I have seen a new type of egg slicer with 3 sections. One for slicing, one for wedges and one with a grid, about 5mm each square. It has a plastic container over the grid to catch the pieces. Its made especially for eggs. I can send a picture if it will help. Is it allowed to use the grid section on Shabbos? Many thanks

Shalom, Thank you for your question – a very interesting one indeed. The prohibition of grinding does not apply to food that does not grow from the ground. As such, there is no prohibition to “grind” eggs (or cheese etc). However, the Shulchan Aruch rules that it is forbidden to use a grater even for cheese (Orech Haim 321,10), as a grater is a implement used for grinding, and as such, even though there is no concept of “grinding” with cheese, it is forbidden to use the “weekday“ grater on Shabbat. The question in our case is “is an egg slicer a weekday grater”? The answer is no, for several reasons – firstly, it is only used for eggs, and not to do the labor of grinding food that grows from the ground (the grater used for the cheese would be the same grater used in the week for grating carrots etc). Secondly, the egg slicer does not really grate – it only slices, which according to many opinions is not forbidden as “grinding” even with food that grows from the ground. Lastly, some rabbis permit it because an egg slicer is not categorized as a “grinding tool” (such as a professional shop slicer / grater, or chiefs implement), but rather it is sometimes even bought to the table and used during the meal, like other cutlery. Obviously, the second reason would not apply with your new egg dicer – but would seem that the other two reasons would apply, and permit using it. Without having seen any other Rabbis ruling on this type of egg dicer, it seems to me that one may use it on Shabbat, as we generally rule based on lenient considerations when dealing with Rabbinic laws, such as this one. Blessings.