Re-insulating on Shabbos a pot that had been insulated before Shabbos[1]:
It is permitted to reinsulate on Shabbos a pot that was insulated[2] from before Shabbos with a material that does not add heat. This applies whether the insulation unraveled on its own or if one actively undid the insulation, such as to take out food. This allowance applies even if at the time that one unraveled the insulation, he did not have in mind to reinsulate it.[3] Furthermore, even initially one may unravel it and then return and insulate it.
Adding more insulation material:[4] One may add more insulation material to the current insulation.
Switching the insulation material:[5] One may remove all of the insulating material placed before Shabbos and place other material there in its place. This applies whether the original insulation was warmer than the new insulation, or if the second insulation is warmer than the first. Even if the pot was only insulated with a sheet, one can remove the sheet and insulate it with a thick blanket.
If the food is not fully cooked:[6] If the pot is standing over a source of heat, then one may only add insulation material if the food is fully cooked. If the food is not fully cooked, then it is forbidden to add any material even to the insulated cover of the pot. [However, if the pot is not on any source of heat, then one may reinsulate it, or add more insulation to it on Shabbos, even if the food is not fully cooked. [7]]
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Q&A If the insulation was removed, or unraveled, by Bein Hashmashos, may it be reinsulated after dark?[8] No.[9] The insulation must be intact when the night of Shabbos enters. This applies even if the congregation already accepted Shabbos, and afterwards the insulation unraveled before night, that it may not be reinsulated.[10]
If one insulated the food for purposes of protection, may he then remove the insulation on Shabbos and replace it for purposes of insulation? This matter requires further clarification.[11]
If only part of the pot was insulated before Shabbos, may one add insulation to it on Shabbos? No. One may not add insulation to make it fully insulated.[12]
May one return the insulating material even if he removed it with intent to not return it on Shabbos?[13] Yes.
Must one fulfill the Chazarah conditions in order to be allowed to return the insulation to the pot? No. One is not required to fulfill the Chazara conditions when returning the insulation to the pot.[14] However some Poskim are stringent regarding the opposite case, that one removed the pot from the insulation and now desires to return the pot to the insulation, as will be explained in the next Q&A!
May one reinsulate a pot that was insulated before Shabbos even if he removed the pot from the insulation, or only if he removed the insulation from the pot, leaving the pot in its original area?[15] There are Poskim[16] which say that when the pot was removed from the insulation one must fulfill all the conditions of Chazara to be allowed to return it to the insulation. However, this does not seem to be the opinion of the Alter Rebbe or the Mishneh Berurah.
May one re-insulate a pot or add insulation to a pot that was insulated before Shabbos even if the food is not fully cooked?[17] If the pot is standing over a source of heat, then it may only be reinsulated if the food is fully cooked, as by returning the insulation one speeds up the cooking. However, if the pot is not on any source of heat, then it is always allowed to re-insulate or add more insulation on Shabbos, even if the food is not fully cooked, as this does not make it cook any further.[18]
May one add other pots that were not insulated before Shabbos into the insulation of an insulated pot? No.[19]
May one add food to an insulated pot and then return the insulation?[20] If the insulated pot is a Keli Rishon, based on the previous Q&A, it is forbidden to do so. |
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[1] Admur 257:8 “If one insulated [a pot] from before Shabbos with a material that does not add heat, and it unraveled before Shabbos, whether it unraveled on its own, or if one unraveled it with his hands and one had in mind to go back and re-insulate it before Shabbos or after Shabbos has begun, then it is forbidden to re-insulate it once Shabbos has begun [past Bein Hashmashos], as this is considered like one is initially insulating [the pot] on Shabbos [which is forbidden to do], since when Shabbos came in it was not insulated. However, if it was insulated in the beginning of the entrance of (Shabbos) the night, and then afterwards it unraveled, it is permitted to re-insulate it. This applies whether it unraveled on its own or if one did so with his hands, even if [at the time that he unraveled it] he did not have in mind to go back and insulate it. [Furthermore] even initially one may unravel it and then return and insulate it.”; Michaber 257:4; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 257:7-8; 259:1
[2] Based on the definition of insulation for material that does not add heat. A pot is only considered to have been insulated from before Shabbos if its cover was insulated, whether or not its sides were insulated.
[3] Seemingly this includes even if one specifically had in mind to not reinsulate it, and then changed his mind, that he is allowed to do it. So rules the Aruch Hashulchan 257:20; and is implied from the Tehila Lidavid. [Shabbos Kehalacha vol. 2 page 63-64]
[4] Admur ibid “If one wants to add [to the insulating material] on Shabbos other materials which do not add heat, he may do so.”
[5] Admur ibid “As well if one wants to remove all of the insulating material [placed before Shabbos] and place other material there in its place, whether the original insulation is hotter than the second one, or if the second insulation is hotter than the first. Even if the pot was only insulated with a sheet, one can remove the sheet and insulate it with a thick blanket.”
[6] Admur ibid “This only applies if the food was fully cooked, however if it is not fully cooked and is insulated on top of a Kira (that has had its coals swept), then it is forbidden to even add on to the cover, as this addition causes to speed up the cooking due to the coals.” See M”A 257
[7] Based on Admur 257:8; 318:14; M”A 257; Peri Megadim; However see 254:4 which rules it is forbidden to place uncooked foods on top of an insulated pot; Tehila Ledavid 254:4 establishes the case there to be referring to a pot that is on the fire and is insulated in a permitted way, such as with a board over the top of the pot, and the insulation is thus not touching the walls of the pot.
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is forbidden to add or reinsulate whenever the food is not fully cooked even if it is not on a source of heat. The reason for this is because the insulation delays the cooling down of the food and during this time the food is able to cook more. [M”B in Biur Halacha 257:4 “Gorem Lah”; Beis Meir; Nehar Shalom; Mor Uketzia]
[8] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 257:7; Shabbos Kehalacha 11 footnote 83 [p. 62]
[9] Shaar Hatziyon 257:25 in name of Gr”a; wording of Michaber is “at dark”; Damesek Eliezer on Gr”a; Shabbos Kehalacha ibid; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid
Ruling of Admur: Admur ibid writes “However if it was insulated in the beginning of the entrance of (Shabbos) the night”. Seemingly the novelty in the additional words “Shabbos” is that the Alter Rebbe is saying that once Shabbos has begun, which is after sunset, if it was insulated and unraveled, one may reinsulate it on Shabbos. However, since these words were placed in parentheses, Tzaruch Iyun as to how we should rule. Practically in Shabbos Kehalacha ibid, after bringing the sides for the issue, concludes that one should be stringent. The Piskeiy Teshuvos 257 footnote 51 interprets the added word Shabbos in parentheses to include if the congregation accepted Shabbos upon themselves and does not include Bein Hashmashos. The reason for this is because it is permitted to insulate during Bein Hashmashos, and this it is not yet considered as if it was insulated into Shabbos. However, it is forbidden to insulate once Maariv was prayed and hence it is considered the pot was insulated into Shabbos.
[10] See Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid that writes “it’s possible in such a case that it is permitted to do so”; However, Shabbos Kehalacha ibid concludes not to do so.
[11] Piskeiy Tehsuvos 257 footnote 52 writes it is forbidden. However, Tzaruch Iyun as perhaps the reason for allowing the re-insulation is because the pot will certainly still be warm if it contained Hatmana material before Shabbos, and hence it would make no difference as to why he insulated it.
[12] Seemingly this applies even according to Admur as perhaps we follow his ruling in the Mahadurah Basra only to be stringent not to cover the pot on Shabbos and not to be lenient to allow covering the rest of the pot on Shabbos if the top was covered before Shabbos. Vetzraruch Iyun!
[13] Aruch Hashulchan 257:20; Shabbos Kehalacha; Piskeiy Teshuvos 259 footnote 1
[14] Admur ibid; Tehila Ledavid 257:4
[15] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 2 page 64; Piskeiy Teshuvos 259:1
[16] Tehila Ledavid 257:4; 259:2; Elya Rabah 259:9 in the name of the Lechem Mishneh [not on the Rambam]
[17] Shabbos Kehalacha Vol. 2 page 60; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 257:7 footnote 53 that discusses the dispute on this matter
[18] Based on Admur 257:8; 318:14; M”A 257; Peri Megadim; However see 254:4 which rules it is forbidden to place uncooked foods on top of an insulated pot; Tehila Ledavid 254:4 establishes the case there to be referring to a pot that is on the fire and is insulated in a permitted way, such as with a board over the top of the pot, and the insulation is thus not touching the walls of the pot.
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is forbidden to add or reinsulate whenever the food is not fully cooked even if it is not on a source of heat. The reason for this is because the insulation delays the cooling down of the food and during this time the food is able to cook more. [M”B in Biur Halacha 257:4 “Gorem Lah”; Beis Meir; Nehar Shalom; Mor Uketzia]
[19] Admur 318:14; Shevisas Shabbos Mevashel 105; Chazon Ish 37:17
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is permitted to do so. [M”B 318:51; See Minchas Shlomo 2:34-18; Piskeiy Teshuvos 257:8]
[20] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 257 footnote 54
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