13 Jul BAL TASHCHIS – WASTING POSSESSIONS

The issue of bal

tashchis is a common

problem. May one

discard the remnants of

his drink? How to

dispose of the leftovers

of a simcha? What to

do with the leftover

challah after a Shabbos

meal? People often

spend money on

nonsense and in a sense

throw away their

money. These and

other such issues will

be discussed at length

in this issue. The main halachos of bal tashchis

applies to destroying a fruit tree. This topic was

discussed in an earlier issue of Halachically

Speaking and will not be covered in depth in this

issue. In addition, we discussed treating food

with the proper respect, which is also an aspect

of bal tashchis.

Yaakov and the Jugs

Yaakov Ovinu went to retrieve some small jugs

that he had forgotten, and he was left alone with

the malach of Eisav. The Gemorah infers that

tzaddikim cherish their money more than their

own bodies, for they abstain from any form of

theft. Some explain that they look at everything

they have as a gift from Hashem. Therefore, any

item in their possession has a purpose, and they

do not want it to go to waste. Based on this, it is

praiseworthy not to leave items unattended in

vulnerable places.

Reasons

The Chinuch says that the purpose of this

mitzvah (of not destroying tree and other things)

is to teach people to love and respect good

things. This love will help ensure that they will

keep away from bad, destructive things. The

way of good people is to be happy with the

world and not to destroy even a mustard seed. In

addition, throwing food away shows that one

does not want the goodness Hashem showed

him by giving him food. The Hemek Daver says

that anything which is meant to be used for our

enjoyment should be used and not destroyed.

D’oraisa or D’rabbbanan

The issur of destroying a fruit tree is certainly

d’oraisa. It is a dispute whether other areas of

bal tashchis (destroying clothing, utensils) are

d’oraisa or d’rabbanan.

Some Heterim

By non-food items as long as it is a tzorech (a

need) it is not bal tashchis. Food may be thrown

out if it is to satisfy the need of a person (tzorech

adom) and it is normal (derech ha’olom) to use

the food in that manner. One should not carve

out the inside of a cucumber to hold chrein. This

is prohibited since it is not derech ha’olom.

Additionally, the cucumber is discarded

afterwards.

Mitzvah

One may cut down a fruit tree or other forms of

destruction in order to do a mitzvah with the

property or object.

Bal Tashchis with Hefker

There is a discussion in the poskim if bal

tashchis applies to items which do not have an

owner (hefker). Practically, one should treat

hefker items in the same manner that he treats

his own possessions.

Less than a Pruta

Bal tashchis issues very often apply to items

worth less than a pruta. A common example

would be a toothpaste tube that is nearly empty.

The same is true regarding a drop of liquid in a

cup, or a small amount of spread in the

container. In addition, one might want to discard

a small piece of chicken or strike a match for fun

and throw it out afterwards. L’maseh, one

should try to avoid throwing out or wasting

items which are less than a pruta. Although this

may not be required by the letter of the law, one

should adhere to this whenever possible. Some

say that if one does not want to throw out the

remaining food and he does not want to eat it,

then he can leave it to rot outside of the

refrigerator.

Other Areas

Just as bal tashchis applies to destroying clothes

or utensils, it also applies to destroying a house,

throwing away money, or any other destructive

action.

Tzitzis

One may remove tzitzis from one garment and

place them on another. One may also replace the

tzitzis strings on a garment. However, if the

tzitzis are complete and it is not a bother to untie

them, then one should so, as cutting them and

throwing them out would be wasting the tzitzis.

Placing a Drink in Mouth / Swallowing Food

One who forgot and placed a drink in his mouth

before reciting a berachah should swallow the

drink. No berachah rishona is recited, as the

mitzvah is lost once he swallowed the liquid. If

one drank a shiur reviis, then a berachah achrona

is recited. However, if one has other liquids to

drink, then he should spit out the drink in order

not to have enjoyment from food without a

berachah and it would not be bal tashchis.

Throwing Out Bread

May one throw stale bread in the garbage?

It is permitted to discard crumbs which are not a

k’zayis in size in a respectful manner. However,

doing so disrespectfully may lead to poverty.

Throwing crumbs into the water would be

permitted. One may not throw out crumbs which

are a k’zayis even if they will not get stepped on.

Some are also careful if there are enough

crumbs that would equal a k’zayis when

combined. Food which is unfit for human

consumption may be destroyed even in a

disrespectful manner. Based on these halachos,

some poskim say one should not throw leftover

bread which is larger than a k’zayis directly into

a garbage can with other dirty things. Rather, the

bread should be wrapped separately before

discarding it. Some apply this same rule to bread

which is smaller than a k’zayis. One is not

required to wrap up tiny crumbs before throwing

them out.

Mayim Achronim

Leftover liquid in one’s cup may be used for

mayim achronim and there is no problem of

wasting the food, since it is going to be thrown

away. If there is no water, one may use any

liquid that cleans the hands, such as milk,

orange juice, snow, etc. Wine may not be used

to wash for mayim achronim because of the

importance of wine.

Water

In earlier years when one did not pay for water it

was not bal tashchis if one threw out water.

However, today that one pays for water

throwing water out is bal tashchis.

Lag B’omer in Meron

Some have the minhag in Meron to throw

garments in the fire on Lag B’omer. Some

explain that Rav Shimon Bar Yochai did not

wear clothes when he was in the cave, and

would cover his body in sand when he wanted to

learn. Those who permit this say that there is no

bal tashchis by throwing the garments in the

fire, while others prohibit this practice.

Breaking a Glass Under the Chuppah

The custom is that the chosson breaks a glass

under the chuppah as a zecher l’churban. The

glass is broken with the right foot. The reason

that the chosson breaks the glass but not the

plate at the t’nayim is that his simcha is not yet

complete at the t’nayim. The glass is wrapped in

a napkin in order to prevent the chosson from

hurting his foot. There is no concern of bal

tashchis with breaking the glass because it is

being done for mitzvah purposes.

Throwing Flowers to a Kallah

Some people throw flowers to the kallah after

the chuppah. Since this is done in order to make

the kallah happy, it is permitted and is not a

concern of bal tashchis.

Purim

During some Purim songs, the participants pour

liquid on each other as a sign of simcha. Some

say that since there are poskim who permit

certain dress on Purim (i.e. man wearing a ladies

garment) it is permitted to do this as well.

However, one should avoid this behavior (the

same is true for booths at carnivals where liquid

is spilled on one another).

Pas Yisroel vs. Pas Paltar

One who is careful to avoid pas paltar and is

traveling where there is no pas yisroel available

for seventy-two minutes of travel (even by car),

may eat pas paltar. Some say that one need only

wait if he traveling in the direction where pas

yisroel will be available, but does not need to

take a detour to obtain pas yisroel. Others say

that one must detour up to eighteen minutes of

travel time. One who bought pas paltar in the

above situation and returns home with some

leftover bread may eat it if he cannot obtain pas

yisroel (the bakeries are closed). Based on the

above, if pas yisroel is available when one

returns home, then he may allow the pas paltar

to spoil. There is no concern of bal tashchis

since he is not destroying it with his hands. In

addition, he can give it to a non-Jew, someone

who is not makpid on pas yisroel, or a bird. This

ruling follows the opinion of the Shulchan

Aruch who says that pas paltar is only permitted

if there is no pas yisroel available. According to

the Rama who permits pas paltar in all cases,

one does not have to wait at all.

Hashgacha Which is not Acceptable

Certain hashgachos are not accepted because of

their low standards. If one accidentally buys a

product from a company which has those lower

standards or receives it as a present, he should

give it away. It should not be discarded because

it is bal tashchis.

Insects in Food / Produce

If a specific food or fruit is infested with insects

and it is a bother to remove them, or one is

disgusted by the insects, the food may be thrown

out and it is not bal tashchis.

Ripping one’s Garment for a Relative

R’’l when certain relatives are niftar, one has to

rip his garment. There is no concern of bal

tashchis, as the mitzvah of ripping overrides the

halacha of bal tashchis. Others explain that there

is a need to rip one’s garments. Whenever there

is a need, there is no concern of bal tashchis.

Catering

Many times a caterer after a large function will

have a lot of food left over. This food should not

be discarded since it can be given to poor

people. Caterers claim that would take up a lot

of time to sort through the leftovers and put

them away. The custom in any case is to be

lenient. However, some Gedolim stress that this

still falls under bal tashchis. In addition, some

caterers have the practice of carving fruit in a

unique shape and throwing out the rest of the

fruit. Furthermore, many times the soup is

served in a bowl made out of bread and the bowl

is thrown out afterwards. Before a caterer

wishes to do the above he should ask the person

who is giving the hashgacha on his

establishment if this is permitted practice.

Bal Teshuva

A bal teshuva who used to wear garments that

were not modest may discard those garments.

There is no concern of bal tashchis since it is

done for mitzvah purposes.

Old Things

One may throw out objects which do not work

anymore (i.e. old air conditioner) since there is

no use for it and one is not wasting it.

Old Paper

Defaced paper that is not fit to be written on may

be given to a child to scribble on or tear into

little pieces. There is no concern of bal tashchis

even though the paper may be fit for other

purposes (i.e. wrapping paper), as the child

derives pleasure by playing with it.

Worn Out Clothing

Often one has an abundance of shoes or suits,

and he has no one to give them to. In this

situation, some say that he can leave the items in

a hefker place (in the street). There is no concern

of bal tashchis since he did not destroy them

directly and it is possible that someone will take

them.

In the Street

Some say that the entire prohibition of bal

tashchis is limited to destroying items with your

hands. Leaving items in front of one’s home is

not bal tashchis, since one is not destroying

anything directly, and it possible that someone

may take the items.

Children to Listen

One may destroy an object if his goal is to shock

his children into listening. Others suggest that

one use a broken utensil for this purpose.

Glass in Wine / Food

Sometimes, a small shard of glass breaks off the

neck of a wine bottle when it is opened.

Similarly, if a glass breaks at the table one might

be concerned about the presence of glass in his

food. If there is any possibility of danger, then

the wine and food may be discarded.

Vomiting

One should not induce vomiting because it is

destroying the food. If one is in pain then doing

so is permitted by hand (as opposed to

medicine) even on Shabbos.

Vandalism

Protests often result in vandalism, such as

lighting cars on fire, breaking store windows,

ruining store furniture, etc. Unfortunately, these

acts are done by Jews in some areas. The

question which must be addressed is whether

such behavior falls into the category of bal

tashschis (We will not discuss whether these

demonstrations is advisable or not). One should

be careful, as destroying property, especially

someone else’s, transgresses the halacha of bal

tashchis. People who protest by destroying

objects do not ask Rabbonim before doing so,

and it just makes a chilul Hashem.

Destroying one’s Money

As mentioned above, money is included in the

halachos of bal tashchis. We will proceed to

discuss some of the areas where it is common

for one to spend his money in a wasteful

manner.

Bills

There is nothing we can do to avoid paying

utility bills. We use electricity and heat and we

have to pay for it, but there are things we can do

to make sure we do not waste money and pay

more than necessary. Simple things like

extinguishing lights when we do not need them

can save us money. The same is true for heat or

air conditioning. There are many other things

which people can do to minimize their expenses.

Candles Burning Longer

Sometimes people will add oil to the wick on

Erev Shabbos or Yom Tov and the candles will

burn late into the night or the next day. One

should not do so since there is no need for light

during the early morning or daytime. One who

does this is wasting his money on the oil. Those

who light long wick candles (or a lot of oil) in a

shul or for a niftar may do so since it is done for

the honor of the shul or the deceased.

Fines

Sometimes a Rebbe will fine a boy for coming

late too many times to class. This is permitted

since it is done to teach the boy a lesson. There

is no concern of bal tashchis in this situation.

Hunting

There is a discussion in the poskim whether

hunting is an issue of bal tashchis (they also

discuss the tzar balei chaim issue which we will

not be discussing). The poskim say that there is

no issue of bal tashchis since one has use for the

animal after it is hunted (caught). One should

not go fishing if he does not plan on eating the

fish.