The seventh day of the week and a day of rest. Also use this tag for questions that apply equally to yom tov and shabbat. Shabbat (Hebrew: שַׁבָּת, Modern Shabbat Tiberian Šabbāṯ, Ashkenazi pronunciation: Shabbos, Yiddish: שבת [ʃabəs], in English: the Sabbath, "rest" or "cessation") is the ...
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Why is it ok to pay the kids for the afikoman?
Most Pesach sedarim feature the afikoman hide-and-seek game; either the children steal it and ransom it back or the parents hide it and (in my experience) pay a prize to the child who finds it. At ...
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30 views
Kindle Books and Lifnei Iver on Shabbas [closed]
Do you think that the reason why so few sifrei kodesh are accessible to be downloaded onto the Kindle is because the rabbis who write them want to discourage the public from owning kindles lest they ...
8
votes
2answers
72 views
Starbucks VIA on shabbat
Someone recently mentioned in a conversation about making/ not making tea on shabbat with a tea bag, that the Starbucks VIA coffee is micro-ground vs how ever regular instant coffee is made and that ...
4
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0answers
33 views
Processing an online payment - which will be processed on Shabbos
With my bank, when you process, online, a payment, it automatically goes out on the following day. If I authorize it on Friday they will send it on Saturday. I can also request any future date I want. ...
6
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3answers
99 views
Is it possible to eat chometz on the shabbos directly after Pesach?
This year 5772 the last day of Pesach in Israel is on Friday. Is there any possible way that one could contrive to eat chometz on the shabbos immediately following Pesach?
8
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1answer
64 views
Ana B'choach - Private prayer or Sing-Along song?
Many people have the custom to recite the prayer "Ana B'choach" after the initial six chapters of Tehillim said in Kabbalas Shabbos and before "Lecha Dodi". Based on the fact that it references ...
3
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2answers
56 views
Question on Rashi - Yisro 20:8
On the Posuk "Zochor Es Yom HaShabos L'Kadsho" Rashi says "Tenu Leiv Lizkor Tamid Es Yom HaShabbos She'Im Nizdamen Lecha Chaifetz Yafeh Tehei Mazmino L'Shabbos" (Beitzah 16). (take heart to remember ...
10
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2answers
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Gap zip up sweatshirt Kesivah on Shabbos?
Does zippering up a sweatshirt like this one, which when zippering causes the letter A to become a letter create a problem of Kesivah on Shabbos? Is an Old Navy sweatshirt where the word Old is on one ...
7
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2answers
47 views
Using an oven timer on Shabbas
This is my first post here.
I'm fairly familiar with cooking on Shabbat, but I have a few specific questions.
I know there are issues with using the warming setting on an oven to keep food warm. ...
12
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1answer
103 views
Bootstrapping problem: havdalah ends shabbat (for one who didn't daven ma'ariv) but lighting the candle is melacha?
This answer to a question about melacha before havdalah notes that in that situation one should say "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" first. Does that apply to lighting the havdalah candle? I ...
3
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1answer
37 views
Muktzeh found in drawer
If I am looking for something in a drawer on Shabbat and then find something muktzeh in that drawer, can I close the drawer?
4
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1answer
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Shabbos Shira - putting out bread for the birds
Is there a problem with putting out bread for birds on Shabbos (in a case where there is no carrying issues)?
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2answers
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Things not related to shabbat being muktzeh
This category of muktzeh objects seems very nebulous to me. Does it really include everything that is not directly related to shabbat?
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1answer
92 views
Cole slaw in the Cholent on Shabbos
In a discussion I overheard, I seem to understand that there is a Halachic Issue of mixing Coleslaw into the Cholent in my plate on Shabbos. I also heard, but it may be a separate topic, that the ...
3
votes
2answers
79 views
The number of Challot on Shabbat and salt
If my understanding is correct we use two Challot on Shabbat to represent the two portions of mana the Jews received in the desert of Friday to prevent them from having to collect on Shabbat. We use ...
9
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2answers
215 views
+400
Who didn't recite Kabbalas Shabbos?
In this article, R. Michael Broyde writes that:
Indeed, there have been prominent halachic authorities of the last generation who did not recite Kabbalat Shabbat.
Can anyone provide examples of ...
6
votes
1answer
24 views
Kiddush BeRov 'Am
Does BeRov 'Am Hadrath Melech (the King's glory is in the multitudes, ie., the more people praise HaShem together, the more glorious it is for Him) apply to making Kiddush? I've heard it said so ...
4
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0answers
44 views
On a boat in the Arctic Circle [closed]
I and my wife will be spending Shabbat Hagadol (this year the 31st of March) on a ship. The evening before the ship will be leaving one of the more northern ports of Norway, and navigating through ...
4
votes
2answers
69 views
Opening bottles and creating a Keli on Shabbath
Does opening a new bottle create a new Keli, such that it would be prohibited on Shabbath?
(I personally don't think so for a few reasons. However, someone posted this question a little while ago ...
7
votes
3answers
101 views
Tzur MiShelo - Should you sing it before Bentching?
The song "Tzur MiShelo", generally printed in Bentchers, Siddurim, Zimronim, etc., as a Friday night song, follows the pattern of Bentching (grace after meals), praising G-d and praying for ...
10
votes
2answers
70 views
40 minutes offset for candle lighting?
Several Zmanim apps are giving a choice on my "candle lighting offset". The default here is 40 minutes instead of the usual 18 minutes I've heard.
Why 40? Why do I even have a choice?
Does the fact ...
15
votes
3answers
513 views
Is it a discouraged or an unacceptable practice for a Gentile to keep the Sabbath?
According to Jewish Law and tradition, is it acceptable, discouraged or totally unacceptable for a Gentile to keep the Sabbath according to the regulations spelled out in the Torah and the Talmud and ...
5
votes
1answer
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3 year olds lighting a shabbat candle
When my eldest turned three her male cousin also turned three. Many of her friends and her cousin were getting Tzitzit. She asked for her own. We explained that boys wear TzitTzit and girls light ...
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2answers
80 views
The custom of adding a candle for each child
Many people, including myself, added or will add a candle on Friday night for each child that is born. Where and when did this custom originate?
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1answer
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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 ...
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votes
1answer
71 views
Coffee Urns on Shabbos
I've heard that there is a dispute among poskim if one is allowed to use such an urn on Shabbos (also here)
as the outside water tube gets cold over Shabbos. Both sides agree that "Yesh bishul achar ...
13
votes
1answer
169 views
Setting aside Shabbat to answer the President's call
In an old MSNBC news story about Jack Lew, a Shabbat-observant Jew who was just appointed to be the new White House Chief of Staff, there's a story about his getting a call from President Clinton when ...
4
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4answers
84 views
Tcheiles on Shabbos
In the response to List of Techelet Wearers it mentions a few Gedolim that wear Tzitzis of Techeiles on Shabbos only. Why would there be a difference between Shabbos and the rest of the week?
6
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1answer
60 views
How long until a bean chulent is totally cooked (mevushal kol tzorko)?
My son has started raiding the chulent Friday night. To be able to return the chulent crock pot back to the casing, everything must be fully cooked. I rarely cook with beans, but would like to try ...
3
votes
2answers
95 views
Are there any Halachic issues with regard to wearing earmuffs outside on Shabbos?
Does wearing earmuffs outside on Shabbos (without an eruv) constitute "carrying"? Are there any other issues with it, like wearing gloves where there is a concern that one might take them off?
Do ...
8
votes
2answers
80 views
Wearing a gold watch on shabbos without an eiruv
The halocho is a person may wear jewellery in the street on shabbos without an eiruv provided the reason why he is wearing it is for the adornment of it and not some other use. Therefore the poskim ...
7
votes
2answers
106 views
What are the issues with wearing gloves on Shabbos?
I know that there are differing opinions on wearing gloves outside on Shabbos, and whether that constitutes carrying, or may lead to carrying. So, what are the halachic problems/concerns with wearing ...
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4answers
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How do we know that the civil Saturday is the correct Shabbat?
Disclaimer: I am not a religious Jew, this question is only out of curiosity.
I understand that observant Jews observe Shabbat from Friday night to Saturday. And from this question and this it seems ...
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3answers
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Implications of Samoa skipping a Friday
This week, the island of Samoa is switching time zones, causing it to skip from Thursday directly to Saturday. Out of simple curiosity, what implications might this have on any Jews on the island? ...
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1answer
53 views
Limitations of an Eruv
Are there any limitations to what you can carry or where you can carry within an eruv on Shabbat?
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2answers
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What does “aerosol” have to do with spitting in the wind, or winnowing?
In this answer over here it is explained, that a "question" comes up with aerosol cans, based on a gemora which asks if spitting in the wind counts as winnowing.
Now, the spitting in the wind case ...
8
votes
1answer
115 views
Using a plata on Shabbat
I have a plata--an electric warming tray that does not have knobs or adjustments. I can leave it plugged in throughout Shabbat. I want to use it correctly when I have guests and to up my observance.
...
6
votes
2answers
173 views
Is there any issue with using aerosols on Shabbos?
I've heard from many people that you shouldn't use aerosols (such as air fresheners, disinfectants or deodorants) on shabbos, usually citing some vague reason of changing the form from liquid to gas, ...
3
votes
2answers
97 views
Bameh Madlikin grammar
In congregations that daven with Nusach Ashkenaz, the Friday night Maariv is preceded with a recitation of Mishnayos beginning with the words: Bameh madlikin u'vamoh ain madlikin...
I always wondered ...
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0answers
35 views
Theoretically speaking, would a Dreidle be Muqse on Shabbat? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Are dreidels muktzah?
Would there be any problem with Dreidels on Shabbat? I discussed it with some people and we couldn't find any Halachic issues with it.
14
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2answers
108 views
Why can't electricity be manipulated on Shabbat?
Why can't we use and change electricity on Shabbat and YomTov? By this I mean why can't we turn on and off lights...?
I'v heard Rabbis say that its because you can't complete a circuit on Shabbat, ...
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votes
0answers
41 views
Is it permissible to use free public transport on Shabbat? [closed]
Possible Duplicate:
Riding the Subway on Shabbat
Under the following conditions:
One is not required to pay for public transport
The transport is operating (stopping, starting, driving) ...
14
votes
1answer
135 views
Riding the Subway on Shabbat
Assuming that there are no problems regarding paying for it (either you entered the system before Shabbat, or a non-Jew paid for you):
What are the halakhic issue with riding the subway on Shabbat? ...
7
votes
1answer
79 views
Fighting Wars on Shabbat
As I mentioned in another question, I was reading the Book of Maccabees over Shabbat (I and II).
In the book of Maccabees, it mentions that early on in the struggle, there were a group of Jews hiding ...
5
votes
1answer
45 views
Muktzeh MeḤamath Ḥisaron Kis - Parameters?
Muktzeh MeḤamath Ḥisaron Kis is a category of Muktzeh that one is prohibited from moving on Shabbath because the item is so valuable that one is afraid to lose or damage it.
What are the parameters ...
4
votes
2answers
101 views
Can you leave video chat on over Shabbos?
Basically:
Can you leave your computer with video chat on (to another person) on over shabbos? And what if there's also audio?
For example a relative in the hospital, relatives that in a far away ...
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votes
2answers
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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?
4
votes
2answers
99 views
Is one allowed to fold the corner of a book on Shabbos?
An easy way to keep a bookmark is to fold the upper-right corner of a book (aka Dog ears)
Is such an action permitted on Shabbos?
5
votes
2answers
89 views
Source for the concept of learning 1 hour on Shabbat is like 1000 during the week?
There is a Benayahu on Taanit 11a I think that may hint to this, but not clear enough. Is there an actual source for "1 hour learning on shabbat is like 1000 hours during the week"?
3
votes
1answer
74 views
Is drawing a line with a crayon forbidden on Shabbat?
There are board games that involve using a crayon to draw lines (not letters or figures) on a board (e.g. EuroRails). Are these activities problematic on Shabbat? There are two aspects: the drawing ...
