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Chapter 22, Mishna 1
Examining whether fruit that seeps out naturally from pomegranates on Shabbos is permitted for drinking. Answer depends on whether the owner intended the pomegranates to be used for eating or drinking. If the latter, even their naturally discharged juice on Shabbos will be prohibited, as is the case with grapes and olives. What if he didnβt make a clear designation? Sages look to the body of law surrounding the seven liquids which render a food susceptible to tumah, ritual impurity. Some of these, like oil and blood, only create susceptibility if they were extracted on purpose, others like milk and water always create susceptibility when they come into contact with dry food. So we donβt get a clear answer. Sages then look to the law of kilayim, which prohibits growing diverse kinds of food in the same plot of land. Thorns are normally a weed, not cultivated, so itβs ok if they grow in your vineyard. But in some parts of the world, thorns are cultivated as camel fodder. So if you live in a place where they raise camels, the law is different. Ultimately, even though some people keep pomegranates primarily for juicing, most donβt and one would have to specifically have in mind that his pomegranates are intended for juicing to render their incidental juice which seeps out on Shabbos prohibited. (Though perhaps, if most people in his region juiced theirs, he might have a different situation.)