irreversible, even though it affects significant change. Examples include softening metal or melting wax. Nevertheless, one is chayav due the significant change to the form of the item. (Shinui tzurah)
Summary
- Bishul is a unique melacha in that one does not directly affect change in the item, but one is nevertheless chayav.
- Bishul is defined as creating irreversible change in an item using heat, or creating a reversible change which is of significance.
