Parshas Vayera 5785 – Intriguing Questions & Answers
Is it Permitted to Place an Onion in One’s Bed to Relieve Cold Symptoms on Shabbos?
Q: During the winter, many people suffer from colds, and there are common home remedies that people use to relieve the symptoms, which are not considered formal medical treatments. One such remedy is cutting an onion and placing it in the bed with the person suffering from a cold, so they can inhale the onion vapors while sleeping, which alleviates the symptoms of the cold. We must therefore consider if this is permissible on Shabbos from several perspectives:
- Whether a non-medical remedy (a “home remedy”) falls under the gezeirah of shechikas samamanim (grinding herbs).
- Whether a treatment done solely through inhalation is subject to the gezeirah of shechikas samamanim.
- Whether the fact that an onion is a maachal beri’im (food eaten by healthy individuals) permits its use even through inhalation, which is not a typical use by healthy individuals.
A: This question was addressed by my friend, the author of Vayishma Moshe, who discussed this matter with several prominent Poskim. In practice, many of them permitted the use of an onion for this purpose, with the reason being that since an onion is a food eaten by healthy individuals and is (obviously) permitted to eat, it is also allowed to use for inhalation.
I have seen other Poskim who permit this, for the following reason: Just as it is inconceivable to forbid drinking a cup of tea with lemon and honey for a sore throat, or eating citrus fruits for someone deficient in vitamin C, since they are foods for healthy individuals and it is not evident that one is doing so for medicinal purposes—the same would apply to placing an onion in bed.
Sefer Nishmas Shabbos (Vol. 5, §393) discusses whether someone with a cold and nasal congestion may inhale Vicks on Shabbos. He concludes that ideally one should be stringent, although there are those who are lenient. The reason to be lenient stems from comparing this to inserting a wick to relieve constipation, which the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 328:49) permits—provided one is careful to not pull out any hairs—since it merely opens a passage without performing a healing act. Similarly, the strong smell merely opens the nasal passage.
The stringent opinion, however, compares this to the ruling of the Magen Avraham (ad loc. 55), which forbids inserting a suppository on Shabbos due to the prohibition of refuah. Although the Da’as Torah explains that the Magen Avraham only forbids a suppository when it contains medicinal ingredients, and not when it is only water, nevertheless, inhaling Vicks would be akin to medicinal ingredients, in which case it would be forbidden.
The Kaf HaChaim quotes the Padah Avraham, which states that regarding refuah on Shabbos, “reicha lav milsa—inhalation is insignificant.” See also Be’er Moshe (1:33) who permits this.
Based on this, it would seem that this applies specifically to tobacco, which is commonly inhaled for non-medicinal purposes, but an onion, which is not typically inhaled by healthy individuals, would be prohibited. Nevertheless, as mentioned, many Poskim permit the use of an onion for this purpose, and one who is lenient has ample support to rely on.
If One Drank Pomegranate Juice, Do They Recite Shehechiyanu When They Eat the Fruit?
Q: I have been asked many times by people who drink pomegranate or orange juice at the beginning of the year or when the fruit is in season if they should recite Shehechiyanu on it. Specifically, they ask whether someone who drank fresh pomegranate juice made from this season’s pomegranates may still say Shehechiyanu afterward when eating the pomegranate itself for the first time.
A: In practice, it seems clear that one should not say Shehechiyanu on pomegranate juice (or similar juices). If someone drank pomegranate juice during the year and then eats a pomegranate, they may nonetheless recite Shehechiyanu when they eat the fruit.
The explanation for this is as follows. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 225:5) states that if one said Shehechiyanu on grapes, they do not repeat the blessing on new wine. The Mishnah Berurah (225:15) cites an opinion that one does recite Shehechiyanu on the wine, as it engenders greater joy than plain grapes. However, this only applies when the wine was Tirosh (unfermented grape juice) when it is recognizable as new wine.
Another reason not to say Shehechiyanu on fruit juice is because some Poskim consider juice to be mere “zeiah—sweat” that is exuded from the fruit, with the appropriate brachah being Shehakol, as it does not have the status of the fruit itself. Accordingly, any new fruit that was made into juice, such that it is no longer evident whether it is from a new or old fruit, one would not say Shehechiyanu on the juice, even if they haven’t yet said the brachah on that fruit.
Shnayim Mikra V’Echad Targum on Shabbos During Shiva: May One Also Learn Peirush Rashi?
Q: An aveil asked me regarding Shabbos that falls within the Shiva, in which it is permitted to recite Shnayim Mikra (see Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 400:1): Is he also allowed to do so with Rashi, which he usually learns throughout the year?
A: The general ruling of the Poskim is that while it is permitted for an aveil to read Shnayim Mikra, he should refrain from doing so with Rashi. Nevertheless, there are those who are lenient and permit reading the Parshah with Rashi, and one who follows this leniency has what to rely on.
However, it should be noted that which one may rely on the lenient opinions is only when he will not have time later that week to complete Shnayim Mikra (e.g., he will not be getting up from his Shiva until the end of the week). If he will have time later in the week, he should wait until then.
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