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We have finished siman 3, where the Chayei Adam introduced the concept of ain mechateich b’ochlin, mechateich does not apply to food. We will clarify a few more points about this concept.
- Cutting pills. We learned that the reason mechateich does not apply to food is because the chashivus of cutting something is to use it for a future, significant action. Therefore, the concept does not apply to food, which is cut and then immediately eaten. Rav Shlomo Zalman extends this idea to cutting pills. A person who needs to take medication on Shabbos, but it is not life-threatening, can cut the pill, because it is immediately consumed (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa).
- Toilet paper. If a person does not have precut toilet paper or tissues, they will encounter the issur of mechateich when they cut it to a specific size, and koreiah fire just cutting in general. It is important to understand that for kavod habriyos, the need for a person to cut themselves, Chazal lifted many of their issurim. For example, although amira l’achum in this case would be amira on an issur deoraysa, which is generally never permitted, Chazal permit it in this case. So one suggestion is that they can ask a non-Jew to cut the toilet paper.
- There is a discussion whether it is muttar to cut pills on Shabbos or not; one should ask their rav
- Regarding cutting toilet paper, one suggestion is to instruct a non-Jew to cut it. We will discuss toilet paper further in the upcoming shiur, be’ezras Hashem.
