Tools in a cafe and Lego
Hello,
- Until now, I used to drink milk-based upside-down coffee abroad, in non-kosher places, when the drink was served in a plastic or glass cup, assuming that coffee and milk were always kosher. In a conversation with a friend, the possibility arose that the vessel in which the milk is heated might go into a dishwasher where dishes with milk and meat are washed, and even non-kosher dishes, so it is possible that the vessel itself is not kosher.
What is the Rabbi’s opinion on the matter?
- My son plays with Lego on Shabbat, and according to the book “Shimirat Shabbat Kahalita” I understood that there is no problem with this. However, in the book “Pinin Halacha” by Rabbi Melamed, I found a teaching that one should avoid setting up a temporary tent, even when it comes to Lego. It reads:
“And it is also forbidden to build a house or parking lot with Lego bricks that have a gap of a foot upon a foot.”
Here is the link to Rabbi Melamed’s words.
https://ph.yhb.org.il/01-24-07/
I am not clear about Rabbi Melamed’s words on two matters:
– Does the phrase “a span over a span” mean a span’s height and a span’s width, meaning that the height of the Lego structure exceeds the span (four fingers) and the length at that point is also four fingers?
– In addition, I have come across opinions from other rabbis that permit playing with Lego on Shabbat without specifying this restriction. Is there an obligation to fear this restriction according to all opinions, or only for those who explicitly specify it?
My child is simply building a “house” for play and placing the Lego people inside; I have a hard time seeing this as building an actual tent.
Thank you very much for the clarification on this matter.
Even with milk, this is only in places with reasonable regulation where there is no fear of mixing other products. I don’t know the reality. If the dishes are boiled in a non-kosher place, it is indeed problematic.
I didn’t think about this issue with Lego. But it seems to me that there is room for leniency when it comes to the clear context of a game that is also about to be dismantled immediately.
Regarding Lego
I am not clear about the meaning of Pnini Halacha, what is a tefaq and the width of a tefaq
Can the rabbi explain it to me?
I try not to get into when and how my son disassembles Lego because it is a game.
I understood that there are methods for Lego, even if it is not for immediate disassembly, but if it is for play and enjoyment, which is clear to everyone that Lego is temporary, then it is permissible to play on Shabbat.
For example, if my son were to build a Lego game on Shabbat in which there is a tent for his Lego people, and he would only disassemble it on the mitzvot
Would the rabbi think that in such a case, one should also be concerned about the tent issue, or is it clear to everyone that it is a game and therefore this concern does not exist?
Tap on tap at tap height.
As I wrote, there is room for relief from the very purpose of the game. And more room if it falls apart in a day.
Isn't the fact that there is soap in the dishwasher a reason to be lenient because it gives flavor to the defect?
Most opinions say that you can't wash meat and dairy together. I guess the fact that there are non-kosher dishes is even worse.
So I don't know if you can trust taste to a fault.
There is room for relaxation of the conditions specified here: https://www.kosharot.co.il/index2.php?id=70958&lang=HEB
Regarding a dishwasher in a cafe abroad, I have no control over how he uses the dishwasher and which dishwasher.
Therefore, it will be difficult to know whether the conditions listed in the link have been met and whether the appliance has not been damaged.
So what do you expect from me? If you don't find out then I have nothing to say.
I thought there might be a general reference to a person who wants to drink in a cafe abroad
I don't think it's a condemnation to check with the entire cafe what dishwasher they use, most of the time they won't even give an answer
A reasonable and logical thing is to see how he pours the cup of coffee for the customer in front of me and based on that decide what the halakhic risk is, but if there's the matter of the dishwasher then it's impossible to assess the risk without asking and therefore there's a problem here.
I happened to be at a gas station today and asked the coffee maker how he washes the dish and he said in the sink
Do you think it would be possible in that case?
(It was easier for me to ask since he was religious and I explained my standout to him)
I did a little digging on the issue of Rabbi Melamed's tent building regarding a game
and he writes that
“the law regarding children's games. Children who have reached school age are not allowed to spread a blanket over chairs to create a tent to curl up in, but they are allowed to first stretch the blanket in the air and then put the chairs under it. Likewise, it is not allowed to build a house or parking lot with Lego bricks that have a space the height of a handbreadth, but if they first hold the roof and then connect the walls underneath it – it is permitted.
Source for the answer
https://ph.yhb.org.il/01-15-05/
Would the Rabbi then also say that it is permitted because it is children's play?
Would the Rabbi distinguish between a real play tent and a Lego tent in children's play?
Why does Rabbi Melamed specifically mention a handbreadth over a handbreadth, what is the source for this?
If you don't want to find out, that's the result. I didn't say you have to find out. But you want not to find out and also act as if you did. If you have good estimates of what's going on there, no problem. You can trust them.
A tefaf lesson is a tent lesson in halacha.
In my opinion, any children's game that is a distinct game should be treated as I wrote. Spreading a blanket on chairs is a real tent. The fact that children made it for a game is another matter. A Lego house is not a real tent.
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