Dosh 8 - Squeezing Fruits 5 (Klal 14 Siman 3) Hilchos Shabbos - S0370

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Dosh 8 - Squeezing Fruits 5 (Klal 14 Siman 3) Hilchos Shabbos - S0370

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We are continuing in siman 3, where the Chayei Adam is discussing sechita. We left off learning about the concept of mashkeh ba laochel. We learned that Rabbeinu Chananel is machmir and holds that it is assur to squeeze any liquid into a solid.
The Shulchan Aruch brings Rabbeinu Chananel (siman 320:7), and writes that one who is machmir, tavo alav bracha. However, earlier, the Shulchan Aruch paskened that one does not need to be machmir for the opinion of Rabbeinu Chananel. The Mishnah Berurah explains that the primary psak is not in accordance with Rabbeinu Chananel, and that it is muttar to squeeze a liquid directly onto another solid. However, given Rabbeinu Chananel’s stature, in that he was a generation before the rishonim, and the rishonim refer to his psakim as divrei kabbalah (because he received his mesorah from the geonim), it is appropriate to be machmir out of consideration for his opinion. The Mishnah Berurah’s understanding of the Shulchan Aruch contrasts the Chayei Adam, who holds it is a safeik deoraysa, and that one should follow the opinion of Rabbeinu Chananel due to the safeik.

We will learn that this machlokes will apply to squeezing a lemon onto fish as well, in that the Chayei Adam holds it is assur due to the safeik, while the Biur Halacha writes that even one who wishes to follow the chumrah of the Shulchan Aruch does not need to in this situation. He explains that the Shulchan Aruch’s suggestion to be machmir only applies to fruits which Chazal understood were generally used for sechita. Lemons are not primarily used as a liquid but rather as an ingredient, so there is yet another reason not to consider it a mashkeh. The Mishnah Berurah points out that although the Chayei Adam is concerned for Rabbeinu Chananel due to his understanding of the safeik, the Biur Halacha is comfortable paskening by lemons that one does not need to be concerned.

The Mishnah Berurah quotes the Chayei Adam in the next siman, also regarding squeezing lemons, and although he accepts one of the points made by the Chayei Adam (squeezing lemons in general) , he still paskens that it is completely muttar without any reason to be machmir.

Summary
Although the Chayei Adam is concerned for the opinion of the Chayei Adam regarding squeezing liquid onto a food, the Shulchan Aruch paskens that one does not have to be concerned for it, but one who is machmir for it tavo alav bracha.
Regarding lemons onto food specifically, the Mishnah Berurah paskens that there is no need to be machmir whatsoever.