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.
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Dosh 6 - Squeezing Fruits 3 (Klal 14 Siman 3) Hilchos Shabbos - S0368
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We are beginning siman 3. In siman 2, we learned how sechita falls under the umbrella of dosh, because it approximates the extraction of the kernel from the husk. We learned that when it comes to olives and grapes, the sechita process is assur mideoraysa.
The Chayei Adam continues, and writes that when it comes to squeezing other fruits, although we learned that it may not be a chiyuv deoraysa (s367), if a person squeezes the fruit for the express purpose of its juice, they are chayav mideoraysa. According to the rishonim who understand that grapes and olives are unique because they are uniquely considered mashkeh, this point is not correct. According to the other explanation we learned, that olives and grapes were unique because it was normal to squeeze them, this point is applicable, because any fruit for which it is the normal practice to squeeze for its juice would be included under the issur deoraysa. If so, the chiddush of this siman is that even if this liquid is not normally used, if one squeezes the liquid intentionally for the purpose of using it as a liquid, it is also considered a mashkeh and chayav mideoraysa.
The Chayei Adam clarifies that even if one is in a place where it is not normal to squeeze a specific fruit, if one squeezes it, they would be chayav. He explains that if it is theoretically a normal juice to drink, the reason that specific fruit is not squeezed in that specific locale is because it is not found in abundance in that locale. If it were found in abundance, it is possible it would be squeezed, so if one were to squeeze that fruit in that locale, it would still be chayav, since that locale would agree in theory that it is a normal juice to drink.
Thus, the Chayei Adam writes that apples and pears are squeezed in large amounts and made into fruit juice in Germany. Therefore, should someone squeeze them in other places, they are chayav mideoraysa, since everyone would agree it is theoretically a normal liquid to squeeze.
Summary
Mideoraysa, sechita only applies to oil and wine, since the meat of those fruits is considered to be like a shell to the main part (the liquid) rather than the main component of the fruit.
This is unique to grapes and olives either because
Only olive oil and grape juice (wine) are considered as mashke, something distinct from the fruit itself
Only grapes and olives were used primarily for their liquid at the time of Chazal.
Based on the second explanation, should it become normal to squeeze other fruits, they would become assur mideoraysa to squeeze as well.
Based on the second explanation, should one squeeze a fruit which is normally squeezed expressly for the purpose of its juice, they will also be chayav mideoraysa, this applies not only in a locale where it is normal to squeeze that specific fruit, but even in a locale where it is not normally squeezed.
The Chayei Adam extends this even further to a scenario where most people don’t squeeze for it’s juice, but if this person does squeeze for juice, he is chayav.