It’s the pits if you haven’t prepared in advance TB Shabbat 29

Although Shabbat enters Friday night whether we want it to or not, those who observe it know the phrase “we have to make Shabbat.” Anything that was not set aside specifically for Shabbat one may not use it on Shabbat. This object is called mukseh, מוקצה, which means  literally something on the side i.e. not for use.


Today’s daf TB Shabbat 29 discusses the issue whether a derivative of an action,  nolad, נולד, happens on an holiday,Yom Tov, is mukseh or not. The question asks when a vessel becomes broken on Yom Tov does it become mukseh because you had not set it aside as a broken vessel before the holiday. The same is debated about date pits and nut shells.


“With regard to the statement cited above, Rav Yehuda said that Rav said that there is a dispute between the tanna’im on this issue: One may only kindle a fire with whole vessels and one may not kindle a fire with broken vessels; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. And Rabbi Shimon permits kindling a fire even with broken vessels. An additional halakha: One may kindle a fire with whole dates on a Festival, and if he ate them, he may not kindle a fire with their pits as they are set-aside; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. And Rabbi Shimon permits kindling a fire with the pits. Furthermore, one may kindle a fire with whole nuts on a Festival, and if he ate them, he may not kindle a fire with their shells; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. And Rabbi Shimon permits doing so.” (Sefaria.org translation)


The Shulchan Aruch Orech Hayyim 501: 7 decides in favor of Rabbi Yehudah. One may kindle a fire with dates and nuts (only if you have no other material because your grandmother was right. It is a sin to waste food). One is not permitted to use the pits of eaten dates on Yom Tov  to kindle a fire.