Kotzair 1 (Klal 12 Siman 1) Hilchos Shabbos - S0347

What is Daily Dvar Halacha?

Rav Eliyahu Reingold, Rosh Kollel in the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, spent many years learning in the Telshe Yeshiva and Kollel where he was recognized as one of their foremost talmidim. He taught in the Telshe Mechina before coming to the Yeshiva of Greater Washington. He is a noted Baal Halacha and Baal Mussar, serving as a well-respected posek for the Yeshiva and community. Besides his responsibility in leading the Kollel, he delivers a high level shiur to advanced students, and provides many halacha shiurim throughout the year. His heartfelt weekly mussar shmuess in an inspiration to all.

This podcast is powered for free by Torahcasts.
Start your own forever free Torah podcast today at https://torahcasts.com/sign-up/ and share your Torah with the world.

Kotzair 1 (Klal 12 Siman 1) Hilchos Shabbos - S0347

Sponsorships for the upcoming Klalim, which discuss the 39 melachos of Shabbos, are available. Please contact Rabbi Reingold for more information at [e-mail] or 301.996.5910

We are beginning Klal 12, which discuses the melacha of kotzair.

The Chayei Adam writes that one who cuts something from its source of growth, whether by hand or with a utensil, is chayav for the melacha of kotzair. This applies both to items which grow directly from the ground, such as wheat or flowers, or items which grow from a tree. Pulling an item off a tree with one’s mouth is considered a shinui, and is not assur mideoraysa. However, it is assur miderabanan.
The Chayei Adam continues, and writes that the place from which the item is being cut does not necessarily have to be the ground. If it is growing in some sort of medium, it is kotzair to remove it from that place, as we have learned recently (s346). Examples of this point include mushrooms or fungus, which can grow from detached pieces of wood or other various places. Similarly, a bucket in a well tends to grow moss on it due to the moisture, so removing the moss from the bucket would be kotzair. Another example would be moss which grows on a rock.

The Chayei Adam uses the word toleish to describe the removal of the item in the above cases. The word toleish is primarily used when an item is removed by hand, which is the standard way to remove plants in these cases.
The Nishmas Adam discusses whether there is a difference between toleish and kotzair in the sense that toleish is a shinui and kotzair (ie, using a utensil) is the normal issur deoraysa. However, the assumption of the poskim is that they are both chayav mideoraysa. Thus, although the Chayei Adam uses the word toleish, the halacha would apply equally if using a utensil.

Summary
Kotzair is defined as cutting something, either by hand or with a utensil, from its source of growth, regardless of whether that source is the ground or another medium.
Kotzair with one’s mouth is a shinui and assur miderabanan.