Commonly refers to acts of labor that are forbidden on Shabbos/Yom Tov.
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Is it permissable to use an umbrella on Shabbat?
Assuming you're inside an Eruv, so there's no issue of carrying.
If it is not permissible, then why is it prohibited?
Follow-up question: What about other things that fold, like strollers, portable ...
4
votes
3answers
61 views
Why are Milochos based on the construction of the Mishkan?
If we were to receive all the laws for shabbos at Sinai why then is it the Mishkan to where we direct our attention when it comes to classifying all the things we cannot do on Shabbos? Wasn't the ...
0
votes
3answers
112 views
What is considered work on the sabath?
I was reading about sabbath observances in modern practice and I found a lot of caution and effort is expended to not work: like, even switching on the lights or lifting things could be considered as ...
4
votes
1answer
93 views
Why do all people disappear on Saturday at mi.yodeya, is this considered work?
I understand Saturday is sabath but mi.yodeya is a site for jewish learning and nothing related to work , so why do people disappear from here on Saturdays? Does answering questions or questing etc ...
3
votes
1answer
43 views
Someone who keeps one day Yom Tov Cooking on Chol HaMoed for someone else's Yom Tov Sheini
It says in SA OC Siman 539 Sif 11 (in the Rema) that one may buy things on Chol HaMoed that are needed for the Yom Tov Sheini (of the last days of Yom Tov), which is rabbinic in nature for those ...
8
votes
1answer
226 views
Cocktail mixing (shaking & straining) on Shabbos
Is one allowed to use a shaker to strain an alcoholic drink on Shabbos? I have been told that it is mutar to use a pitcher with an ice guard on Shabbos, but I do not know the reason why this is not ...
3
votes
0answers
45 views
Going to lectures with overhead projector on shabbat
Is attending public lectures (and looking at the screen) permissible on the Sabbat? Information from a computer is projected onto a movie screen and the lecturer may be using a microphone. The ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Are you permitted to weigh Maror on Pesach night?
Are you permitted to use a mechanical scale to weigh the correct Shiur of Maror on Seder night?
1
vote
2answers
120 views
Opening a fridge on Shabbat
There are many problems with using electricity on Shabbat, and many ways to understand those problems. The issue of using a fridge is especially problematic (as explained in depth by Rav Nissan Kaplan ...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Making bedikas chometz early — ossur in malacha, eating, learning?
When someone leaves their home within 30 days of Pesach without someone to be bodek it from chometz, they themselves have to be bodek it early (See Siman 436.) In the normal case of bedikas chometz ...
6
votes
0answers
96 views
Which types of light bulbs are 'only' an issur d'rabbanan to activate on Shabbat
I'd be very interested to know if anyone has definitive advice on which types of light bulbs are considered an issur d'rabbanan (Rabbinic prohibition) vs an issur d'oraita (Torah prohibition) to turn ...
6
votes
1answer
72 views
Is it permitted to use a thermochromic cup on Shabbos?
A novelty cup, see for example here, appears black when cold. When hot liquid is poured into it, the black changes to white and the previously concealed writing (underneath, so to speak) becomes ...
2
votes
0answers
57 views
How does one own and operate a hotel on Shabbat?
Assume we're talking about a hotel that is open every day of the year. How does someone own and operate a hotel while still keeping the laws of Shabbat?
Are there sources that discuss this?
An ...
3
votes
0answers
74 views
How to respond to a non-Jew who asks to shovel your snow on shabbos?
If a non-Jew asks if he may shovel your snow on shabbos what is the proper halachic response? Does it make a difference if he is asking to do this for pay (not previously arranged before shabbos)?
3
votes
1answer
66 views
Refilling a saltshaker on Shabbos
This past Shabbos I was at a house and the saltshaker was empty. I went to refill the saltshaker and a fellow told me I can not reseal the cover as it is considered a Toldah of Boneh. Is this accurate ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
Cutting pills on Shabbos
Assuming your rabbi already permits you to take medicine on Shabbos for a serious chronic disease. If your doctor increases your dosage by half a pill, and the pill is already pre-scored to make it ...
14
votes
3answers
201 views
Can I cause a Melacha to happen in a place where Shabbat has already started?
For example, if I live in New York, could I send a fax (causing the machine to print a document) to Israel on Friday afternoon, before it is Shabbat for me, but after Shabbat has started there?
1
vote
0answers
53 views
Typing on Shabbos
If one would type on a computer on Shabbos would he be ovar an issur d'oraisa in regards to the malacha of writing? (The other malachos involved aside for a moment.)
Is there any room to say this ...
6
votes
1answer
54 views
What if you undo a shabbat melacha?
If you plant a seed shortly before the end of shabbat (zoraya) and then un-bury it after shabbat, or you put an uncooked food into an oven and then take it out within seconds without it having baked ...
1
vote
5answers
543 views
Is using the internet on Shabbat against melachos?
Is it against melachos to look at the internet during Shabbat? How can you interpret the Melachos to apply to the 21st century? Is there a difference between looking at the internet for purely ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Does “burning” water fall under the Av Melachah of “bishul” on Shabbos?
If water that falls onto a hot plate on Shabbos immediately "burns" up and evaporates, does this fall under the Av Melachah of bishul? (The pracitical application of this I want to leave aside. ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
Reboiling water and reheating chulent on shabbos [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Blackout restoration on Shabbath - and your food
Last night, after we had all gone to sleep, there was a power outage. From reports in the community, it seems that the ...
13
votes
3answers
162 views
Using Post-its on Shabbos
Is one permitted on Shabbos to use post-it notes or adhesive page flags to mark content in a book for future reference after Shabbos? Would there be an issue with the adhesive or leaving the page ...
2
votes
3answers
120 views
Can I light a new fire on yom tov?
If I can transfer a fire, can I light a new fire on yom tov? What's the difference between lighting a new fire and transferring a fire? Aren't they part of the same melacha?? The melacha is to create ...
2
votes
1answer
101 views
Borer and Grinding on Yom Tov - and other Melachoth that are Ochel Nefesh
Which Melachoth are prohibited on Shabbath but are permissible to perform on Yom Tov because of the exception of Ochel Nefesh? Famously, cooking and carrying in the public domain are allowed, yet ...
14
votes
5answers
993 views
Is using a Kindle on Shabbat permitted?
A Kindle is an e-book reader that uses "e-ink" rather than an LCD screen. It has physical controls to turn pages. If left unused it enters a sleep mode, and you can return to reading by moving a ...
8
votes
4answers
390 views
What's the deal with showering on yom tov?
What's the deal with showering on yom tov?
I am asking not about shabbos, but specifically about yom tov.
5
votes
1answer
107 views
Inflatable Mattress on Shabbos
Is one allowed to pump air into an inflatable mattress on Shabbos? Is this a problem of tikkun cli, makeh b'patish, etc? (Or any other problem.) What about if the mattress was inflated Erev Shabbos ...
8
votes
2answers
238 views
Non-Yemenites who heat up soup after the start of Shabbat?
The most widely held practice regarding heating up liquids on Shabbat is that it is prohibited, though there are differences of practice between Ashkenazim and Sephardim regarding sauces and such ...
7
votes
2answers
165 views
10th man drove to shul on shabbat
If one of precisely ten men, who form a minyan, had driven to shul (the synagogue) on shabbat, is that an acceptable minyan?
I would have though not, since one is benefiting from his melacha on ...
8
votes
1answer
212 views
Shaking a no-battery flashlight on Shabbos
What is the problem with shaking one of the no battery/shaking flashlights which is on on shabbos?
4
votes
3answers
196 views
Why is braiding hair “building”?
The gemarah in niddah (45) says that when the torah says that God "built" Eve out of the bone of Adam what actually happened is that God braided Eve's hair and presented her to Adam as a wife. This is ...
14
votes
3answers
209 views
May a Katan (minor) perform Melachah (“work”) on Shabbath?
In my experience, I've noticed that many people take for granted that if one needs a Melachah to be performed on Shabbath, one may have a minor, especially one under the age of 3, perform what is ...
5
votes
2answers
175 views
Why is squeezing a ketchup bottle on Shabbos not considered Dosh (Melechet Dash)?
Why is squeezing a ketchup bottle on Shabbos not considered Dosh (Melechet Dash)?
2
votes
1answer
95 views
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Delousing on Shabbat (- Mishna, Shabbat 1:3)
In the Mishna, Shabbat 1:3, it states (amongst other things) that one should not delouse one's garments by candlelight on Shabbat (ולא יפלה את כליו... לאור הנר). The following mishna, however, states ...
6
votes
1answer
71 views
Can you destroy a spider web on Shabbos?
Can you destroy a spider web on shabbos if you simply do not want it around (you consider it unseemly)?
7
votes
1answer
71 views
Heating non-food items on Shabbath
Is it permissible to heat non-food items on Shabbath? Assume the method of heating is to use an existing heat source (a blech, or the top of a crockpot or hot water urn).
Would it matter if it is ...
5
votes
1answer
156 views
Is one allowed to cut olives or grapes on Shabbos?
On shabbos, it is a biblical prohibition squeeze olives or grapes specifically for their juices, though one may squeeze them if the juices are used directly to enhance a solid food.
As an additional ...
4
votes
1answer
147 views
Ice-cream scoop on Shabbos
Is there anything wrong with using an ice-cream scoop to dish ice-cream on Shabbat? I have been told in the name of a Rebbetzin that you can't.
8
votes
1answer
107 views
Making a origami creation on shabbos?
Would it be a violation of one of the thirty-nine melachos if someone made a paper airplane or made origami creation on shabbos? (And I know a melacha is loosely translated as "creative work".)
7
votes
5answers
275 views
malacha from child
is one allowed to ask a child to do a malacha of shabbos? does your answer also apply to a non-Jew?
6
votes
1answer
136 views
Should separating pull apart Challah rolls be considered a forbidden act of completion?
I have heard many people state that using Challah* rolls that are baked in one unit to be pulled apart might be a problem for making Leḥem** Mishneh on Shabbath. In fact, there are rolls that are sold ...
4
votes
1answer
171 views
Boiling over a pot to extinguish burners on Yom Tov?
Generally, on Yom Tov one is allowed to light a gas burner (using a pre-existing flame), but is not allowed to turn off the gas burner. This is because one may light a fire on Yom Tov, but not ...
0
votes
0answers
75 views
answering questions on mi.yodeya on Chol Hamoed [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Typing on Chol Hamoed
Is answering questions on mi.yodeya.com considered working therby making it assur to go on the website on chol hamod
11
votes
2answers
307 views
Why does writing on Shabbos need two letters?
In order to transgress "writing" (כותב) on Shabbos, (m'd'oraysah) one must write two letters. (See for example here.)
Why is this so? Shouldn't writing anything still be considered writing?
For ...
9
votes
1answer
107 views
Tzoveah on Shabbos
It is going to sound strange but here is the question In the toilet there are these blue things that clean your bathroom with every flush by adding bleach hence it colors the water blue every time you ...
11
votes
3answers
423 views
Inviting a non-observant Jew on Shabbat or Yom Tov
Can I invite a Jew for a meal on Shabbat or Yom Tov if I know they will drive to my house?
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Deliberately planning to do work for the community on Chol HaMoed: Is it allowed?
We are setting up a new (money) Gemach. To register as a charity, a bank account is now needed. We were told of this on Thursday around noon. We were unable (too busy getting ready for Yom Tov) to get ...
6
votes
1answer
131 views
Melacha on Shabbat - At which stage of removal does something become legal?
I had heard of something relating to melacha on Shabbat from an (orthodox!) rabbi who mentioned something really interesting. At a certain level of removal, one can indirectly perform melacha. It was ...
