Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 504

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 504 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1Laws of spices on Yom Tov. 4 sections: Spices may be pounded in the normal way, since if they were pounded the day before their flavor would dissipate. But salt may not be pounded on Yom Tov unless one tilts the mortar or pounds it in a bowl or similar vessel in order to make a change — since if salt were ground before Yom Tov its flavor would not dissipate. Pepper and mustard may not be ground in their special mills since that appears like a weekday activity; rather one pounds them in a mortar like all other spices. Rema: Nevertheless the custom is to make a slight change when pounding spices. (Hagahot Maimoniyot ch. 3 in the name of Semag) And this is the proper ruling.
2. 2It is permitted to carry spices and a pestle to a mortar, or a mortar to them, even through a public domain, even though it would have been possible to bring them before Yom Tov.
3. 3One may not pound groats in a large mortar, but one may pound them in a small mortar — that being the change applicable to them. In the Land of Israel even a small mortar is forbidden. Since we no longer know what is called large or small, everything should be forbidden. Rema: It is permitted to grate cheese on Yom Tov on a grater, however a slight change is required, like the pounding of salt. [Rivash §184] The same applies to matzah without any change, since there is no grinding prohibition for foods that were already ground. [Maharil]
4. 4A person is permitted to measure spices to put into a pot so that he does not ruin his dish (meaning so that he does not burn and spoil it using too many spices)

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