[Avodah] Making Tea on Shabbos

[Prof. Levine]

In response to my email about making coffee on 
Shabbos I received the following query:

I have seen many people use a tea bag in a Kli 
Shelishi on Shabbos. Is this Allowed???

From
<https://www.torahmusings.com/2020/08/making-tea-and-coffee-on-shabbos/>https://www.torahmusings.com/2020/08/making-tea-and-coffee-on-shabbos/

Instant tea:

Some authorities permit using pre-cooked tea 
leaves. For example, it would be permitted to 
pour hot water onto the tea leaves before Shabbos 
and then to pour more hot water onto the same dry 
leaves to make tea on Shabbos. Some halachic 
authorities [14] apply the rule that there is no 
prohibition of cooking something that has already 
been cooked completely. The Aruch Ha’Shulchan 
[15] accepts this as well, but adds that when one 
pre-cooks the tea before Shabbos, he must leave 
the hot water on the tea for a while to make sure 
that it is fully cooked. However, some halachic 
authorities [16] forbid this practice because the 
tea leaves are used purely to extract their 
taste.  Therefore, as long as the tea leaves 
continue to emit taste, they are not considered already cooked.

Keli Sheini and Keli Shelishi

As a general rule, a keli sheini (a secondary 
vessel, not the one which was on the fire) does 
not cook for Hilchos Shabbos purposes. [17] 
Tosafos [18] explain that since a keli sheini was 
never on the fire, its walls are cooler and it cannot cook.

However, if something is considered mi’kalei 
ha’bishul (easy to cook), it will cook even in 
a keli sheini. [19] The Ran, [20] Magen Avraham, 
[21] Mishna Berura, [22] and R. Moshe Feinstein 
[23] rule that we do not know what foods are 
mi’kalei ha’bishul, and therefore we need to 
be concerned that all foods fall into this 
category unless explicitly excluded in the 
Talmud. [24] According to this view, one is 
forbidden to put tea leaves even in a keli 
sheini, because they might be mi’kalei 
ha’bishul. The Aruch Ha’Shulchan [25] is 
certain that tea is mi’kalei ha’bishul. 
However, the Chazon Ish [26] argues that one need 
not be concerned that a given food is mi’kalei 
ha’bishul unless an explicit source says that 
it is. [27] R. Hershel Schachter writes that R. 
Joseph B. Soloveitchik made tea in a keli sheini 
because he did not consider tea leaves to be 
mi’kalei ha’bishul, [28] and R. Schachter 
himself rules this way as well. [29]

A keli shelishi (a tertiary vessel, from which 
something was poured from a keli sheini) may 
provide a solution to those who are concerned 
that tea may cook in a keli sheini. Talmudic 
sources do not mention such a concept, nor do 
Rishonim (early authorities) distinguish between 
keli sheini and keli shelishi. To the best of my 
knowledge, the only Rishon who talks about a keli 
shelishi is R. Eliezer of Metz, [30] who 
explicitly says that a keli shelishi is the same 
as a keli sheini. Nevertheless, many Achronim 
(later authorities) [31] rule that a keli 
shelishi does not cook even food that is 
mi’kalei ha’bishul, or that one need not be 
concerned that something is mi’kalei 
ha’bishul when using a keli shelishi (but they 
hold that in a keli sheini one should be 
concerned). However, many halachic authorities 
[32] disagree. The Chazon Ish [33] argues that 
there is no basis to distinguish in theory 
between a keli sheini and a keli shelishi. 
However, he continues, there may be a practical 
distinction: the Chayei Adam [34] rules that a 
keli sheini that is extremely hot (yad nichveis 
bo) will cook. Based on this, the Chazon Ish says 
that we use a keli shelishi because by the time 
the item has been transferred twice, it is 
probably no longer as hot, and therefore one does 
not need to be concerned for this opinion of the Chayei Adam. [35]

Making Tea Using Essence

Mishna Berura [36] states that the best way to 
make tea on Shabbos is to make essence, meaning a 
very strong tea, before Shabbos. When one wants 
to drink tea on Shabbos, he can put hot water in 
the cup, and then add the cold essence. This 
solution works according to all views because 
everyone agrees that water is not mi’kalei 
ha’bishul and therefore will not cook in a keli sheini.
______________
Let me add the caveat that the Jewish Press often 
added when it came to matters of Halacha.  "One 
should consult one's local competent Orthodox rabbi."

YL


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