Bishul 55 - Amira L’achum 3, Washing Dishes 1 (Klal 20 Siman 17, 18, 19) S0552

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Bishul 55 - Amira L’achum 3, Washing Dishes 1 (Klal 20 Siman 17, 18, 19) S0552

We are up to siman 17, and we will run through the next few simanim quickly.

Siman 17 is a continuation of siman 16, where the Chayei Adam was discussing a Jew benefitting from the melacha of a non-Jew. The Chayei Adam writes that if a non-Jew servant lit a fire in order to cook for themselves, but also lit it with the intention to benefit their Jewish employer, it is assur for the Jew to benefit from the fire. It is assur even if the issur done is only an issur derabanan, although there may be specific derabanan situations which will be muttar.

In siman 18, the Chayei Adam discusses a certain type of oven in which there was a receptacle which would be filled with water, in order to prevent the oven from cracking from heat. The purpose of the receptacle was not to heat the water, but to benefit the oven. Therefore, in cases in which it was muttar to instruct the non-Jew to light the oven (eg, the extreme cold, see s548), it is muttar for the water to get heated as well. If a Jew subsequently wishes to use that water, such as to wash dishes, it is muttar, since the purpose of heating the water was not to heat the water, but as part of the process of heating the oven.

In siman 19 and 20, the Chayei Adam will discuss washing dishes. The first issue the Chayei Adam discusses is this issue of melting grease. They used to pour hot water onto the dirty plates, or immerse the dishes in a receptacle which was full of kli sheini water. The first scenario is irui kli rishon, so if there is any food on the dishes, there would be a problem of bishul. Therefore, the Chayei Adam writes that when cleaning dishes in hot water, one should not pour water onto the dishes, due to the concern of bishul. Rather, one should place the water into a kli sheini receptacle, and then place the dishes inside the receptacle.
To clarify, there are two possible scenarios of concern. One is if there are any fresh fruits or vegetables, in which case there is a concern for bishul mideoraysa. The other scenario is if a davar lach is fully cooked but has cooled down, where there would be a concern for bishul achar bishul

The Chayei Adam does not discuss whether there is a concern about congealed grease which will melt when it comes in contact with the hot water. The Piskei Mishnah Berurah (note 37) quotes the Mishnah Berurah that pouring directly onto the congealed grease is a problem of nolad, actively melting the solid. If it is indirect, it is not an issue of nolad. The Chayei Adam will discuss nolad further in the next siman, even though he does not discuss it here.

Summary
If a non-Jew lit a fire for their own benefit and for the benefit of a Jew, it is assur for the Jew to benefit from it.
In a case where the non-Jew was allowed to light an oven, and the oven had a receptacle of water to prevent the oven from cracking, it is muttar for the Jew to subsequently benefit from that water.
When washing dishes, one cannot pour hot water directly onto dirty dishes, due to a concern of bishul (if the leftover food is raw) or bishul achar bishul (if the leftover food is a davar lach which has fully cooled down). One can place the hot water into a kli sheini receptacle and then put the dishes into the receptacle afterwards
Additionally, directly pouring hot water one congealed grease would be an issue of nolad.