דעת הרב
Daas HaRav — The Shulchan Aruch HaRav on Siman 324
The shitah of the Alter Rebbe on the 12 seifim that codify the preparation of animal food on Shabbos — feeding one's animal but not sifting grain or mixing water-fodder. Modern application to kibble, mashes.
Why a Level 4 dedicated to the Alter Rebbe? The Shulchan Aruch HaRav is an autonomous and complete Shulchan Aruch. For Chabad, the Alter Rebbe is the final posek.
שלחן ערוך הרב — סימן שכ״ד
The full text of the Shulchan Aruch HaRav
סימן שכ״ד — דִּינֵי הֲכָנַת מַאֲכָל לִבְהֵמָה — וּבוֹ יב סְעִיפִים
סעיף א — Seif 1 (sifting straw)
דִּינֵי הֲכָנַת מַאֲכָל לִבְהֵמָה בְּשַׁבָּת וּבוֹ י״ב סְעִיפִים:
אֵין כּוֹבְרִין אֶת הַתֶּבֶן בַּכְּבָרָה שֶׁיִּפֹּל הַמֹּץ לָאָרֶץ, וְלֹא יַנִּיחֶנּוּ בְּמָקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּרֵד הַמֹּץ, שֶׁהֲרֵי זֶה כְּבוֹרֵר. אֲבָל נוֹטְלוֹ בַּכְּבָרָה וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְתוֹךְ הָאֵבוּס, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַמֹּץ נוֹפֵל לִפְעָמִים מֵאֵלָיו דֶּרֶךְ נִקְבֵי הַכְּבָרָה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְכַוֵּן לְכָךְ וְלֹא "פְּסִיק רֵישֵׁהּ" הוּא — מֻתָּר:
Laws of preparing food for an animal on Shabbos, containing 12 seifim:
One does not sift the straw with a sieve (kevarah) so that the chaff (motz) falls to the ground, nor shall one place it in a high place so the chaff drops down, for that is like sorting (borer). But to take it in the sieve and pour it into the trough (évus) — even though the chaff sometimes falls of its own accord through the holes of the sieve, since one does not intend this and it is not a pesik reishei (inevitable consequence) — is permitted.
סעיף ב — Seif 2 (estimating, not measuring)
לֹא יִמְדּוֹד אָדָם שְׂעוֹרִים לָתֵת לִפְנֵי בְהֶמְתּוֹ, אֶלָּא מְשַׁעֵר בְּאֹמֶד דַּעְתּוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַמְּדִידָה אֲסוּרָה מִשּׁוּם עוֹבָדִין דְּחֹל אַף שֶׁלֹּא בִּמְקוֹם מִקָּח וּמִמְכָּר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן ש״ו:
A person shall not measure out barley to give before his animal; rather, he estimates by his appraisal, since measuring is forbidden on account of ovdin de-chol (weekday activities), even where it is not a matter of buying and selling, as was explained in siman 306.
סעיף ג — Seif 3 (kneading bran)
כְּבָר נִתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן שכ״א שֶׁהַמֻּרְסָן הוּא מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵינָן בְּנֵי גִבּוּל, וְאִם גְּבָלוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת — יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהוּא פָּטוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה, אֲבָל אָסוּר מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים לִגְבּוֹל מֻרְסָן לִבְהֵמָה אוֹ לַתַּרְנְגוֹלִים כְּדַרְכּוֹ בְּחֹל, אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי שִׁנּוּי כְּגוֹן לְגָבְלוֹ מְעַט מְעַט, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר שָׁם, אוֹ אֲפִלּוּ הַרְבֵּה בְּבַת אַחַת אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא יְמָרֵס בְּיָדוֹ אַחַר שֶׁנָּתַן הַמַּיִם לְתוֹכוֹ כְּדַרְכּוֹ בְּחֹל, אֶלָּא מַעֲבִיר בּוֹ תַּרְוָד אוֹ מַקֵּל שְׁתִי וְעֵרֶב אֲפִלּוּ כַּמָּה פְעָמִים עַד שֶׁיִּתְעָרֵב יָפֶה, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְמָרֵס בְּיָדוֹ, וְלֹא יְסַבֵּב הַתַּרְוָד אוֹ הַמַּקֵּל בְּסָבִיב כְּדַרְכּוֹ בְּחֹל אֶלָּא מַעֲבִירוֹ שְׁתִי וְעֵרֶב — הֲרֵי זֶה שִׁנּוּי גָּמוּר. וּמֻתָּר גַּם כֵּן לְנַעֲרוֹ מִכְּלִי אֶל כְּלִי עַד שֶׁיִּתְעָרֵב יָפֶה. וּמֻתָּר לְעָרֵב הַמֻּרְסָן בְּדֶרֶךְ זוֹ בִּכְלִי אֶחָד אֲפִלּוּ כּוֹר וַאֲפִלּוּ כּוֹרַיִם, כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁצָּרִיךְ לִבְהֵמוֹתָיו הַיּוֹם, וּמְחַלֵּק אוֹתוֹ בְּכֵלִים הַרְבֵּה וְנוֹתֵן לִפְנֵי כָּל בְּהֵמָה וּבְהֵמָה.
וּלְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמְרִים שֶׁהַמְגַבֵּל הַמֻּרְסָן חַיָּב מִן הַתּוֹרָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ בִּנְתִינַת מַיִם בִּלְבַד בְּלֹא גִבּוּל חַיָּב, כִּי נְתִינַת הַמַּיִם זֶהוּ גִּבּוּלוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר שָׁם — אָסוּר לִתֵּן מַיִם לְמֻרְסָן בְּשַׁבָּת אֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי שִׁנּוּי, אֶלָּא אִם נָתַן בּוֹ הַמַּיִם מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת — אֲזַי אֵין בְּגִבּוּלוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת אִסּוּר מִן הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, וְהִתִּירוּהוּ עַל יְדֵי שִׁנּוּי בְּדֶרֶךְ זוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר. וּכְבָר נִתְבָּאֵר שָׁם שֶׁיֵּשׁ לְהַחֲמִיר כַּסְבָרָא זוֹ, וְכֵן נוֹהֲגִין:
It was already explained in siman 321 that bran (mursan) is among the things that are not subject to kneading (bnei gibbul), and if one kneaded it on Shabbos, some say that one is exempt by Torah law; but it is rabbinically forbidden to knead bran for one's animal or for chickens in the weekday manner, except with a shinui (change): for example, kneading it little by little, as was explained there; or even a large amount at once, provided one does not mash it by hand after putting the water into it in the weekday manner, but rather passes a ladle or stick through it crosswise (shesi va-erev), even several times, until it is well mixed. For since one does not mash it by hand, and does not turn the ladle or the stick around in a circle in the weekday manner but passes it crosswise, this is a complete change. It is likewise permitted to shake it from one vessel to another until it is well mixed. And it is permitted to mix bran in this manner in a single vessel, even a kor or even two korim, according to what one needs for one's animals that day, and to divide it into many vessels and place it before each and every animal.
And according to those who say that one who kneads bran is liable by Torah law, and that even by merely adding water without kneading one is liable — for adding the water is its kneading, as was explained there — it is forbidden to add water to bran on Shabbos even with a change. Unless the water was added on erev Shabbos: then kneading it on Shabbos carries no Torah prohibition, only a rabbinic one, and they permitted it with a change in the manner explained. And it was already explained there that one should be stringent in accordance with this view, and such is the custom.
סעיף ד — Seif 4 (untying, rubbing)
קַשִּׁים שֶׁל שִׁבֳּלִים שֶׁאָגְדוּ בִּשְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת — מֻתָּר לְהַתִּירָן בְּשַׁבָּת כְּדֵי שֶׁתֹּאכַל מֵהֶם הַבְּהֵמָה אִם אֵינוֹ קֶשֶׁר שֶׁל קַיָּמָא. אֲבָל אָסוּר לְשַׁפְשֵׁף בָּהֶם בְּיָדַיִם כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשִׂים בְּאָכְלֵי בְהֵמָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהוּ נוֹחִים לְאָכְלָם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁכָּל דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא אֹכֶל, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁהוּא רָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה בְּלֹא תִקּוּן — אָסוּר לִטְרוֹחַ בּוֹ לְהַכְשִׁירוֹ וּלְתַקְּנוֹ יוֹתֵר לְתַעֲנוּג בְּעָלְמָא.
אֲבָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ אֹכֶל, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לַאֲכִילָה בְּלֹא אֵיזֶה תִּקּוּן שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ סְרַךְ מְלָאכָה — מֻתָּר לְתַקְּנוֹ וְלַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ אֹכֶל, כְּגוֹן עֵצִים שֶׁקְּצָצָן מִן הָאִילָן מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם וְיֵשׁ מַאֲכִילִין אוֹתָם לִבְהֵמָה בְּעוֹדָם לַחִים וּמְשַׁפְשְׁפִים בָּהֶם בְּיָדַיִם לְהַאֲכִילָם, שֶׁאֵינָם רְאוּיִים בְּלֹא שִׁפְשׁוּף — מֻתָּר לְשַׁפְשְׁפָם בְּשַׁבָּת. וְכֵן דִּלּוּעִים שֶׁהֵם קָשִׁים — מֻתָּר לְחַתְּכָם לִפְנֵי הַבְּהֵמָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ יְכוֹלָה לְאָכְלָם בְּלֹא חֲתִיכָה. וְהוּא שֶׁנִּתְלְשׁוּ מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם, אֲבָל אִם נִתְלְשׁוּ בְּשַׁבָּת, אֲפִלּוּ עַל יְדֵי נָכְרִי שֶׁתְּלָשָׁן לְעַצְמוֹ — אֲסוּרִים בְּטִלְטוּל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן שכ״ה:
Bundles of stalks of grain that have been tied in two or three places — it is permitted to untie them on Shabbos so the animal may eat from them, provided it is not a permanent knot (kesher shel kayama). But it is forbidden to rub them by hand, as is done with animal fodder so that it be easy to eat, for anything that is food — that is, fit to be eaten without preparation — it is forbidden to exert oneself over it to make it more fit and improve it further, for mere pleasure.
However, something that is not food — that is, not fit to be eaten without some preparation that has no trace of a melachah — it is permitted to prepare it and make it into food. For example, branches that were cut from the tree while it was still day, which some feed to animals while they are still moist, rubbing them by hand to feed them, since they are not fit without rubbing — it is permitted to rub them on Shabbos. And likewise squash that is hard — it is permitted to cut it before the animal, which cannot eat it without cutting. This is provided they were detached while it was still day; but if they were detached on Shabbos, even by a non-Jew who detached them for himself, they are forbidden in tiltul (moving), as will be explained in siman 325.
סעיף ה — Seif 5 (cutting carcass)
מְחַתְּכִין נְבֵלָה לִפְנֵי הַכְּלָבִים, אֲפִלּוּ נִתְנַבְּלָה הַיּוֹם. וְאֵין בָּהּ מִשּׁוּם מֻקְצֶה, אֲפִלּוּ לֹא הָיְתָה חוֹלָה כְּלָל מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה דַעְתּוֹ עָלֶיהָ כְּלָל לַכְּלָבִים מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין מֻקְצֶה בְּדָבָר שֶׁהִסִּיחַ אָדָם דַּעְתּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן דְּחָאוֹ בְּיָדַיִם, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן ש״י.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים? בִּנְבֵלָה הַקָּשָׁה, שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר לָהֶם לְאָכְלָהּ בְּלֹא חֲתִיכָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ נֶאֱכֶלֶת לָהֶם עַל יְדֵי הַדְּחָק בְּלֹא חֲתִיכָה — מֻתָּר לִטְרוֹחַ לְחַתְּכָהּ לָהֶם יוֹתֵר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר לְמַעְלָה (וְעַיֵּן סִימָן שכ״א אִם מֻתָּר לַחְתּוֹךְ בָּשָׂר חַי דַּק דַּק לִפְנֵי הָעוֹפוֹת).
וְכֵן אֵין חוֹתְכִים שַׁחַת וְחָרוּבִים לִפְנֵי בְהֵמָה בֵּין גַּסָּה בֵּין דַּקָּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם רְאוּיִים לָהֶם בְּלֹא חֲתִיכָה. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָזֶה:
One cuts up a carcass (neveilah) before the dogs, even if it became a carcass today, and there is no issue of muktzeh in it, even if it was not sick at all while it was still day, so that one's mind was not at all on it for the dogs while it was still day — because there is no muktzeh in a thing from which a person has diverted his mind, unless he actively pushed it away with his hands, as was explained in siman 310.
When does this apply? In the case of a hard carcass, which they cannot eat without cutting; and even if they can eat it with difficulty without cutting, it is permitted to exert oneself to cut it further for them, as was explained above (and see siman 321 on whether it is permitted to cut raw meat very finely before the fowl).
Likewise, one does not cut fresh fodder (shachas) or carobs before an animal, whether large or small, since they are suitable for them without cutting. And so too in every similar case.
סעיף ו — Seif 6 (mal'it, no force-feeding)
אֵין אוֹבְסִין אֶת הַגָּמָל, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁמַּאֲכִילוֹ בְּיָדוֹ הַרְבֵּה כָּל כָּךְ עַד שֶׁמַּרְחִיבִים בְּנֵי מֵעָיו כְּאֵבוּס, שֶׁזֶּהוּ טוֹרֵחַ שֶׁלֹּא לְצֹרֶךְ הַיּוֹם. וְלֹא דוֹרְסִים, דְּהַיְנוּ שֶׁדּוֹרֵס לוֹ מַאֲכָל בִּגְרוֹנוֹ לְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין הַגָּמָל יָכוֹל לְהַחֲזִירוֹ, שֶׁזֶּהוּ גַם כֵּן טוֹרֵחַ יוֹתֵר. אֲבָל מַלְעִיטִים אוֹתוֹ, דְּהַיְנוּ לִתְחוֹב הַמַּאֲכָל לְמָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא יָכוֹל לְהַחֲזִירוֹ כְּשֶׁיִּרְצֶה.
וְכֵן הָעֲגָלִים — אֵין מְאַמְּרִין אוֹתָם, דְּהַיְנוּ לִתְחוֹב לְמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵינָן יְכוֹלִים לְהַחֲזִירוֹ, אֲבָל מַלְעִיטִין לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיְּכוֹלִים לְהַחֲזִירוֹ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכַּוָּנָתוֹ כְּדֵי לְפַטְּמָן.
וְכֵן הַדִּין בְּאַוָּזִין וְתַרְנְגוֹלִים, שֶׁמֻּתָּר לִתְחוֹב הַמַּאֲכָל בְּפִיהֶם לְמָקוֹם שֶׁיְּכוֹלִים לְהַחֲזִירוֹ. וְכֵן בְּיוֹנִים בַּיְתִיּוֹת:
One does not force-feed (ovsin) the camel — that is, feeding it by hand so much that its innards are widened like a trough — for that is exertion not for the needs of the day. Nor does one stuff it (dorsim) — that is, pressing food into its throat to a spot from which the camel cannot disgorge it — for that too is greater exertion. But one may mal'it it — that is, place the food in a spot from which it can disgorge it when it wishes.
Likewise calves: one does not me'amer them — that is, place food in a spot from which they cannot disgorge it — but one may mal'it them in a spot from which they can disgorge it, even though one's intention is to fatten them.
And the same law applies to geese and chickens: it is permitted to insert the food into their mouths in a spot from which they can disgorge it. And likewise with domestic pigeons.
סעיף ז — Seif 7 (sustenance is your responsibility)
וְכֵן שְׁאָר עוֹפוֹת אוֹ חַיּוֹת הַגְּדֵלוֹת בַּבַּיִת — הִתִּירוּ לִטְרוֹחַ לִתֵּן לָהֶם מְזוֹנוֹת וּמַיִם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּזוֹנָתָן עָלֶיךָ. אֲבָל אֵין נוֹתְנִין מַיִם וְלֹא מְזוֹנוֹת לַדְּבוֹרִים וְלֹא לְיוֹנֵי שׁוֹבָךְ וְיוֹנֵי עֲלִיָּה, וַאֲפִלּוּ לְהַשְׁלִיךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם אָסוּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין מְזוֹנָתָן עָלֶיךָ, שֶׁיּוֹצְאִים וְאוֹכְלִים בַּשָּׂדֶה.
אֲבָל נוֹתְנִין מְזוֹנוֹת לִפְנֵי כֶּלֶב, שֶׁמְּזוֹנוֹתָיו עָלֶיךָ. וַאֲפִלּוּ כֶּלֶב שֶׁל הֶפְקֵר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְגַדְּלוֹ בְּבֵיתוֹ — מִכָּל מָקוֹם קְצָת מִצְוָה יֵשׁ לִתֵּן לוֹ מְעַט מְזוֹנוֹת, שֶׁהֲרֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חָס עָלָיו עַל שֶׁמְּזוֹנוֹתָיו מֻעָטִים וּמַשְׁהֶה אֲכִילָתוֹ בְּמֵעָיו שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים.
אֲבָל אֵין נוֹתְנִין מְזוֹנוֹת לִפְנֵי חֲזִיר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין מְזוֹנוֹתָיו עָלֶיךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי אָמְרוּ "אָרוּר הָאִישׁ מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמְּגַדֵּל חֲזִירִים":
Likewise other fowl or animals raised in the house — they permitted exertion to give them food and water, since their sustenance is upon you (mezonosan alecha). But one does not give water or food to bees, nor to dovecote-pigeons or attic-pigeons, and it is forbidden even to throw [food] before them, since their sustenance is not upon you, for they go out and eat in the field.
But one does give food before a dog, since its sustenance is upon you. And even an ownerless (hefker) dog that one does not raise in one's house — nevertheless there is a slight mitzvah to give it a little food, for the Holy One, blessed be He, has compassion on it because its food is scant, and keeps its food in its innards for three days.
But one does not give food before a pig, since its sustenance is not upon you, for they said: "Cursed be the man of Israel who raises pigs."
סעיף ח — Seif 8 (wheat on Shabbos Shirah)
יֵשׁ נוֹהֲגִים לָתֵת חִטִּים לִפְנֵי הָעוֹפוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת שִׁירָה, וְאֵינוֹ נָכוֹן, שֶׁהֲרֵי אֵין מְזוֹנוֹתֵיהֶם עָלֶיךָ:
Some have the custom to give wheat before the birds on Shabbos Shirah, but it is incorrect, for their sustenance is not upon you.
סעיף ט — Seif 9 (silkworm)
מֻתָּר לְהַאֲכִיל תּוֹלַעַת הַמֶּשִׁי, לְפִי שֶׁמְּזוֹנוֹתָיו עָלֶיךָ, שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מַה שֶּׁיֹּאכַל כִּי אִם מַה שֶּׁיַּאֲכִילוֹ הָאָדָם:
It is permitted to feed the silkworm, since its sustenance is upon you, for it has nothing to eat except what a person feeds it.
סעיף י — Seif 10 (grazing on attached grass)
אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָדָם מְצֻוֶּה עַל שְׁבִיתַת בְּהֶמְתּוֹ, מֻתָּר לְהַנִּיחָהּ שֶׁתֹּאכַל מֵהַמְחֻבָּר בְּשַׁבָּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: "לְמַעַן יָנוּחַ שׁוֹרְךָ וגו'", וְזוֹ הִיא נְיָחָה שֶׁלָּהּ. וּמֻתָּר אֲפִלּוּ לְהַעֲמִידָהּ בְּיָדָיו עַל גַּבֵּי עֲשָׂבִים מְחֻבָּרִים, וְאֵין חוֹשְׁשִׁים שֶׁמָּא יִתְלוֹשׁ מֵהֶם בְּיָדָיו לְהַאֲכִילָהּ, לְפִי שֶׁהוּא אִסּוּר חָמוּר בְּעֵינֵי הַבְּרִיּוֹת.
אֲבָל לֹא יַעֲמִידֶנָּה עַל גַּבֵּי דָּבָר הָאָסוּר בְּטִלְטוּל מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאִסּוּרוֹ קַל בְּעֵינֵי הַבְּרִיּוֹת, וְחוֹשְׁשִׁים שֶׁמָּא יִטּוֹל מִמֶּנּוּ בְּיָדָיו לְהַאֲכִילָהּ.
וְלֹא אָסְרוּ אֶלָּא לְהַעֲמִידָהּ עַל גַּבָּהּ מַמָּשׁ, אֲבָל מֻתָּר לַעֲמוֹד בְּפָנֶיהָ בְּעִנְיָן שֶׁלֹּא תוּכַל לְהַטּוֹת אֶלָּא דֶּרֶךְ שָׁם וְתֹאכַל מֵעַצְמָהּ, שֶׁכֵּיוָן שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹמֵד סָמוּךְ לַעֲשָׂבִים — אֵין לָחוּשׁ:
Although a person is commanded concerning the resting (shevisah) of his animal, it is permitted to let it eat from what is attached [to the ground] on Shabbos, as it says: "that your ox may rest, etc." — and this is its rest. And it is permitted even to stand it with one's hands upon attached grasses, and we do not fear lest one detach some of them with one's hands to feed it, since that is a prohibition grave in people's eyes.
But one does not stand it upon something forbidden in tiltul (moving) by rabbinic law, since its prohibition is light in people's eyes, and we fear lest one take some of it with one's hands to feed it.
And they forbade only standing it directly upon it; but it is permitted to stand in front of it in such a way that it can turn only in that direction, and it eats on its own — for since one is not standing near the grasses, there is no concern.
סעיף יא — Seif 11 (transferring food)
נוֹטְלִין מַאֲכָל מִלִּפְנֵי חֲמוֹר וְנוֹתְנִין לִפְנֵי שׁוֹר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁרָאוּי הוּא לוֹ, שֶׁהַחֲמוֹר אֵינוֹ מֵטִיל רִירִין וְאֵין מַה שֶּׁלְּפָנָיו נִמְאָס, וְרָאוּי הוּא (לְחַתְּכוֹ) לְתִתּ[וֹ] לִפְנֵי הַשּׁוֹר. אֲבָל אֵין נוֹטְלִין מִלִּפְנֵי שׁוֹר לִתֵּן לִפְנֵי חֲמוֹר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּמְאָס בְּרִירֵי הַשּׁוֹר וְאֵינוֹ רָאוּי עוֹד לַחֲמוֹר אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי הַדְּחָק, וְקָרוֹב לְוַדַּאי שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכְלֶנּוּ, וְנִמְצָא טוֹרֵחַ בְּחִנָּם בְּשַׁבָּת.
וְיֵשׁ מַחֲמִירִים גַּם כֵּן בִּשְׁאָר מִינֵי בְהֵמָה, שֶׁלֹּא יִטּוֹל מִלִּפְנֵי אַחַת וְלִתֵּן לִפְנֵי אַחֶרֶת שֶׁאֵינָהּ מִינָהּ. וְאֵין לִמְחוֹת בְּיַד הַנּוֹהֲגִין הֶתֵּר:
One takes food from before a donkey and places it before an ox, since it is fit for it: the donkey does not drool saliva, and what is before it is not made repulsive, and it is fit (to cut it) to place it before the ox. But one does not take from before an ox to place before a donkey, since it has become soiled by the saliva of the ox and is no longer fit for the donkey except under duress; it is almost certain that it will not eat it, and one would thus be exerting oneself for nothing on Shabbos.
And some are stringent also with other kinds of animals, that one should not take from before one to give before another that is not of its kind. But one should not protest against those who conduct themselves leniently.
סעיף יב — Seif 12 (scraping the trough)
שׁוֹר שֶׁמְּפַטְּמִין אוֹתוֹ, וְגוֹרְפִים הָאֵבוּס שֶׁלְּפָנָיו לָתֵת לְתוֹכוֹ הַתֶּבֶן וְהַשְּׂעוֹרִים שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעָרֵב בָּהֶם עַפְרוּרִית וְיָקוּץ בְּמַאֲכָלוֹ — אָסוּר לְגָרְפוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת, אֲפִלּוּ הוּא אֵבוּס שֶׁל כְּלִי, גְּזֵרָה מִשּׁוּם אֵבוּס שֶׁבַּקַּרְקַע. וְשֶׁבַּקַּרְקַע יֵשׁ לָחוּשׁ שֶׁמָּא כְּשֶׁיִּגְרְפוֹ וְיִרְאֶה בוֹ גּוּמוֹת — יַשְׁוֶה אוֹתָן הַגּוּמוֹת בְּמִתְכַּוֵּן כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִפְּלוּ הַשְּׂעוֹרִים לְתוֹכָן.
וְאָסוּר גַּם כֵּן לְסַלֵּק הַתֶּבֶן מִלְּפָנָיו כְּשֶׁהוּא רַב, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִדְרְסֶנּוּ בִּרְעִי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ תֶּבֶן שֶׁנִּמְאָס בְּמִדְרַס רַגְלָיו וְאֵינוֹ רָאוּי לוֹ עוֹד, וְהוּא אָסוּר בְּטִלְטוּל:
An ox being fattened, whose trough before it is scraped (gorfin) to put the straw and barley into it, so that no dust mixes with them and it becomes disgusted with its food — it is forbidden to scrape it on Shabbos, even if it is a trough that is a vessel, by decree on account of a trough at ground level. And with one at ground level there is concern lest, when one scrapes it and sees depressions in it, one deliberately even out those depressions so that the barley does not fall into them.
It is likewise forbidden to remove the straw from before it when it is plentiful, so that it does not trample it with excrement, because there is straw in it that has become repulsive through the trampling of its feet and is no longer fit for it, and it is forbidden in tiltul (moving).
חידושים מיוחדים של הרב
The Rav's chidushim on this siman
חידוש א — mitzvah of feeding + limits (324:1-3)
Chidush א — mitzvah of feeding + limits (324:1-3)
Feed but do not prepare as during the week
The Rav's chidush: the Alter Rebbe articulates: the mitzvah of feeding one's animals is complete, but the preparation is limited to simple gestures.
Practical consequence: Prepare animal food in advance (Friday).
שיחות, מאמרים ואגרות הרבי
The Rebbe's words on the themes of siman 324
We attribute to the Rebbe only verifiable primary sources (a letter, sicha, or identifiable pesak, with a link). At this stage, no statement of the Rebbe directly tied to this siman could be confirmed against Sefaria or Chabad.org — we prefer to show nothing rather than an unsourced reference.
הלכה למעשה — מנהג חב״ד
The Chabad practical conduct
For the Chabad Chassid — Siman 324
- ① Feed your animals on Shabbos (mitzvah). Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav 324:1-3.
- ② Do not sift or mix (borer, lash). Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav 324:4-8.
- ③ Pour kibble simply = OK. Reference: Shulchan Aruch HaRav 324:9-12.
- ④ Complex preparation to be done on Friday.
⚠ For concrete questions: consult your Rav.