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.
2
votes
1answer
117 views
Why “Sim shalom” at mincha on Shabas?
Using an Israeli sidur (prayer book) nusach Ashk'naz recently, I saw that it had "Sim shalom" for mincha of Shabas (including Shabas yom tov, but not weekday yom tov), even though it had "Shalom rav" ...
6
votes
1answer
99 views
Is it permissible to be mechalel shabbos to save a fetus?
Is it muttar to set aside the rules of shabbos to save a fetus? If so, how is it possible to reconcile that with the permissibility of killing a fetus (abortion)?
4
votes
1answer
166 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
47 views
Splitting up the rosh chodesh reading when another follows it
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 684:3 says (in my own translation):
If rosh chodesh Teves comes out on Shabas, we remove three Torah scrolls, and six people read in the weekly section and one in that ...
6
votes
1answer
125 views
Askinu Seudasa and Azamer Bishvachin before Kiddush
There is a variety of placement in siddurim which include Askinu Seudasa and Azamer Bishvachin. Some (Tefila Yeshara, Artscroll if memory serves correctly) put both before Kiddush. Some (Tehilas ...
4
votes
2answers
137 views
Combing the beard on Shabbos vs. weekday?
It says here that
One is not allowed to use a comb on Shabbos to comb his hair because one will ultimately pull out hair while combing. This is forbidden even if one will only run through the ...
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
1answer
59 views
Product of Melachah that wasn't really necessary, except that in the end it was
If Melachah was performed on Shabbath, but it was not necessary for the enjoyment of the product of the Melachah, can that product be enjoyed? What if the Melachah was the result of some other ...
7
votes
3answers
81 views
Melachah on Shabbath - after Shabbath
If Melachah was done on Shabbath, can the product of that Melachah be enjoyed after Shabbath, and if so, under what criteria (does it depend on how long after Shabbath, or on the need, or something ...
5
votes
1answer
57 views
Uvah Letzion schedule on Shabbos
Why don't we say Uvah Letzion on Shabbos by Shacharis and say it by Mincha?
Moreover, we then commence to repeat it by Maariv. Why do we do that?
12
votes
2answers
263 views
Are you allowed to benefit from an electrical appliance turned on during shabbos?
If a jewish person were to accidentally turn on the light in their bedroom, or if the television were accidentally turned on (for these purposes, let's assume that the person in question woke up, ...
2
votes
1answer
206 views
Shaving on Rosh Chodesh when it is Erev Shabbos
Is one who has the minhag of Reb Yehuda Hachassid to not shave or take a haircut on rosh chodesh (as outlined in his will) allowed to shave and or take haircuts when Rosh Chodesh comes out on Erev ...
7
votes
1answer
84 views
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 ...
11
votes
2answers
251 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
votes
1answer
97 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. ...
9
votes
4answers
402 views
If the last day of Passover is Friday, may I eat chametz on the Shabbat right after?
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?
10
votes
1answer
131 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 ...
7
votes
4answers
165 views
Question on Rashi - Yisro 20:8
On the Posuk "Zochor Es Yom HaShabos L'Kadsho", Rashi says
תנו לב לזכור תמיד את יום השבת שאם נזדמן לו חלק יפה יהא מזמינו לשבת
(Take heart to remember the Shabbos - if you find something nice ...
11
votes
2answers
147 views
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 ...
9
votes
2answers
195 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
votes
2answers
318 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
votes
1answer
65 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
votes
1answer
129 views
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)?
4
votes
2answers
84 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?
6
votes
1answer
143 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
150 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 ...
10
votes
2answers
270 views
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
2answers
71 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
votes
0answers
89 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
107 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
224 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
275 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 ...
17
votes
5answers
1k 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
159 views
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 ...
12
votes
2answers
121 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?
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
234 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 ...
17
votes
1answer
259 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
votes
4answers
134 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
votes
1answer
161 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
1answer
140 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 ...
9
votes
2answers
166 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
209 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 ...
30
votes
4answers
654 views
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 ...
60
votes
3answers
2k views
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? ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views
Limitations of an Eruv
Are there any limitations to what you can carry or where you can carry within an eruv on Shabbat?
4
votes
2answers
146 views
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 ...
10
votes
1answer
627 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.
...
7
votes
2answers
309 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
211 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 ...