✦ ❖ ✦ D A A T · L E V E L 3 — S Y N T H E S I S / R E V I E W ✦ ❖ ✦
Siman 99 — One May Not Nullify a Prohibition Deliberately
דין העצמות וביטול איסור לכתחילה
The bones of the prohibition that combine (or not) with the permitted, the rule אין מבטלין איסור לכתחילה (שוגג / מזיד), חוזר וניעור (the prohibition that "reawakens"), how to assess (רוטב, קיפה, מין במינו) and the משהו absorbed in a utensil
Structured review, master grid, fast memorization
Source: Shulchan Aroukh, Yoreh De'ah צ״ט — 7 seifim
Nossei kelim: ש״ך (Shach) · ט״ז (Taz) · פר״מ (Pri Megadim) · פתחי תשובה (Pithei Teshuva)
Compiled by: הרב יוסף חיים סממה · DAAT
For students who have mastered Levels 1 and 2
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📑 Outline of the synthesis
- The axiom: one may not nullify a prohibition deliberately
- The 3 reflex questions: what combines · how to assess · who nullified
- The master grid: bones, צירוף, שוגג / מזיד and חוזר וניעור
- The 5 golden rules
- Mnemonic — the "BOND" memory aid
- The 4 classic pitfalls
- Recap of the 7 seifim — one line each
- Final flashcard
1. The axiom: one may not nullify a prohibition deliberately
The starting point:
Siman 99 extends the reckoning of ביטול בששים: which elements combine with the permitted to nullify, how to assess the mixture, and — this is the heart of the siman — the ban on nullifying a prohibition deliberately. The Mehaber (seif 5) rules: "אֵין מְבַטְּלִין אִסּוּר לְכַתְּחִלָּה" — even if it fell into permitted matter that lacks the measure to nullify it, one does not add permitted matter to reach the 60. If one transgressed: בשוגג (by mistake) → permitted; במזיד (deliberately) → forbidden for the one who nullified and for the one for whom it was nullified.
| Path | Mehaber (Sephardi) | Rama (Ashkenazi custom) |
|---|
| Nullifying a Torah prohibition deliberately | Forbidden (אין מבטלין) | Forbidden (אין מבטלין) |
| Rabbinic prohibition fallen by itself, without 60 | One adds (מרבה עליו) and nullifies | One does not nullify — like Torah (custom) |
| Adding במזיד (deliberately) | Forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom | Forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom |
💡 The marker: this siman links two moments. Before: when the prohibition falls by itself, one computes the ביטול — which bones, which קיפה, which רוטב combine, and per מין במינו or מין בשאינו מינו. After: if one wishes to bring about the nullification, it is forbidden — "אין מבטלין איסור לכתחילה" — and the fate of the mixture depends on שוגג / מזיד (seif 5).
2. The 3 reflex questions
■ WHAT COMBINES? (מצטרף) — the bones of the prohibition combine with the permitted to nullify; but the marrow (מוח) combines with the prohibition, and the body of the pot combines with neither (seif 1). Raw → with the permitted; cooked alone first → with the prohibition (seif 2).
↓ we look at the assessment
■ HOW TO ASSESS? (כמו שבא לפנינו) — we estimate רוטב, קיפה and pieces as they are before us. In מין בשאינו מינו: as is. In מין במינו: we count also what the pot absorbed. But what is gone by the fire (כלה מחמת האור) does not combine (seif 4).
↓ we look at who nullified
■ WHO NULLIFIED, AND HOW? (שוגג / מזיד) — one does not add permitted matter deliberately. Transgressed: שוגג → permitted; מזיד → forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom (selling to a Jew forbidden), permitted to others (seif 5).
⚖ The חוזר וניעור (seif 6)
A prohibition already nullified (there was 60 against it) to which one then adds from the first prohibition (מן האיסור הראשון) → it "reawakens" (חוזר וניעור) and becomes forbidden again, whether מין במינו or מין בשאינו מינו, dry or liquid, whether one knew in between or not (Rama). But a kazayit of milk that fell into water and was nullified in 60, then fell from the water into a meat pot → permitted, even without 60 in the meat against the milk, since it was already nullified in the water.
3. The master grid: bones, צירוף, שוגג / מזיד and חוזר וניעור
An absolute must to memorize. Basis: Mehaber seifim 1-7, read with the Rama, the Taz (s.k. 1-15) and the Shach (s.k. 1, 3, 6).
| Situation | Decisive criterion | Result |
|---|
| Bones of the prohibition (raw) in the permitted pot |
Inedible bones |
🟢 Combine with the permitted to nullify |
| Marrow (מוח) in the bones of the prohibition |
Edible |
🔴 Combines with the prohibition |
| Bones cooked alone, then fallen in |
Absorbed נבילה |
🔴 Combine with the prohibition (seif 2) |
| Assess in מין בשאינו מינו |
כמו שבא לפנינו |
🟡 As is; כלה מחמת האור does not count |
| Assess in מין במינו |
Add the absorbed (כאילו בעין) |
🟡 Also what the pot absorbed |
| Adding permitted matter בשוגג |
No intent to nullify |
🟢 Permitted |
| Adding permitted matter במזיד |
אין מבטלין לכתחילה |
🔴 Forbidden to the מבטל / one for whom; selling forbidden |
| First prohibition added after nullification |
חוזר וניעור |
🔴 Reawakens and becomes forbidden (seif 6) |
📌 Key reading: for the צירוף, ask is it edible (marrow → prohibition; dry bones → permitted) and raw or cooked alone first. For the assessment, ask מין במינו or בשאינו מינו. For the nullification, ask שוגג or מזיד. And keep in mind that adding first prohibition reawakens (חוזר וניעור) what was already nullified.
4. The 5 golden rules
- "עצמות מצטרפין לבטל". The bones of the prohibition (inedible) combine with the permitted to nullify; the marrow combines with the prohibition, and the body of the pot with neither (Mehaber seif 1).
- Raw → permitted; cooked alone → prohibition. Fallen raw, the bone combines with the permitted; cooked alone first, it absorbed נבילה → it combines with the prohibition (Mehaber seif 2).
- "משערים כמו שבא לפנינו". One assesses רוטב, קיפה and pieces as they are; in מין במינו one adds the absorbed, but כלה מחמת האור does not count (Mehaber seif 4).
- "אין מבטלין איסור לכתחילה". One does not add permitted matter deliberately; transgressed: שוגג permitted, מזיד forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom (Mehaber seif 5).
- "חוזר וניעור". Adding first prohibition to an already-nullified mixture reawakens it; but the nullified one that migrates to a new permitted matter (milk→water→meat) does not reawaken (Rama seif 6).
5. Mnemonic — the "BOND" memory aid
"B-O-N-D" — after the bones (עצמות) of seif 1
- Bones that combine: bones of the prohibition → permitted; marrow → prohibition; pot → neither.
- On what state: raw → permitted; cooked alone first → prohibition.
- Numbering (assess): כמו שבא לפנינו; in מין במינו add the absorbed; כלה מחמת האור does not count.
- Deliberately (אין מבטלין): one does not nullify on purpose — שוגג permitted, מזיד forbidden.
The ladder of nullification and reawakening (seif 5-7)
- שוגג (by mistake) → permitted
- מזיד (deliberately) → forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom; selling forbidden
- חוזר וניעור (first prohibition added) → reawakens and becomes forbidden
- כלי בשפע (משהו absorbed) → pot / jug: permitted even ben yomo; bowl: forbidden (גזירה)
6. The 4 classic pitfalls
❌ Pitfall 1 — Combining the marrow with the permitted: the bones of the prohibition (inedible) combine with the permitted, but the marrow (מוח) they contain is of the prohibition and combines with the prohibition (seif 1). The Shach (s.k. 1) specifies: soft bones (with marrow / moisture) combine with the prohibition; dry bones or eggshells, even of the prohibition, combine with the permitted.
❌ Pitfall 2 — Forgetting that cooked-alone changes everything: as long as the piece of prohibition falls in raw, its bones combine with the permitted. But if it was cooked alone first and then fell into the pot, its bones absorbed נבילה during that cooking → they now combine with the prohibition, not the permitted (seif 2). Never assess without knowing whether the prohibition was cooked alone beforehand.
❌ Pitfall 3 — Confusing שוגג and מזיד: "אין מבטלין איסור לכתחילה" forbids adding permitted matter to nullify. If one transgressed: בשוגג → permitted; במזיד → forbidden for the one who nullified (if it is his) and for the one for whom it was nullified (and forbidden to sell it to another Jew), but permitted to others. The Taz (s.k. 10) specifies: "for whom" assumes he knew and was pleased.
❌ Pitfall 4 — Misreading חוזר וניעור: we reawaken (חוזר וניעור) what was nullified only when one adds from the first prohibition (מן האיסור הראשון) — a new prohibition of the same kind (seif 6). By contrast, the nullified one that migrates to a new permitted matter — a kazayit of milk nullified in water, then fallen into the meat — does not reawaken, since it was already nullified. And a different prohibition that nullifies the other belongs to siman 98, not to this reawakening.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
7. Recap of the 7 seifim — one line each
| Seif | Topic | The essential |
|---|
| 1 | העצמות מצטרפין | A piece of נבילה (meat + bones) fallen into a permitted pot: the bones of the prohibition combine with the permitted to nullify (all the more so the bones of the permitted). But the marrow (מוח) combines with the prohibition; and the body of the pot (גוף הקדירה) combines with neither. Rama: some are stringent not to combine the bones of the prohibition; in case of הפסד one relies on the lenient. |
| 2 | חי / cooked on its own | All this when the piece of נבילה fell in raw (חַי); but if it was cooked first alone then fell in → its bones combine with the prohibition, for they absorbed נבילה meat during the cooking on its own. |
| 3 | Other prohibitions; חתיכה נעשית נבילה | For other prohibitions (outside bassar be-halav), a piece soaked with prohibition combines to nullify the prohibition. Rama: we do not act so, for we hold חתיכה נעשית נבילה for all prohibitions (see siman 92). |
| 4 | כמו שבא לפנינו; מין במינו | We assess with the רוטב, the קיפה (the sediment at the bottom) and the pieces, as they are before us (כמו שבא לפנינו), even though there was more permitted at the start. This in מין בשאינו מינו; but in מין במינו we also assess what the pot absorbed (כאילו הוא בעין). But what was consumed by the fire (כלה מחמת האור) does not combine. |
| 5 | אין מבטלין; שוגג / מזיד | One may not nullify a prohibition deliberately; even fallen into permitted matter without the measure, one does not add permitted matter. Transgressed: שוגג → permitted; מזיד → forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom (selling to a Jew forbidden), but permitted to others. Rama: and only in יבש ביבש (or לח בלח for one who does not say חנ״נ); a piece that absorbed a prohibition — the addition does not help (חנ״נ, Rashba); and we do not have the custom to distinguish נודע / לא נודע. |
| 6 | Rabbinic prohibition; חוזר וניעור | A rabbinic prohibition: one does not mix it by hand; במזיד → forbidden; fallen by itself without 60 → one adds (מרבה עליו) and nullifies. Rama: some say one does not nullify a rabbinic prohibition either — and such is the custom. חוזר וניעור: adding first prohibition to a nullified mixture → it reawakens (מין במינו or בשאינו מינו). But milk nullified in water, then fallen into meat → permitted, since it was already nullified. |
| 7 | משהו in a utensil; use in abundance | A little prohibition absorbed in a kosher utensil: if the utensil's use is to serve with abundance (בשפע) of permitted matter → permitted לכתחילה, the prohibition being minimal and unable to impart taste (אי אפשר לבא לידי נתינת טעם). Thus a pot, jugs (קנקנים) → permitted לכתחילה even ben yomo. But a utensil sometimes used with a small amount (a bowl, כקערה) → forbidden even with abundance, גזירה שמא ישתמש בה בדבר מועט. |
8. Final flashcard
| Question | Reflex answer | Source |
|---|
| Do the bones of the prohibition (raw) combine? | With the permitted to nullify; the marrow with the prohibition; the pot with nothing | Mehaber seif 1; Shach s.k. 1 |
| Bones cooked alone before falling in? | They combine with the prohibition (they absorbed) | Mehaber seif 2 |
| How to assess the mixture? | כמו שבא לפנינו; in מין במינו add the absorbed; כלה מחמת האור does not count | Mehaber seif 4; Taz s.k. 5 |
| May one add permitted matter to nullify? | No — אין מבטלין איסור לכתחילה | Mehaber seif 5 |
| One transgressed and nullified? | שוגג → permitted; מזיד → forbidden to the מבטל and the one for whom | Mehaber seif 5; Taz s.k. 8-10 |
| A rabbinic prohibition fallen by itself, without 60? | Mehaber: one adds and nullifies; Rama: one does not nullify (custom) | Mehaber + Rama seif 6 |
| First prohibition added after nullification? | חוזר וניעור: reawakens and becomes forbidden | Rama seif 6 |
| A משהו absorbed in a pot / jug? | Permitted לכתחילה even ben yomo (never imparts taste); bowl → forbidden (גזירה) | Mehaber seif 7 |
⚖ The reflex in 3 questions
- What combines? Bones of the prohibition → permitted; marrow → prohibition; cooked alone first → prohibition; pot → neither.
- How to assess? כמו שבא לפנינו; in מין במינו add the absorbed; כלה מחמת האור does not count.
- Who nullified, and the reawakening? שוגג permitted / מזיד forbidden; first prohibition added → חוזר וניעור; משהו in a כלי בשפע → permitted.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
🎓 Recap of the study path
| Level | Content | Acquired |
|---|
| 🌱 Level 1 — Base |
Text of the 7 seifim, translation, clear tables |
Overall understanding |
| ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan |
Yesod of עצמות מצטרפין, the soft / dry bones debate (Shach, Ran), the חוזר וניעור and the איסור חדש, the משהו בכלי |
In-depth study |
| ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis |
Master grid, golden rules, mnemonic, pitfalls, recap of the seifim |
Practical mastery + review |
💡 Suggested next steps:
- Re-read Siman צ״ט in the original Choulhan Aroukh (Hebrew) with the Shach and the Taz
- Study the adjacent Simanim: 84 (honey and ביטול לכתחילה), 92 (חתיכה נעשית נבילה), 94 (the ladle dipped twice), 98 (tasting / 60 and the measure of the absorbed), 101 (davar hashouv / ראוי להתכבד), 110 (ספק ספיקא and ביטול), 137 (כלי שנשתמש בו איסור)
- Delve into the sougya of the קנקנים (Hullin) and the yesod of אין מבטלין איסור לכתחילה
- Discuss personal cases with a Rav (adding water to a mixture, a utensil, an already-nullified mixture) — the halacha le-ma'aseh is decided with a Rav
📖 Sources of this siman on Sefaria:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAAT · הרב יוסף חיים סממה
תלמיד חכם · מעביר שיעורים בהלכה ובחסידות
סימן צ״ט · Level 3 — Synthesis / Review · דין העצמות וביטול איסור לכתחילה
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