Q&A: Cutting Freezer Pops for Two Different Children
Cutting Freezer Pops for Two Different Children
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi,
I buy freezer pops for the children on the Sabbath that come as two attached together,
similar to the product in the following link.
https://www.shufersal.co.il/online/he/A?prd=P_7296073220398
In practice, I take a knife and cut each freezer pop apart and give one to each child.
On the freezer pops it says, "It is forbidden to cut on the Sabbath."
While browsing online I saw this opinion saying that there are halakhic decisors who say it is permitted to cut them even though it says it is forbidden:
Answer
I thought you were going to bring up the prohibition of creating a vessel. But in my opinion there is no creation of a vessel here, because it is obvious that this is something disposable that is meant to be thrown away, and therefore the cutting is merely a normal way of eating. As for the prohibition of cutting to measure, that does not apply to foods. (By the way, here too no one is particular about cutting in one exact place. On the contrary, the reason they cut specifically there is because that is the convenient place to cut from the standpoint of the structure of the ice pop.) And cutting the plastic is not really considered cutting. Therefore I do not see any prohibition here.
Discussion on Answer
Does this also apply to separating twin cups of yogurt?
In my opinion, yes (although one could distinguish between them, since there it is not cutting the food but only the cups).
Freezer Pop Drinker — regarding the distinction between whether it is for the same person or not, it could be that if it is for the same person, then seemingly we view it as though the entire ice pop is his and he is simply cutting off a piece of it (in this case, in the middle). But if it is for different people, then it is evident that he is cutting at the pre-designated place in order to separate the two parts — somewhat like cutting toilet paper to size.
Hello Rabbi Michi,
Do you agree with what "Freezer Pop Cutter" wrote, that if it is for two different people then it would be forbidden, like cutting toilet paper to size?
Or is it because this involves food, and also because a person who cuts a freezer pop in the middle, even if it is for two children, is not measuring exactly by the centimeter, so there is no prohibition of cutting to measure?
In addition, the Rabbi wrote that
"cutting the plastic is not really considered cutting."
Why would that be different from toilet paper?
I wrote what I think. Cutting the plastic is part of cutting the food itself. It is not like toilet paper.
In short, the Rabbi is saying that even dividing it between two different people is fine regarding the prohibition of cutting to measure.
I understood the Rabbi's answer.
I just do not understand why on the Din website the rabbi who answered there pointed out that it has to be the same person eating the freezer pop.
It seems to me that this is just his style of writing and not because that detail matters, but I am not sure. Here is the link to the Din website.