May One Crush Ice on Shabbat?

May One Crush Ice on Shabbat? Day: Thursday Date: November 20, 2014 Parshat: Tolidot Yalkut Yosef: 320 In memory of Ettel bat Harav Chaim Shalom. In order to protect one from accidentally sqeezing grapes or olives on Shabbat, our Hachamim forbade crushing ice into small pieces on Shabbat in order to cause it to melt, since this is another way of getting one product from another. However it is permissible to put ice into liquid and let it melt on its own. Likewise one may also put ice into a bowl of fruit to cool down the fruit. One may walk on snow or hail on Shabbat even though doing so will cause them to melt. There are two reasons why this is permitted. Even though the snow will certainly melt, which makes it a Pesik Resha Derabanan, nevertheless, since he does not care for it, it is permitted. (See DSH from October 29, 2012 for more information on Pesik Resha). The second reason is since their isn't any way to avoid it from happening the Hachamim's prohibition wouldn't apply. Along the same lines, it is permissible for a person to walk on sand on Shabbat even though the bottom of his shoes will cause a word to be imprinted in the sand. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org