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.
9
votes
2answers
251 views
Latest shabbat not longest day…?
I was under the impression that the longest day was June 22nd, and yet, year after year- the latest time for candle lighting takes place about a week and a half after that. Intuitively, the latest ...
7
votes
3answers
232 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
213 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 ...
7
votes
4answers
292 views
How does salt “add heat” (mishna in Shabbos 4(1))
The mishna in Shabbos 4(1) tells us which materials may not be used to insulate foods for Shabbos because they "add heat". One of these materials is salt. Can anyone explain how salt can add heat ...
7
votes
2answers
258 views
Is it actually forbidden to push a wheelchair outside of an eruv on Shabbat?
I have heard opinions varying wildly on the subject and am trying to make sense of them halachically. Is it illegal on Shabbat to push someone in a wheelchair, let's say, from their home to synagogue ...
7
votes
2answers
239 views
Drinking Water During “Shalosh Seudos”
Someone told me that one is not allowed to drink plain water during the third meal of Shabbos (Seudah Shelishit). (or at least that there is a minhag not to).
Is this true? And if so, what is the ...
7
votes
5answers
327 views
Will rabbis allow brainy Shabbat driving?
Saw this news story a few days ago about a car being driven with just thought, using a special cap with sensors.
http://www.jpost.com/Sci-Tech/Article.aspx?id=215704
To me this still seems entirely ...
7
votes
4answers
436 views
Lecha Dodi (לכה דודי) - Last Stanza
At Boi Veshalom (in Lecha Dodi), we turn around to greet the Shabbos queen. Firstly, to which direction are we supposed to turn? Is it towards the door of the synagogue, always to the rear of the ...
7
votes
5answers
308 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?
7
votes
1answer
907 views
Puzzles on Shabbat
Is it permitted to put together puzzles on Shabbat with children?
Does it matter what kind of puzzle it is (jigsaw vs. fit the piece in the wooden hole)?
Does it matter if there are words on the ...
6
votes
1answer
61 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
96 views
Presents on shabbas
Can one give a present on shabbas? If the answer is no, then how does it work when one eats by someones house the food one gets is a present (it is changing reshus). Sources please.
6
votes
1answer
154 views
Shema in Musaf Kedushah - Source and reason
I grew up on the Birnbaum siddur, I admit it. I read the little explanations at the bottom of the page over and over. Later, I bought a set of Artscroll machzorim and used those on Rosh Hashana and ...
6
votes
2answers
72 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
138 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
93 views
Ask a friend to carry on Shabbos
Suppose there are two friends: one holds of the eiruv and the other doesn't. Is the second allowed to ask the first to carry for him?
And if the first anyways carried it, can the second benefit from ...
6
votes
2answers
354 views
Where does the concept of a Kli Shlishi come from?
When it comes to cooking on Shabbos, most people hold that things that are not allowed to be put in a Kli Sheni (a vessel once removed from the vessel that was on the fire) because it is considered ...
6
votes
2answers
92 views
Keychain with muktzeh items (e.g. usb)
This has been asked in the past with regard to a muktzeh key, and i was uncertain if it would be the same with something like a usb. If i have a keychain with a usb on it that i wear week round, come ...
6
votes
1answer
197 views
Tefillin On Shabbos
Why do we not put on Tefillin on Shabbos?
Why is one not allowed to put on Tefillin on Shabbos?
And similarly, why is Tefillin Muktzah?
6
votes
6answers
145 views
Number of Candles at Lighting
How many candles should one light on Erev Shabbos and Yom Tov? And why that number?
6
votes
1answer
255 views
If no one else was available, could a mohel ride a bicycle on shabbos to perform a circumcision?
If a healthy baby boy's eighth day of life is on a Saturday, that's the day his bris milah / circumcision should be performed if at all possible. While elective surgeries are prohibited on Shabbos, ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Candle Lighting Time: Why Then?
Why 18 minutes (or other minhagim). Where did these numbers come from?
5
votes
0answers
74 views
What constitutes a shinui?
I was recently taught the concept of a shinui to be "something done in a way that is unusual compared to the norm in one's area of residence", with respect to the permissibility of actions done on ...
5
votes
2answers
231 views
If my home is on fire on Shabbos or Yom Tov, what can I do?
G-d forbid, but let's say that my house catches fire either on Shabbos or a Yom Tov. Can I call 911 or must I find a non-Jewish neighbor to call? We have an eruv. Can I take my car keys, cell phone ...
5
votes
1answer
57 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 ...
5
votes
1answer
357 views
Husband lighting Shabbat candles
If my wife is out of the country for an extended trip, am I required to light Shabbat candles in the house if I am home alone? Does it matter how long she is going to be away? Or that the time ...
5
votes
4answers
329 views
Reading a newspaper on Shabbat
Is there any issues with reading a newspaper on Shabbat? Assuming you are not carrying the paper into the house without an eruv, I seem to remember hearing that you can not read a Saturday newspaper ...
5
votes
2answers
118 views
Saying Yekum Purkan after the Minyan is already up to Av HaRachamim or Ashrei
The Halacha is that a individual not Davening with a Minyan does not say Yekum Purkan. Suppose you are in Shul and for some reason the Chazan finished Yekum Purkan and is already up to Av HaRachamim ...
5
votes
0answers
98 views
Pre-Havdalah Melacha [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Bootstrapping problem: havdalah ends shabbat (for one who didn't daven ma'ariv) but lighting the candle is melacha?
After nightfall before Marriv, or after ...
4
votes
1answer
52 views
Placing a unattached plastic over the stroller on Shabbos / Yom Tov
According to Rabbi Dovid Ostroff Shlita
The Rama in Hilchos Succah 626:3 says that one is permitted to open
and shut hinged flaps that are used for covering the Succah when
raining. The ...
4
votes
0answers
93 views
Using a cell phone as a watch on Shabbos
I seem to recall learning that it is permissible to use a cell phone as a watch on Shabbos as long as the time is always displayed on the front and no buttons would need to be pressed in order to ...
4
votes
0answers
39 views
Is Juneau, Alaska — surrounded by natural barriers — a natural eruv
I recently visited Juneau, Alaska. It is a small city of 35,000. The city limits are quite large, however -- 3,225 square miles -- but much of this area is separated from downtown Juneau on Douglas ...
4
votes
3answers
147 views
Is it allowed to prepare for maariv after Shabbos during the rabbinic tosefes Shabbos?
The time to daven maariv on Motzoei Shabbos is some period (where I am it’s around 15 minutes) after the stars come out. This period is called tosefes Shabbos.
In many shuls, the shaliach tzibbur ...
4
votes
3answers
213 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
153 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.
4
votes
1answer
170 views
Shir Hashirim - when there is no Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach
Usually Shir HaShirim is said on Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach. This year where there is no Shabbos Chol Hamoed the Minhag in Chutz L'Aretz is to read it on Shabbos Achron Shel Pesach. In Eretz Yisroel ...
4
votes
1answer
205 views
In Israel, what do you do if Isru Chag of Pesach is on Shabbat?
In Israel, if Isru Chag of Pesach is on Shabbat, when do people reacquire their chametz that they sold on Pesach? Do they acquire it retroactively after the holiday is over, OR do they not acquire it ...
4
votes
2answers
87 views
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?
4
votes
3answers
150 views
Who is the object in Lecha Dodi?
The chorus and multiple verses of Lecha Dodi address a female second person - "Beloved." Who is it?
In the final verse, the object is presumably the Shabbat Queen, since we end with "Come O Bride! ...
4
votes
2answers
146 views
How do Shabbos mode scooters work?
Related to a question about shabbos and yom tov mode stoves I wonder about shabbos mode powered scooters. I recall seeing them advertised in the Jewish newspapers.
How do they work, in terms of ...
4
votes
2answers
228 views
Can I use a Parabolic Mirror or Fresnel Lens to cook on Shabbat?
Shabbat 39a discusses cooking on Shabbat using the sun. It is permitted to roll an egg on a hot roof to cook it since this is not a typical way to cook, but you can't burry it in sun-heated-sand ...
4
votes
0answers
146 views
Using Liquor for Kiddush [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Minimum Shi'ur for Kiddush on liquor
Are you allowed to use other alcohols outside of wine for kiddush and how much must be used? really what i don't understand is ...
4
votes
3answers
305 views
Where is the Sambatyon?
Where is the Sambatyon? Is there really a river somewhere that throws stones all week and rests on Shabbos?
3
votes
1answer
94 views
What does “שבת היא מלזעוק” refer to?
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 287:
יכולים לנחם אבלים בשבת וכן יכולים לבקר את החולה ולא יאמר לו כדרך שאומר לו בחול אלא אומר לו שבת היא מלזעוק ורפואה קרובה לבא ורחמיו מרובים ושבתו בשלום הגה וי״א דאין ...
3
votes
0answers
48 views
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone of suffering?
Is it ever permissible to break Shabbos in order to relieve someone (a human or an animal) of suffering? I am talking about excruciating suffering, not merely discomfort, and I am not talking about ...
3
votes
2answers
214 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
Theoretically speaking, would a Dreidle be Muqse on Shabbat? [duplicate]
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.
3
votes
2answers
130 views
Is one allowed to chew gum on Shabbos without an Eiruv?
If food is in my hand, I would assume I'm not allowed to carry it. What about, though, if it's in my mouth? For example: chewing gum or sucking a candy.
Would those be permissible outside where ...
3
votes
2answers
228 views
Shabbat restrictions in the Army
Are there any Shabbat restrictions in the army during basic training? If this is only basic training and not war-time is this still considered pekuach-nefesh?
3
votes
1answer
93 views
