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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman רנ״ט · 7 Seifim (SA) + 8 Seifim (SHHaRav)
Additional halachos of hatmana — muktza, moving, sealed oven
סימן רנ״ט
כמה דיני הטמנה וטלטולם
🌱 Introduction Level · Beginners
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Continues Siman 257 (hatmana) by addressing the halachos of moving on Shabbat. Are the insulating materials (wool, stones, foil) muktza? How do we remove the pot without uncovering the material? Tannur sealed with clay (טוח בטיט) — may we break the seal on Shabbat to take out the chamin? Central concept: ייחוד (designation), which changes the halachic status of the material.
Topic: Muktza status of insulating materials and halachos of moving on Shabbat
Source: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman רנ״ט · 7 seifim · Shabbos 48–49
Compilation: Rav Yossef Haim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study Plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 7 seifim
2. General context — why a siman dedicated to moving?
3. Key concept 1 — yichud (designation) and muktza
4. Key concept 2 — The action of mena'er (shaking the cover)
5. Key concept 3 — guma (the hollow) intact vs. collapsed
6. The 7 seifim in detail
7. Rama's position — non-Jew, child, night vs. day sealing
8. Modern cases — foil, blankets, oven
9. Practical summary
10. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Seif Alef — Mochin (soft materials) and yichud
מוכין (פי' כל דבר רך קרוי מוכין כגון צמר גפן ותלישי צמר רך של בהמה וגרירת בגדים בלוים) שטמן בהן דרך מקרה אסור לטלטלן אלא מנער הכיסוי והן נופלות וכגון שמקצתן מגולה שאין זה טלטול אלא מצדו ואם יחדן לכך מותר לטלטלן אבל אם טמן בגיזי צמר אפילו לא יחדן לכך מותר לטלטלן וה"מ סתם גיזין שאין עומדים לסחורה אבל אם נתנם לאוצר לסחורה צריכין יחוד ואם טמן בהם בלא יחוד מנער הכיסוי והם נופלות דהיינו לומר שנוטל כסוי הקדירה שיש תורת כלי עליה ואע"פ שהם עליה לא איכפת לן דלא נעשית בסיס להן:
Several laws of hatmanah and moving its materials — 7 se'ifim. Mochin (anything soft is called mochin: cotton, tufts of soft animal wool, ravelings of worn-out garments) in which one insulated incidentally — it is assur to move them; rather, one shakes the cover and they fall off, and this when part of it is exposed, for this is not moving but indirect handling (min hatzad). If one designated them for this — one may move them. But if one insulated in wool fleeces — even without designating them, one may move them. And this concerns ordinary fleeces not destined for sale; but if one placed them in storage for sale — they require designation. And if one insulated in them without designation — one shakes the cover and they fall, meaning that one takes the cover of the pot, which has the status of a utensil; and even though they rest upon it — we do not mind, for it did not become a base (bosis) for them.
Seif Alef sets forth the central principle:
- Yichud (designation) changes the halachic status of an ordinary material
- Without yichud, many insulating materials are muktza on Shabbat
- Gizei tzemer (wool carded for use) — exception: yichud is not needed
- Mena'er ha-kisui — technique to serve without touching the muktza
What this seif says:
- What served by chance may not be handled — one shakes it off — שטמן בהן דרך מקרה אסור לטלטלן אלא מנער הכיסוי והן נופלות.
- The reason being that this is not true handling but from the side — שאין זה טלטול אלא מצדו.
- Designation changes everything — ואם יחדן לכך מותר לטלטלן.
- Except shearings, which need none — unless kept as merchandise — אבל אם נתנם לאוצר לסחורה צריכין יחוד.
Seif Beit — Stones and bricks (avanim, levenim)
הנותנים אבנים ולבנים סביב הקדירה צריך שייחדם לכך לעולם שהרי כל זמן שלא יחדן אינם חשובים לו ומשליכן הלכך אסור לטלטלן אם לא שיצניעם ומייחדן לכך:
For stones and bricks placed around the pot — one must designate them for this use permanently (le-olam). Otherwise — "einam chashuvim lo u-mashlichan" (they are not important to him, he discards them) → muktza.
Distinction between organic and mineral materials:
- Wool, old garments — used daily → one-time yichud suffices (?)
- Stones and bricks — no daily use → permanent yichud required
What this seif says:
- Stones and bricks: the designation must be permanent — הנותנים אבנים ולבנים סביב הקדירה צריך שייחדם לכך לעולם.
- The reason being that one throws them away — שהרי כל זמן שלא יחדן אינם חשובים לו ומשליכן.
Seif Gimmel — Removing the pot and replacing it
הטומן בקופה מלאה גיזי צמר שאסור לטלטל והוציא הקדירה כל זמן שלא נתקלקלה הגומא יכול להחזירה ואם נתקלקלה לא יחזירנה ואפי' לכתחלה יכול להוציאה על דעת להחזירה אם לא תתקלקל ולא חיישינן שמא יחזירנה אף אם תתקלקל וי"א שאפילו טמן בדבר שמותר לטלטל אם נתקלקלה הגומא לא יחזיר מפני שתצטרך הקדירה לעשות לעצמה מקום כשמחזירה ונמצא כמי שטומן בשבת:
טמן בדבר שאינו ניטל וכיסה פיה בדבר הניטל מגלה הכיסוי ואוחז בקדירה ומוציאה:
One who insulated in a basket full of wool fleeces (which are assur to move) and took out the pot: as long as the hollow has not collapsed — he may return it; and if it collapsed — he may not return it. And even lechatchilah he may take it out intending to return it if the hollow does not collapse, and we are not concerned lest he return it even if it collapses. And some say that even if one insulated in a material that may be moved — if the hollow collapsed, he should not return it: the pot would have to make itself a place when he returns it, and he would be like one who insulates on Shabbos.
The guma (hollow): the impression left by the pot in the material. If the pot can find its exact place again without disturbing anything = continuation. If it must settle into a new place = new hatmana (assur on Shabbat).
What this seif says:
- Everything turns on the hollow: intact, he may put it back — כל זמן שלא נתקלקלה הגומא יכול להחזירה ואם נתקלקלה לא יחזירנה.
- And he may take it out from the outset without concern — ולא חיישינן שמא יחזירנה אף אם תתקלקל.
- One view extends the rule — and gives its reason — מפני שתצטרך הקדירה לעשות לעצמה מקום כשמחזירה ונמצא כמי שטומן בשבת.
What this seif says:
- Buried in what may not be handled, covered by what may: he uncovers and takes it out — טמן בדבר שאינו ניטל וכיסה פיה בדבר הניטל מגלה הכיסוי ואוחז בקדירה ומוציאה.
Seifim Daled–Heh — Cover vs. insulating material
טמן וכיסה בדבר שאינו ניטל אם מקצת הקדירה מגולה נוטל ומחזיר ואם לאו אינו נוטל:
| Case | Insulating material | Cover | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Muktza (eino nital) | Permitted (nital) | Uncover the cover, grasp the pot and take it out |
| 5 | Muktza (eino nital) | Muktza (eino nital) | If part of pot exposed: take and return. Otherwise: may not take |
What this seif says:
- When all is in what may not be handled, the uncovered part decides — אם מקצת הקדירה מגולה נוטל ומחזיר ואם לאו אינו נוטל.
Seif Vav — Yom Tov + Friday: stones and "building"
יו"ט שחל להיות בע"ש יש מי שאוסר להטמין באבנים משום דהוי כמו בנין ויש מתירים:
Yom Tov that falls on Friday (rare case where one must prepare for Shabbat on Yom Tov):
- Yesh oser (some forbid) — insulating in stones = binyan (building) — assur on Yom Tov
- Yesh matir (others permit) — not real building
What this seif says:
- Yom Tov falling on a Friday: the Mechaber brings both views and decides neither — יו״ט שחל להיות בע״ש יש מי שאוסר להטמין באבנים משום דהוי כמו בנין ויש מתירים.
Seif Zayin — Tannur sealed with clay for the chamin
התנור שמניחין בו החמין וסותמין פיו בדף ושורקין [פי' מחליקין] אותו בטיט מותר לסתור אותה סתימה כדי להוציא החמין ולחזור ולסתמו ואם יש בו גחלים לוחשות מותר ע"י עכו"ם: הגה ויש מחמירין שלא לסתור סתימת התנור הטוח בטיט ע"י ישראל אם אפשר לעשות ע"י עכו"ם וכן אם אפשר לעשותו ע"י ישראל קטן לא יעשה ישראל גדול ואם א"א יעשה גדול ע"י שינוי קצת והכי נהוג (ת"ה סי' ש"ה ואגור) ונ"ל הא דמותר לחזור ולסתום התנור היינו ביום דכבר כל הקדירות מבושלות כל צרכן אבל בלילה סמוך להטמנתו דיש לספק שמא הקדירות עדיין אינן מבושלות כל צרכן אסור לסתום התנור דגורם בישול כמו שנתבאר סי' רנ"ז סעיף ד' ואפי' ע"י עכו"ם אסור כמו שנתבאר לעיל סוף סי' רנ"ג (ושאר דיני חזרה בשבת ע"ל סי' שי"ח):
The oven in which the chamin is placed, whose mouth is closed with a board smeared (smoothed) with clay — one may break open that seal on Shabbos to take out the chamin, and close it again. And if there are glowing coals in it — permitted through a non-Jew.
Hagahah of the Rema: some are machmir not to break the clay seal of the oven through a Jew if it can be done through a non-Jew; likewise, if it can be done by a Jewish minor — an adult Jew should not do it; and if impossible — an adult may do it with a slight deviation (shinui), and so is the custom [Terumas HaDeshen siman 305; Agur]. And it seems to me: that which it is permitted to re-close the oven — that is by day, when all the pots are already fully cooked; but at night, soon after the insulating — when one may doubt whether the pots are fully cooked yet — it is assur to close the oven, for it causes cooking, as explained in siman 257 §4; and even through a non-Jew it is assur, as explained above at the end of siman 253 (for the other laws of chazara on Shabbos, see siman 318).
Hagahah of the Rema: some are machmir not to break the clay seal of the oven through a Jew if it can be done through a non-Jew; likewise, if it can be done by a Jewish minor — an adult Jew should not do it; and if impossible — an adult may do it with a slight deviation (shinui), and so is the custom [Terumas HaDeshen siman 305; Agur]. And it seems to me: that which it is permitted to re-close the oven — that is by day, when all the pots are already fully cooked; but at night, soon after the insulating — when one may doubt whether the pots are fully cooked yet — it is assur to close the oven, for it causes cooking, as explained in siman 257 §4; and even through a non-Jew it is assur, as explained above at the end of siman 253 (for the other laws of chazara on Shabbos, see siman 318).
Seif Zayin grants an exceptional heter for the chamin (cholent) practice in a sealed tannur: one may break and reseal. However, with two important nuances from the Rama: (1) prefer a non-Jew/child if possible, (2) the resealing must take place after everything is fully cooked (= Shabbat morning).
What this seif says:
- An oven sealed with clay may be opened and sealed again — מותר לסתור אותה סתימה כדי להוציא החמין ולחזור ולסתמו.
- And where live coals remain, through a non-Jew — ואם יש בו גחלים לוחשות מותר ע״י עכו״ם.
- Rama: a ladder of stringency, from the non-Jew to an adult with a change — וכן אם אפשר לעשותו ע״י ישראל קטן לא יעשה ישראל גדול ואם א״א יעשה גדול ע״י שינוי קצת והכי נהוג.
2. General context
What is this siman about?
Siman רנ״ט is the continuation of Siman 257 (hatmana). Siman 257 laid down the halachos of setting up the wrapping; Siman 259 deals with the Shabbat questions that arise afterwards:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the insulating material muktza on Shabbat? | Depends on yichud (prior designation) |
| How can one remove the pot without touching the muktza? | Techniques: mena'er, chazara la-guma, etc. |
| May one replace the pot if the hollow holds? | Yes (continuation) |
| Tannur sealed with clay — may one break/reseal on Shabbat? | Yes, with nuances (non-Jew, timing) |
The foundational Talmudic sugya — Shabbos 48–49: "hatmana u-mochin" — discussions about the muktza nature of insulating materials and the techniques for serving on Shabbat. Distinction between designated materials (muchan = prepared) and undesignated ones (muktza).
Connection with neighboring simanim
| Siman | Topic | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| רנ״ז | Hatmana (setting up the wrap) | Prerequisite to Siman 259 |
| רנ״ח | Placing cold on hot | Negative case (not hatmana) |
| רנ״ט | Hatmana and moving on Shabbat | — |
| ש״ח | General muktza | Theoretical framework |
| שי״ח | Cooking on Shabbat | Case of resealing at night |
3. Key concept 1 — yichud (designation) and muktza
Yichud = "designation" — a mental or verbal act of assigning an object to a specific use (here, insulating). It changes the halachic status of the object: "not muktza" instead of "muktza". Yichud must be done before Shabbat.
| Material | Without yichud | With one-time yichud (this week) | With permanent yichud (le-olam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carded wool (gizei tzemer) | Permitted (inherently useful) | — | — |
| Cotton, old garments (mochin) | Muktza | Permitted (per the Mechaber) | — |
| Stones, bricks (avanim, levenim) | Muktza | Insufficient | Permitted |
| Foil / towels (modern) | Often permitted (kesut = garment / useful item) | — | — |
4. Key concept 2 — The action of mena'er (shaking)
Mena'er ha-kisui = "shaking the cover". Technique to serve the cholent without directly moving the muktza material: one takes the cover of the pot (which is not muktza) and shakes it. The muktza material slides off to the side. This is "moving from the side" (tiltul min ha-tzad), considered indirect and therefore permitted.
Conditions:
- Part of the pot must be already exposed (= one does not act on it at all)
- The cover is "kli" (a utensil) — not muktza in itself
- The cover does not become a basis for the muktza even though there is muktza upon it
5. Key concept 3 — guma (the hollow)
Guma = "hollow" — the imprint left by the pot in the insulating material. The halacha states: if the hollow remains intact after one has removed the pot, one may replace it on Shabbat. If the hollow has collapsed, replacing = new hatmana = assur.
Practical test: can I put the pot back without disturbing anything in the insulating material? If yes = continuation (permitted). If no (one would need to redig or pack again) = new action (assur).
6. The 7 seifim in detail
Seif Alef — Mochin and yichud
Recap:
- Mochin without yichud → muktza. Solution: mena'er.
- Mochin with yichud → permitted to move
- Gizei tzemer → permitted without yichud (except if stored for commerce)
Seif Beit — Stones and bricks (permanent yichud)
Stones / bricks: permanent yichud (le-olam) required. Without it, they remain muktza kol yemei ha-shana.
Seif Gimmel — The intact hollow
Permitted to replace on Shabbat if the hollow holds. Permitted lechatchila to remove with the conditional intention of replacing (no gezera against this intention).
Seifim Daled–Heh — Combinations of material / cover
| Case | Material | Cover | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Permitted | Permitted | Everything permitted |
| 2 (Seif Daled) | Muktza | Permitted | Uncover + hold pot + remove |
| 3 (Seif Heh) — part exposed | Muktza | Muktza | Take + return |
| 4 (Seif Heh) — fully buried | Muktza | Muktza | May not take |
Seif Vav — Yom Tov on Friday (rare case)
Rare case: Yom Tov + Friday (preparing for Shabbat). Yesh oser / yesh matir on the stones (= building). In practice: in case of doubt, follow Yesh oser (no stones).
Seif Zayin — Sealed tannur for chamin
| Case | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sealed tannur, no active coals | Permitted on Shabbat to break and reseal (Jew) |
| Sealed tannur + active coals | Have a non-Jew do it (Mechaber); or a Jew with shinui (Rama) |
| Reseal in the morning (everything cooked) | Permitted |
| Reseal at night (cooking incomplete) | Assur even by non-Jew (Rama) — gorem bishul |
7. Rama's position
| Topic | Rama's position |
|---|---|
| Sealed tannur: opening on Shabbat (Seif Zayin) | Strict — prefer non-Jew; or Jewish child; or adult with shinui |
| Reseal in the morning (cooking complete) | Permitted lechatchila |
| Reseal at night (cooking incomplete) | Assur — even by non-Jew (gorem bishul) |
| "Vechen nahug" on the nuances | Practice received by the Ashkenazi communities |
The Rama's major chiddush at Seif Zayin: morning vs. nighttime sealing. At night (= before everything is cooked), even by a non-Jew, resealing is assur, because it "gorem bishul" (causes cooking). This is the direct application of Siman 257 on hatmana be-mosif hevel even indirectly.
8. Modern practical cases
Case 1 — Blankets over the pot (Siman 257 + 259)
Case: removing the blanket that wraps the pot on Shabbat to serve.
What to do:
What to do:
- The blanket = garment (kesut) — not muktza without special yichud
- Permitted to move normally
- If wrapped on Friday with the intention of unwrapping on Shabbat (= temporary) — no problem of the hollow
Case 2 — Foil wrapping the cholent
Case: cholent wrapped in foil on the blech. Serving on Shabbat.
What to do:
What to do:
- Foil = material prepared for culinary use — not muktza
- Permitted to open it, tear it, serve
- If one puts the foil cover back after serving — not a new hatmana (the hollow does not exist, it is just a cover)
Case 3 — Insulated pot: removing the cholent and replacing it
Case: cholent in an insulated pot, one removes a portion to serve, then closes it back.
What to do:
What to do:
- The insulated pot = technical "cover" — not muktza
- If one removes to transfer and replace the insulated pot: not a new hatmana — it is a permanent closed vessel
- No question of the hollow; the insulated pot is the vessel itself
Case 4 — Oven on Shabbat mode: opening and closing on Shabbat
Case: oven on Shabbat mode with the cholent inside. Opening on Shabbat to serve, closing.
What to do:
What to do:
- Oven on Shabbat mode ≈ tannur tuach be-tit (Siman 257-259 Zayin)
- Permitted to open/close if everything is cooked (morning) — equivalent of Rama "morning OK"
- If one opens at night (cooking incomplete) — same question of gorem bishul. Solution: ensure cooking kol tzorko before Shabbat
- Verify that opening/closing does not trigger an internal light or thermostat
Case 5 — Slow cooker: removing the cover on Shabbat
Case: Crock-Pot (slow cooker) with cholent. Removing the cover to serve.
What to do:
What to do:
- Cover = culinary utensil — not muktza
- Permitted to remove, take portions, close again
- Caution: do not actively stir the cholent (cooking in progress = bishul achar bishul?)
- If one closed the cover with a towel on top: removing the towel = not a displacement of hatmana (the towel is an add-on)
9. Practical summary of the Siman
The 5 teachings of Siman רנ״ט:
- Yichud (designation) transforms an ordinary material into non-muktza for hatmana
- Stones and bricks require permanent yichud; fabrics suffice with one-time yichud
- Intact guma = one may replace on Shabbat (= continuation, not new hatmana)
- Cover ≠ insulating material — if the cover is not muktza, one may access even if the rest is
- Sealed tannur — permitted on Shabbat with nuances (non-Jew if coals, morning to reseal)
Practical decision table
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Blanket on the pot (without special yichud) | Permitted to move (= useful garment) |
| Stones around the pot (without permanent yichud) | Muktza — use mena'er or do not touch |
| Replace the pot on Shabbat — hollow intact | Permitted |
| Replace the pot on Shabbat — hollow collapsed | Assur (new hatmana) |
| Foil cover on cholent — remove/replace | Permitted |
| Oven Shabbat mode — open in morning to serve | Permitted (cooking complete) |
| Oven Shabbat mode — open at night (cooking incomplete) | Problematic (gorem bishul if one closes) |
| Crock-Pot — remove cover on Shabbat | Permitted |
| Yom Tov Friday — stones around | Machloket — strict view preferred |
The 5 practical mitzvos of Siman רנ״ט
- Verify the muktza status of the insulating material before Shabbat — designate if needed
- Stones / bricks = always permanent yichud; not an ad hoc use
- If the hollow holds — replacing the pot OK; otherwise, wait until the end of Shabbat
- Cover = utensil — always permitted to handle (except in specific cases)
- Sealed oven / Shabbat mode — open in morning (cooking complete), not at night (cooking in progress)
10. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- What does yichud mean? Why is it necessary for the hatmana materials?
- What is the difference between carded wool (gizei tzemer) and cotton (mochin) in Seif Alef?
- Why do stones require permanent yichud?
- What does mena'er ha-kisui mean? When is it used?
- What is the guma and its role in replacing on Shabbat?
- In Seif Daled, what is the way to remove the pot if the insulating material is muktza?
- What is the Rama's position on the nighttime resealing of the tannur?
- How does Seif Zayin apply to a modern oven on Shabbat mode?
- For a Crock-Pot with a cover, what issues from Siman 259?
- How to link Siman 257 (setting up hatmana) with Siman 259 (serving on Shabbat)?
To deepen this siman:
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: sugya Shabbos 48-49, chakira on yichud, gidrei tiltul min ha-tzad, gorem bishul, machloket Rishonim on resealing
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: axiom, mnemonic, decision tree
- 📜 Level 4 — Daat HaRav: the shita of the Admur HaZaken on the 8 seifim and 4 entries of Kuntress Acharon
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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Siman רנ״ט · Level 1 — Introduction
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