Avi sulski asked:
Is it permitted to use a grinder of pepper corns on Yom Tov - or Shabbat?
Avi sulski, Efrat,Israel
The Kollel replies:
Tosfos in Beitzah 14a (DH Ika) explains that the Chachamim on 23a hold that grinding pepper in a peppper grinder is considered an Uvdin d'Chol and is therefore prohibited on Shabbos and Yom Tov. This is also the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch (OC 504:1). The Mishnah Berurah (Bi'ur Halachah DH v'Ein) quotes the Rashbah who says that grinding pepper in a pepper grinder is considered Tochen.
Dov Freedman