Hatmana
זכרון יעקב | July 11, 2024
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Hatmana

זכרון יעקב | June 27, 2025

Kosher & Halacha Korner

The following article may be at variance to local Kashrus Agencies. When in doubt, contact your local reputable Agency. In Australia, direct any questions to [email protected] or visit www.kosher.org.au

HATMANA

OU HALACHA YOMIS (OUKosher.org)

Before Shabbos, I wrapped my soup pot (which is not on a fire) with towels, so it will stay hot until the seuda. May I unwrap the pot before the meal, give my child some soup, and then rewrap the pot on Shabbos?

Shulchan Aruch (257:4) writes that pots that were wrapped before Shabbos may be uncovered and rewrapped on Shabbos, provided a) the pot was still wrapped at nightfall, and b), the food was fully cooked and the wrapping will not accelerate the cooking process. One may even completely remove the original insulation and rewrap the pot with better, thicker insulation. The Aruch Hashulchan (257:20) adds that even if one unwrapped the pot on Shabbos without intending to rewrap it, it is still permissible to rewrap it on Shabbos. If, however, one unwrapped the pot before nightfall, and left it unwrapped until after nightfall, it may not be rewrapped on Shabbos.

After lighting Shabbos candles, I remembered that I did not yet wrap my pots of food for Shabbos (hatmana). Am I still permitted to do so?

Shulchan Aruch (257:1) writes that during bein hashmashos (twilight), one may wrap their pots of food. Chazal did not forbid hatmana during this time since it was uncommon for the pots to have already cooled down this early into Shabbos. Therefore, we are not concerned that the person might discover that the food is no longer warm and may put it back on the fire.

However, this leniency only applies during bein hashmashos if there was no formal acceptance of Shabbos. However, if a woman accepted Shabbos by lighting Shabbos candles, hatmonah is prohibited. This distinction is clear from the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (261:4), that once the tzibur accepts Shabbos, even if it is before sunset, it is forbidden to do hatmana. Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Shulchan Aruch Harav, Kuntras Acharon 261) explains that although there is no concern that the pot may be returned to the fire at this early hour, once Shabbos is accepted, all formal restrictions of Shabbos apply. However, a woman who lit Shabbos candles may ask a non-Jewish neighbor to wrap her pots during bein hashmashos until 13 ½ minutes after sunset.

I am aware that hatmana (insulating food to preserve the heat) is forbidden before and during Shabbos. Under what circumstances does this restriction apply?

There are separate rules for hatmana before and during Shabbos. In this Halacha Yomis we will discuss insulating hot food on Shabbos.

On Shabbos, one may not wrap up hot food to preserve its heat. Chazal were concerned that if one insulated hot food on Shabbos and then discovered that the food is not as hot as desired, the person may reheat the food on Shabbos. Even dry, fully cooked foods about which we say “ain bishul achar bishul” (the prohibition of bishul does not apply) may not be insulated on Shabbos. Chazal forbade insulating on Shabbos because they were concerned that one might stoke the coals to speed up the process and violate the melacha of making a fire on Shabbos. However, if one insulated food on Shabbos, even if it was done intentionally, the food is permitted. The Mishnah Berurah (257:8) explains that since the food was already hot, keeping the food hot longer is not considered a significant benefit that would make the food prohibited.

In a previous halacha it was noted that hatmana is forbidden even before Shabbos. Please explain under what circumstances this halacha applies.

One may not insulate hot food before Shabbos if the food is on a fire or other heat source. Chazal were concerned that if it were permitted to do so, one might insulate the pot by surrounding it with ashes that contain hot coals, and this may lead to stoking the coals on Shabbos, which is forbidden. If one insulated food on the fire on Shabbos, even if done innocently without realizing that it is forbidden, the food may not be eaten on Shabbos if this caused any improvement to the food. If one insulated food on the fire before Shabbos, although it was forbidden to do so, the food would be permitted, as long as the food was already cooked at the beginning of Shabbos.

Is there a concern of hatmana when cooking with a crock pot?

The restriction of hatmana applies when a pot is enclosed. Therefore, it is permissible to use a crock pot that sits on top of a flat heating element. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa, vol. 1, ch. 1:88, n. 255) questioned whether one may setup a crock pot for Shabbos that sits inside a circular heating element. Since the base envelops the majority of the pot, this may be considered hatmana, and it is forbidden to wrap a pot that is heated on a fire, even before Shabbos. Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa quotes Rav Elyashiv zt”l that one can avoid the issue by placing something under the pot (such as a ball of aluminum foil) to lift it slightly off the floor of the element. In this way, the base does not surround the bottom of the pot, and it will not be considered hatmana.

However, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe OC 4:74 hatmana #4) writes that there is no concern of hatmana unless the entire pot is enclosed, including the top. Many students of Rav Moshe said they heard from him that there is no concern of hatmana with a crock pot. An additional basis for leniency is that the Rema (OC 257:1) writes that me’ikar ha’din (strictly speaking), one may do hatmana if the intent is not to eat the food until the next day, though the Rema cautions against relying on this position on a regular basis. Many use the regular circular crock pots on Shabbos in accordance with Rav Moshe, yet some are strict and follow the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalman.

I know that I may not put food on a fire or on a blech on Shabbos, even if the food is fully cooked and dry, because it has the appearance of cooking. Nonetheless, it is permissible to place fully cooked food that is dry on top of a cholent pot because cooking is not done in this manner and it does not have the appearance of cooking. By the same token, would the same leniency apply to hatmana; may I wrap a pot of food before Shabbos and place it on top of my cholent pot to stay warm?

One may not wrap food and place it on top of another pot, even if the cholent pot is sitting on a blech. However, one may wrap food before Shabbos and place it on top of a hot pot that is not on the fire. The Mishnah Berurah (258:2) explains that since the pot is no longer on the fire, it is slowly cooling down, and therefore it is not “mosif hevel” (adding heat). Even though the pot is much hotter than the food that is placed on top of it, since it is gradually cooling down, it is permitted to place wrapped food on it before Shabbos. However, the Mishnah Berurah points out that on Shabbos, the rules of hatmana are more stringent and one may not place wrapped food on a hot pot, even if the pot is off the fire.

I poured hot cholent into a serving bowl. There was a delay in the meal, and I am concerned the cholent will cool down. May I wrap the serving bowl with towels to prevent it from cooling down?

Shulchan Aruch (OC 257:5) writes that if food was transferred from the pot in which it was cooked to a second pot (kli sheini), it is permissible to wrap up the second pot. Since an action was done to cool down the food (i.e., it was transferred into a cold pot), the concern of hatmana (that one might be surprised to find that their food has cooled and place it back on the fire) no longer applies.

While it is clear in Shulchan Aruch that this halacha (that there is no hatmana on a kli sheini) applies to a liquid that was poured into a second pot, the question is whether this halacha applies as well to a davar gush (solid food) such as a bowl of cholent. Many poskim rule that a davar gush retains the status of a kli rishon even when transferred to a second pot. If so, does this mean that one may not wrap up the serving bowl? Rav Nissim Karelitz zt”l (Chut Shani 2:28:6) writes that one may wrap up the serving bowl. He explains that even though the food retains the status of a kli rishon, hatmana does not apply because the transfer of cholent is an action which cools down the food.

I would like to warm up a cold baby bottle on Shabbos by submerging it into a pot of hot water. Is this permitted?

Although the prohibition of hatmana generally applies to wrapping hot foods, it also includes warming cold foods on Shabbos by wrapping them and placing them on top of a hot item, even if that hot item is not on the fire. Therefore, the Taz (258:1) rules that one may not submerge a pot of cold water into hot water to warm it up, even if the hot water is in a kli sheini (utensil that was not on the fire). As such, there is a concern of hatmana as well if one submerged a baby bottle in hot water. However, the Elya Rabba (258:3) argues that just as one may do hatmana on a kli sheini (i.e. by wrapping a kli sheini to maintain the heat), it is also permissible to warm a bottle in a kli sheini. However, the Pri Megadim, Aruch Hashulchan and Mishnah Berurah all accept the chumra of the Taz. Therefore, the bottle should not be completely submerged in hot water. By leaving part of the bottle out of the water, there is no restriction of hatmana.

I would like to pour hot coffee into a thermos on Shabbos morning to take with me to shul. Is this a concern of hatmana (insulating hot food)?

The Chazon Ish (OC 37:32) offers two reasons why this is permitted. First, he writes that a thermos is considered a kli sheini (second vessel that was not heated on the fire). Shulchan Aruch (257:5) writes that it is permissible to do hatmana on a kli sheini. Since an action was done to cool down the food, we are not concerned that one will place it back on the fire. Second, he writes that putting something into a thermos is not hatmana. Hatmana refers to wrapping a pot with another layer, such as a towel. However, a thermos is a utensil which has heat resistant walls – just as one may pour food on Shabbos into a thick-walled pot, so too one may pour into a thermos.

Shevet Halevi (1:93) questions these reasons. He argues that a thermos cannot be compared to a kli sheini, since the purpose of the thermos is to keep the food hot. This is not the same as pouring liquid into a kli sheini which actively cools down the food. Regarding the second point, he questions if walls of a thermos which are made specifically to insulate are the same as a thick-walled pot.

Igros Moshe (OC 1:95) offers another rationale to justify pouring hot liquids into a thermos. Hatmana is only prohibited when the entire vessel is wrapped. Therefore, at the time when one pours hot water in the thermos there is no violation of hatmana since the top is uncovered. Putting a cover on the thermos also cannot be treated as hatmana because the purpose of doing so, in addition to maintaining the heat, is to protect the liquid from gathering dust or from spilling out.

Although it is forbidden to eat before davening, Shulchan Aruch (OC 89:3) writes that one may drink water. Poskim extend this leniency to drinking tea or coffee as well. Mishnah Berurah (89:22) writes that one may not add milk and only permits a very minimal amount of sugar, but the Aruch Hashulchan (89:23) writes that the prevailing custom is to be lenient regarding adding sugar and milk to coffee as well, since people find it difficult to drink tea or coffee otherwise. However, one should only add the minimum amount that they need.

Candle lighting (Melbourne) Chukas 12 July 24, 6 Tammuz 5784, 5.00pm/6.01pm

Kosher & Halacha Korner

The following article may be at variance to local Kashrus Agencies. When in doubt, contact your local reputable Agency. In Australia, direct any questions to [email protected] or visit www.kosher.org.au

HATMANA

OU HALACHA YOMIS (OUKosher.org)

Before Shabbos, I wrapped my soup pot (which is not on a fire) with towels, so it will stay hot until the seuda. May I unwrap the pot before the meal, give my child some soup, and then rewrap the pot on Shabbos?

Shulchan Aruch (257:4) writes that pots that were wrapped before Shabbos may be uncovered and rewrapped on Shabbos, provided a) the pot was still wrapped at nightfall, and b), the food was fully cooked and the wrapping will not accelerate the cooking process. One may even completely remove the original insulation and rewrap the pot with better, thicker insulation. The Aruch Hashulchan (257:20) adds that even if one unwrapped the pot on Shabbos without intending to rewrap it, it is still permissible to rewrap it on Shabbos. If, however, one unwrapped the pot before nightfall, and left it unwrapped until after nightfall, it may not be rewrapped on Shabbos.

After lighting Shabbos candles, I remembered that I did not yet wrap my pots of food for Shabbos (hatmana). Am I still permitted to do so?

Shulchan Aruch (257:1) writes that during bein hashmashos (twilight), one may wrap their pots of food. Chazal did not forbid hatmana during this time since it was uncommon for the pots to have already cooled down this early into Shabbos. Therefore, we are not concerned that the person might discover that the food is no longer warm and may put it back on the fire.

However, this leniency only applies during bein hashmashos if there was no formal acceptance of Shabbos. However, if a woman accepted Shabbos by lighting Shabbos candles, hatmonah is prohibited. This distinction is clear from the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (261:4), that once the tzibur accepts Shabbos, even if it is before sunset, it is forbidden to do hatmana. Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Shulchan Aruch Harav, Kuntras Acharon 261) explains that although there is no concern that the pot may be returned to the fire at this early hour, once Shabbos is accepted, all formal restrictions of Shabbos apply. However, a woman who lit Shabbos candles may ask a non-Jewish neighbor to wrap her pots during bein hashmashos until 13 ½ minutes after sunset.

I am aware that hatmana (insulating food to preserve the heat) is forbidden before and during Shabbos. Under what circumstances does this restriction apply?

There are separate rules for hatmana before and during Shabbos. In this Halacha Yomis we will discuss insulating hot food on Shabbos.

On Shabbos, one may not wrap up hot food to preserve its heat. Chazal were concerned that if one insulated hot food on Shabbos and then discovered that the food is not as hot as desired, the person may reheat the food on Shabbos. Even dry, fully cooked foods about which we say “ain bishul achar bishul” (the prohibition of bishul does not apply) may not be insulated on Shabbos. Chazal forbade insulating on Shabbos because they were concerned that one might stoke the coals to speed up the process and violate the melacha of making a fire on Shabbos. However, if one insulated food on Shabbos, even if it was done intentionally, the food is permitted. The Mishnah Berurah (257:8) explains that since the food was already hot, keeping the food hot longer is not considered a significant benefit that would make the food prohibited.

In a previous halacha it was noted that hatmana is forbidden even before Shabbos. Please explain under what circumstances this halacha applies.

One may not insulate hot food before Shabbos if the food is on a fire or other heat source. Chazal were concerned that if it were permitted to do so, one might insulate the pot by surrounding it with ashes that contain hot coals, and this may lead to stoking the coals on Shabbos, which is forbidden. If one insulated food on the fire on Shabbos, even if done innocently without realizing that it is forbidden, the food may not be eaten on Shabbos if this caused any improvement to the food. If one insulated food on the fire before Shabbos, although it was forbidden to do so, the food would be permitted, as long as the food was already cooked at the beginning of Shabbos.

Is there a concern of hatmana when cooking with a crock pot?

The restriction of hatmana applies when a pot is enclosed. Therefore, it is permissible to use a crock pot that sits on top of a flat heating element. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l (Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa, vol. 1, ch. 1:88, n. 255) questioned whether one may setup a crock pot for Shabbos that sits inside a circular heating element. Since the base envelops the majority of the pot, this may be considered hatmana, and it is forbidden to wrap a pot that is heated on a fire, even before Shabbos. Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa quotes Rav Elyashiv zt”l that one can avoid the issue by placing something under the pot (such as a ball of aluminum foil) to lift it slightly off the floor of the element. In this way, the base does not surround the bottom of the pot, and it will not be considered hatmana.

However, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moshe OC 4:74 hatmana #4) writes that there is no concern of hatmana unless the entire pot is enclosed, including the top. Many students of Rav Moshe said they heard from him that there is no concern of hatmana with a crock pot. An additional basis for leniency is that the Rema (OC 257:1) writes that me’ikar ha’din (strictly speaking), one may do hatmana if the intent is not to eat the food until the next day, though the Rema cautions against relying on this position on a regular basis. Many use the regular circular crock pots on Shabbos in accordance with Rav Moshe, yet some are strict and follow the opinion of Rav Shlomo Zalman.

I know that I may not put food on a fire or on a blech on Shabbos, even if the food is fully cooked and dry, because it has the appearance of cooking. Nonetheless, it is permissible to place fully cooked food that is dry on top of a cholent pot because cooking is not done in this manner and it does not have the appearance of cooking. By the same token, would the same leniency apply to hatmana; may I wrap a pot of food before Shabbos and place it on top of my cholent pot to stay warm?

One may not wrap food and place it on top of another pot, even if the cholent pot is sitting on a blech. However, one may wrap food before Shabbos and place it on top of a hot pot that is not on the fire. The Mishnah Berurah (258:2) explains that since the pot is no longer on the fire, it is slowly cooling down, and therefore it is not “mosif hevel” (adding heat). Even though the pot is much hotter than the food that is placed on top of it, since it is gradually cooling down, it is permitted to place wrapped food on it before Shabbos. However, the Mishnah Berurah points out that on Shabbos, the rules of hatmana are more stringent and one may not place wrapped food on a hot pot, even if the pot is off the fire.

I poured hot cholent into a serving bowl. There was a delay in the meal, and I am concerned the cholent will cool down. May I wrap the serving bowl with towels to prevent it from cooling down?

Shulchan Aruch (OC 257:5) writes that if food was transferred from the pot in which it was cooked to a second pot (kli sheini), it is permissible to wrap up the second pot. Since an action was done to cool down the food (i.e., it was transferred into a cold pot), the concern of hatmana (that one might be surprised to find that their food has cooled and place it back on the fire) no longer applies.

While it is clear in Shulchan Aruch that this halacha (that there is no hatmana on a kli sheini) applies to a liquid that was poured into a second pot, the question is whether this halacha applies as well to a davar gush (solid food) such as a bowl of cholent. Many poskim rule that a davar gush retains the status of a kli rishon even when transferred to a second pot. If so, does this mean that one may not wrap up the serving bowl? Rav Nissim Karelitz zt”l (Chut Shani 2:28:6) writes that one may wrap up the serving bowl. He explains that even though the food retains the status of a kli rishon, hatmana does not apply because the transfer of cholent is an action which cools down the food.

I would like to warm up a cold baby bottle on Shabbos by submerging it into a pot of hot water. Is this permitted?

Although the prohibition of hatmana generally applies to wrapping hot foods, it also includes warming cold foods on Shabbos by wrapping them and placing them on top of a hot item, even if that hot item is not on the fire. Therefore, the Taz (258:1) rules that one may not submerge a pot of cold water into hot water to warm it up, even if the hot water is in a kli sheini (utensil that was not on the fire). As such, there is a concern of hatmana as well if one submerged a baby bottle in hot water. However, the Elya Rabba (258:3) argues that just as one may do hatmana on a kli sheini (i.e. by wrapping a kli sheini to maintain the heat), it is also permissible to warm a bottle in a kli sheini. However, the Pri Megadim, Aruch Hashulchan and Mishnah Berurah all accept the chumra of the Taz. Therefore, the bottle should not be completely submerged in hot water. By leaving part of the bottle out of the water, there is no restriction of hatmana.

I would like to pour hot coffee into a thermos on Shabbos morning to take with me to shul. Is this a concern of hatmana (insulating hot food)?

The Chazon Ish (OC 37:32) offers two reasons why this is permitted. First, he writes that a thermos is considered a kli sheini (second vessel that was not heated on the fire). Shulchan Aruch (257:5) writes that it is permissible to do hatmana on a kli sheini. Since an action was done to cool down the food, we are not concerned that one will place it back on the fire. Second, he writes that putting something into a thermos is not hatmana. Hatmana refers to wrapping a pot with another layer, such as a towel. However, a thermos is a utensil which has heat resistant walls – just as one may pour food on Shabbos into a thick-walled pot, so too one may pour into a thermos.

Shevet Halevi (1:93) questions these reasons. He argues that a thermos cannot be compared to a kli sheini, since the purpose of the thermos is to keep the food hot. This is not the same as pouring liquid into a kli sheini which actively cools down the food. Regarding the second point, he questions if walls of a thermos which are made specifically to insulate are the same as a thick-walled pot.

Igros Moshe (OC 1:95) offers another rationale to justify pouring hot liquids into a thermos. Hatmana is only prohibited when the entire vessel is wrapped. Therefore, at the time when one pours hot water in the thermos there is no violation of hatmana since the top is uncovered. Putting a cover on the thermos also cannot be treated as hatmana because the purpose of doing so, in addition to maintaining the heat, is to protect the liquid from gathering dust or from spilling out.

Although it is forbidden to eat before davening, Shulchan Aruch (OC 89:3) writes that one may drink water. Poskim extend this leniency to drinking tea or coffee as well. Mishnah Berurah (89:22) writes that one may not add milk and only permits a very minimal amount of sugar, but the Aruch Hashulchan (89:23) writes that the prevailing custom is to be lenient regarding adding sugar and milk to coffee as well, since people find it difficult to drink tea or coffee otherwise. However, one should only add the minimum amount that they need.

Candle lighting (Melbourne) Chukas 12 July 24, 6 Tammuz 5784, 5.00pm/6.01pm

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