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.
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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 ...
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3answers
333 views
Making Kiddush/Havdalah Twice
Is it okay to say kiddush or havdalah twice in order to be Motzi someone else (e.g. wife)?
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2answers
91 views
Why do we “bentch” Rosh Chodesh the Shabbos before?
On the Shabbosim before Rosh Chodesh we "Bench" the new month between Shacharis and Mussaf (like here).
Why do we do this? What's the source for it?
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6answers
544 views
Why do we link Shabbat with the Exodus from Egypt?
My four-year-old son asked me this right after Kiddush on Friday night (more or less verbatim):
Why do you say "Mitzrayim" in Kiddush every week? "Mitzrayim" is a Pesach word!
In other words, ...
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4answers
439 views
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4answers
69 views
How to care about the molad
I have read the great answers to Purpose of announcing Molad and understood that the halakhic reason to know the molad is to know what the Sanhedrin would know when they declared a new month.
But ...
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1answer
136 views
Why don't we read from 2 torahs on every shabbat?
The maftir for many holidays, from the second sefer, has to do with the korban musaf of that day. But shabbat is a "holiday" and there is definitely a korban hayom as evidenced by its inclusion in our ...
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1answer
337 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 ...
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1answer
686 views
Doctors working on Shabbat
What are some general guidelines regarding the halakhic permissibility for Jewish doctors to work on Shabbat? I know that saving lives generally overrides Shabbat, but I am curious about less ...
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2answers
65 views
Are there any eruvs that include both sides of a US Interstate Highway?
Are there any eruvs that include both sides of a US Interstate Highway?
I assumed this was halachically and/or logistically impossible. Is that correct? Can anyone prove this wrong by (groan) ...
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votes
2answers
119 views
Is glow in the dark Jewelry muktzeh?
Is a glow in the dark necklace or bracelet muktzeh? Would any action I needed to take matter if I was already wearing it before Shabbat started?
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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 ...
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3answers
436 views
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1answer
192 views
First trip to the synagogue! Tips and advice please!
I am preparing for my first trip to a synagogue after the High Holy Days.
My first visit will be to a Modern Orthodox Synagogue. I have interacted with the Rabbi by email and we will be meeting ...
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1answer
133 views
Is it prohibited to ride public transport that also operates on Shabbat
In Israel, most public transport shuts down on Shabbat.
If it did operate on Sabbath, perhaps by non Jews, would it be permissable for Jews to use it on weekdays?
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2answers
124 views
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2answers
209 views
Challah Loaves on Shabbat have a minimum size?
In this article regarding the Shabbat Challah loaves, The Shmirat Shabbat KeHilchata (vol. II 55:5) is quoted as saying:
The loaves must each be at least the size of an olive
Normally, the size ...
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votes
2answers
139 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?
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2answers
135 views
Am I allowed to wear a towel as a belt/scarf outside an Eiruv on Shabbos?
Many Mikvas do not provide towels for attendees, and require that people who go bring their own towels. If there is no Eiruv, one cannot carry it in a normal way, so many people "wear" it as a ...
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1answer
61 views
Reciting Boruch Dayan HaEmes on Shabbos
If someone's parent dies, one must recite Boruch Dayan HaEmes. What happens if this occurs on Shabbos? Is the customary Boruch Dayan HaEmes recited or not?
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4answers
209 views
Does anyone permit Shehiya to a gas oven/stove without a blech?
Anyone who has made a fire in their fireplace, especially Erev Shabbos for Leil Shabbos, can appreciate the issue of shema yechate b'gechalim as the fuel dies down (and their supper was not yet ...
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1answer
174 views
Moving muktza garbage cans?
Help! It's Shabbos and the wind is blowing my garbage cans halfway down the block! I know they're muktza, so I can't move them. What can I do?
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2answers
85 views
Number of Yamim Tovim that fall on Shabbos
In a given year, a certain number of Yamim Tovim days fall on Shabbos, and a certain number not. What are the minimum and maximum count of Yamim Tovim days that can fall on Shabbos in a single year ...
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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 ...
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1answer
108 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 ...
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3answers
163 views
Moving Fans on Shabbos
Is one allowed to move a working electrical fan on Shabbos, or is this a problem of Muktzah?
I would hope an answer cover:
If there's a difference between moving a fan so that it blows towards the ...
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votes
1answer
190 views
Shabbat in the arctic
If I were to travel to Barrow, Alaska in the summer, when there is no sunset, when should I light the Shabbat candles?
(This is not a hypothetical question; I work remotely for an Alaskan corporation ...
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1answer
178 views
How does “shabbat speech-reinforcement” work?
How does the technology for shabas-compliant voice amplification referred to on this architecture firm's website work? Is it different technically from a regular microphone setup or is the distinction ...
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votes
1answer
131 views
Muktzeh Meat- WHAT TO DO?
What can I do if....
Meat fell out of the Freezer and I want to put it back on Shabbos?
I have Ice cream or any other food like frozen Challah that I Need for Shalosh Sudos in Back of the freezer ...
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votes
1answer
158 views
Are “Cholent Eggs” Fleishig?
A "Cholent Egg" is a whole egg (w/ the shell) that is left in the Chulent overnight. So does the shell protect it, or does it still get Fleishig status?
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2answers
338 views
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156 views
Leaving your store open on Shabbos
If you leave your store open on shabbos for your non-jewish or non-observant workers to run, and you don't make any money from it (give all profits to workers) is that ok?
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2answers
124 views
Firefighting on shabbat
Is one allowed to be a firefighter if he might be required to work on Shabbat? or is he allowed to, in order to save lives?
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1answer
58 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?
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1answer
55 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 ...
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2answers
95 views
How often is it neccessary to check the strings of an Eruv?
If you have an Eruv Chatzeros for carrying, how often is it necessary to check it to make sure that it is properly strung and you can still carry on Shabbos?
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2answers
102 views
“גוט שבת, גוט שבת”
My father, passing someone on the street on שבת, says "גוט שבת, גוט שבת" (Yiddish, "good sabbath, good sabbath"): that is, he repeats himself. I thought it might be his own idio-custom — until I ...
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votes
2answers
177 views
Cold-brew coffee on Shabbos
One can make coffee by soaking grounds in cold water for an extended period.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_brew
Is it permissible to start the process on Shabbat, or if not, to start it ...
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votes
2answers
72 views
On Shabbos: Shaking basket with fruits and rock, why not borer (selecting)?
It says in SA OC Siman 309 Sif 3 that on Shabbos if one wants to carry a basket that has in it fruits for the purpose of the fruits themselves if there is a rock inside of the basket as well one must ...
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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 ...
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votes
1answer
106 views
Fasting on Erev Shabbos/Yom Tov
Is it permitted to fast on Erev Shabbos or Erev Yom Tov? I've heard about people taking on fasts until chatzos, but no later. What is the halacha on this?
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1answer
145 views
Putting a talis on during Shabas mincha
Why (in some synagogues) does the shatz (leader) put on the talis during mincha of Shabas, before "Vaani s'filasi", rather than before the start of mincha?
As Gershon Gold notes in his answer, Shaare ...
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5answers
239 views
Shir Hashirim on Shabbos Chol Hamoed
Why is it we read Shir Hashirim on Shabbbos Chol Hamoed Pesach?
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1answer
118 views
Ben Drosai - what was his Zechus?
Gemara Shabbos 20a and in other locations mentions
כמאכל
בן דרוסאי
Rashi explains that Ben Drosai was a thief who ate his food when it was only cooked 1/3. Did Ben Drosai have some sort of Zechus ...
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1answer
74 views
Shalosh Seudos on Friday Night
Is there anything wrong with having the third meal on Friday night instead of the following day (i.e. two on friday night and one the next day)? Is one still yotzei 3 Seudos?
This would be especially ...
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1answer
201 views
Extracting water from carpet on Shabbos
On Shabbos, a container of water spilled on my carpet. Conventional wisdom is to throw baking soda on the wet area to soak up the liquid to protect the carpet from odors (I don't know if it actually ...
5
votes
1answer
61 views
If no-one went to synagogue on Friday night, do the people at home sing “Sholom Aleichem”?
The Ashkenazi custom is to sing “Sholom Aleichem” when returning home on Friday night from the synagogue. The reason is related to the ministering angels who accompany a person home on Friday night ...
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2answers
217 views
Wearing a hat on Shabas
Many men will wear hats for mincha and for maariv (also for other prayers if not wearing a talis). Many will not. And then I've seen a few who wear hats for mincha and maariv on Shabas but not on ...
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1answer
91 views
removing a dislocated hair out of one's beard on shabbat
Is there any prohibition to remove a disconnected beard hair from a beard on Shabbat? In order to remove the hair you still may have to move away other parts of the beard to get to the hair in ...
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votes
1answer
172 views
Carrying in a partially shared apartment on Shabbat
I read that carrying between different units of a multi-family apartment might be a problem on Shabbat. I seek the general rules that will govern the following types of situations:
(To illustrate, I ...
