Parshas Vayikra – Hilchos Shabbos Table Learning: Drying a Cup on Shabbos

Hilchos Shabbos Table Learning

A Weekly Guide to Shabbos Laws for Personal Study and Family Discussion

🛠️ Melacha Corner 🛠️
🍷 Drying a Kiddush Cup on Shabbos — Issues of Sechitah (Squeezing)

Drying a cup on Shabbos can raise questions of Sechitah, especially when using a cloth or towel. Below is a clear breakdown of the halachic issues and practical guidance.

📜 The General Rule: Drying Wet Cups on Shabbos

🚫 Forbidden:
It is forbidden to dry the inside of a wet cup on Shabbos using:

  • A cloth
  • A towel
  • A napkin or tissue

This applies regardless of:

  • The liquid involved (water, wine, or any beverage)
  • Whether the cloth is designated for drying
  • Whether one is particular about the cloth getting wet
  • The type of cup (Kiddush cup, coffee cup, shot glass)
  • The amount of liquid in the cup

📌 Reason:
Drying with a cloth can involve Sechitah—squeezing liquid from an absorbent material—which is prohibited on Shabbos.

⚖️ Discussions Among the Poskim

Some Poskim offer more lenient views in certain situations:

✅ Lenient opinions include:

  • The prohibition applies mainly to narrow cups (e.g., shot glasses), not wide cups
  • If one shakes out the cup first, leaving only a few drops, drying may be permitted
  • Some allow drying with a cloth not designated for drying

📌 Practical takeaway:
Those who rely on lenient opinions to dry wide cups (such as a Kiddush cup) should first shake out all noticeable liquid before drying.

🍷 Drying a Kiddush Cup Before Kiddush

❌ Preferred practice:
One should not dry a Kiddush cup after rinsing it on Shabbos.

✅ Room for leniency:
Those who:

  • Thoroughly shake out the cup, and
  • Then dry it

have halachic authorities upon whom to rely, especially for wide cups.

🍽️ Drying Dishes on Shabbos

✅ Permitted:
One may dry dishes on Shabbos in the normal manner.

⚠️ Important limitation:
If the towel becomes so wet that it reaches the level of
Tofeiach Al Menas Lehatfiach (wet enough to wet something else),
then it may no longer be used for drying.

✅ Summary

  • 🚫 Drying the inside of cups with a cloth is generally forbidden on Shabbos
  • ⚖️ Some Poskim allow leniency for wide cups if most liquid is shaken out first
  • 🍷 One should ideally avoid drying a Kiddush cup after rinsing
  • 🍽️ Dishes may be dried normally, as long as the towel is not overly wet

Sources:

Admur 302:12; Michaber 302:12; Tashbatz 28; Mahram 511; Rabbeinu Yerucham 12:13

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