Questions tagged [melacha-creative-work]
Commonly refers to 39 categories of activity that are forbidden on Shabbos & yom tov.
3
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1answer
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Is one allowed to continue riding in a vehicle driven by a Gentile on Shabbat?
In reading this answer, I understand that there is no concern with riding on Shabbat.
Let's say that you are driving your car before Shabbat and you have a Gentile passenger. You won't reach your ...
3
votes
0answers
34 views
Extending gezeirot about melacha to other activities
I feel like this is too obvious even to ask (or that it is a dupe...) but here goes:
If we do not use already ground medicine on Shabbos for fear that we might come to grind medicine, then why can we ...
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2answers
114 views
What is the Jewish view of “work”?
What is the mainline Jewish view of "work"?
(1) Work is an just an option for those who have enough money to live on. The Torah may say "Six days shall you labor and do all your work", but none of ...
4
votes
1answer
158 views
Writing/drawing in the sand on Shabbos
The Mishnah (Shabbos 12:5) rules that writing in the sand is permitted:
כָּתַב בְּמַשְׁקִין, בְּמֵי פֵרוֹת, בַּאֲבַק דְּרָכִים, בַּאֲבַק הַסּוֹפְרִים, וּבְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מִתְקַיֵּם, פָּטוּר
...
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0answers
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May an electrolarynx be used on Shabbat and Yom Tov?
From this site:
An electronic larynx (electrolarynx), is a battery operated machine that produces sound for you to create a voice. There are many different makes and types, but they are usually about ...
4
votes
2answers
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Rabbinical definition of “a clean and easy profession”
רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר: לְעוֹלָם יְלַמֵּד אָדָם אֶת בְּנוֹ אֻמָּנוּת נְקִיָּה וְקַלָּה,
Rabbi Meir says: one should always teach his son
a clean and easy profession. (Mishna Kiddushin 4,14).
...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Writing with dry erase marker on Shabbos, is it permitted?
Trying to figure out if I can use a dry erase marker for recreation and then erase whatever I wrote. Is this allowed?
0
votes
1answer
71 views
Pinhole Camera on Shabbos
I read somewhere that one of the reasons you can't take pictures on Shabbos is because of the melacha of Kotev/Writing.
Does this also apply to a pinhole camera which does create a temporary image ...
3
votes
1answer
66 views
Boreir by non-food items? [duplicate]
Rabbi Avrohom Davis' translation of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch has a footnote on the boreir paragraph in the chapter on melachos forbidden on Shabbos that says that the majority of poskim rule that ...
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1answer
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Dimmer Lights on Yom Tov
On Yom Tov, we are allowed to adjust fire (i.e. change the strength of the stove) so long as we do not completely turn the stove on or off.
Therefore, if a room’s lighting has a dimmer switch, would ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Could there be permission to write software on Chol Hamoed?
Is it permissible to write computer software code on Chol Hamoed?
3
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0answers
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Watering flowers or vegetable on Chol Hamoed
The first mishna in Moed Katan delineates limitations on agricultural work that may be performed on the less sanctified intermediate days of a festival (chol hamoed). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 537) ...
3
votes
1answer
74 views
When to do the dishes- Yom Tov starting at Motzei Shabbat
Passover brings an interesting quandry this year- we go through a great many Kosher for Passover dishes at the Lail Pesach seder on Friday night, and then have a couple of meals on Saturday.
Given ...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
Benefiting from a Jew's meizid melacha on Shabbos
The introduction to the first volume of the English edition of Shmiras Shabbos k'Hilchaso states that a person who does melacha b'meizid on Shabbos is forever banned from benefiting from that melacha. ...
3
votes
1answer
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Benefiting from a Jew's planting on Shabbos b'shogeg
The Preface - hakdama to the English edition of Volume 1 of Shmiras Shabbos k'Hilchaso writes that if a Jew b'shogeg (mistakenly) plants or sows a seed on Shabbos, or anything like that where some ...
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0answers
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Melachot on the original Shabbat Hagadol
I have been informed, this morning, from two different sources, that the original Shabbat Hagadol was the Shabbat on the 10th of Nissan when the Children of Israel were preparing for the Exodus. They ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is making salt water prohibited on Shabbat?
I have read in a few hagadot, and I think in the OU Pesach guide that the salt water to be used for the seder must be prepared before Shabbat begins. That implied that there is some prohibition for ...
3
votes
1answer
51 views
Shouldn't each of the 38 melachos ALSO be considered “מכה בפטיש”?
It seems to me that one could argue that every melachah has an element of "מכה בפטיש" (final hammer blow/ completing an object by applying the finishing touches) to it.
As OU Torah explains:
The ...
3
votes
2answers
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Creating songs in your head (lyrics and melodies) on Shaabath
What I've noticed is that when there is not too much to talk about with haShem, I get kinda 'hyper'. In this state I like to go a bit primal and just shout out some noises, do some clapping and stuff ...
3
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2answers
146 views
Does “borer” apply to people?
Let's say a group of people are sitting in a room. On Shabbat, are you allowed to categorize them into groups such as:
Herding Men away from woman e.g at a Kiddush with a mechitza in Shul (normally ...
0
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0answers
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Does the melacha of “borer” apply to “memory” cues?
I'm not sure how to phrase this question, so, here's the concept:
Years ago, I went to a hotel and the waiters carried a stack of colored cards as a means to remember how many of each main a guest ...
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0answers
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Animal sacrifices on Shabbat [duplicate]
Parashat Tetzaveh discusses the various offerings and sacrifices that are to be regularly given. Of these, two animal sacrifices must be enacted every day of the week:
Thus you shall do to Aaron ...
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0answers
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Mashgiach Working on Shabbat [duplicate]
Note: this question is posed merely to seek mekorot behind the question, since the poskim of my hashgachah have clearly ruled on this, even if I've never seen the teshuvot.
As a mashgiach, I am ...
1
vote
1answer
61 views
Fruit carving on Shabbat?
There is a technique called Fruit carving, consisting on cutting food into a pleasant shape.
Is it permitted to carve such things on Shabbat? (And on Yom Tov)
Reflection may make a difference between ...
4
votes
2answers
79 views
Shaping liquids/foods on Shabbat
Is it allowed on Shabbat to make shapes with food or liquids for dish decoration purposes?
For example: dipping a fork into a sauce and then placing the fork on the plate to make a fork shaped ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
If one accidentally reheats some soup on Shabbos, are they allowed to eat it?
If someone left soup on a hotplate when it was off, forgetting that it was on a timer and would come back on later, can he eat it after the soup is reheated, because you can't do this on Shabbos?
1
vote
1answer
72 views
Melacha and Korbanot in the Beit HaMikdash [duplicate]
We know sacrifices were offered - in the case of burnt offerings, put on the fire- in the Beit HaMikdash on Shabbat and Yom Tov, in fact extra ("Mussaf") offerings were made on such days. In addition ...
1
vote
1answer
81 views
Is it permissible to violate Shabbos to prevent one from becoming homeless?
I have heard many times that the concept of the "hashkama minyan" in America began because frum people went to work on Shabbos in order to not be fired and feed their families, and wanted to daven ...
10
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1answer
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Tweeting on Shabbat: d'oraita or d'rabbanan violation?
There was a dangerous situation in my community on Shabbat and I knew (from the amount my house phone was ringing and my cell phone was buzzing) that people I knew across the world would be concerned ...
2
votes
0answers
108 views
Using teabags on Shabbos [duplicate]
Is it accepted to use teabags on Shabbos?
Obviously, one would have to leave the teabag in the cup (and leave enough liquid to cover it) so as not to transgress Boirer. It would also need to be a ...
5
votes
1answer
211 views
Reason for a Chanukah Minhag
Are there any authorities who suggest that the reason for the Minhag for women to avoid Melacha (creative work) while the Chanukah candles are lit is because we are worried they may come to use the ...
2
votes
2answers
133 views
Inconsiderate gentile neighbor listening to loud music on Shabbat
Suppose an inconsiderate gentile neighbor were listening to music at a fairly high volume on Shabbat, to the point that you could hear it on your own property. Would one be permitted to:
A) directly ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Benefiting from forbidden work on Shabbat
On a recent Friday night, we were coming out of a house and the stairs to come down to the street were quite dark. When opening the gate between the end of the stairs and the street, I noticed a car ...
1
vote
1answer
240 views
Being in a photo on Shabbos
If someone is taking a picture on Shabbos on their phone or a digital camera - must one try not to be in the picture; does he violate anything if he specifically “photo bombs” the pic on Shabbat?
Does ...
3
votes
2answers
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Contradiction in Rambam's laws of Talmud Torah and Shevet Levy (end of Shmitah)
Rambam Talmud Tora 3,5 writes (my bold):
"5 מי שנשאו ליבו לקיים מצוה זו כראוי לה, ולהיות מוכתר בכתרה של תורה - לא יסיח דעתו לדברים אחרים, ולא ישים על ליבו שיקנה תורה עם העושר והכבוד כאחד...
"7 ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
Are you allowed to play basketball on Shabbos? Can a boy under 13?
And yes it is an enclosed area (has an eruv) and it is not leveled to the ground like soccer.
3
votes
1answer
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May one marinate fish on Shabbat?
I was viewing O.C. 321 and there are a few halachot at the beginning that mentions that one cannot salt or put cabbage in vinegar on Shabbat because it is similar to cooking. My understanding of this ...
4
votes
1answer
173 views
In a situation where אמירה לעכו"ם is permitted, how can one be sure that the person he is talking to is truly a Goy
In a situation where אמירה לעכו"ם (telling a non-Jew to do something for a Jew, which the Jew is forbidden to do) is permitted, if a person goes to a non Jew and asks him to do it, how can he be sure ...
4
votes
2answers
107 views
Who is worried about affecting a refrigerator's thermostat on shabbat?
When one opens a refrigerator door, there are two classes of effects:
Immediate result - e.g. light going on, or in newer models a fan might start.
This class of effects can normally be fairly ...
7
votes
1answer
911 views
Automatic lights requiring more than one person on Shabbat
If there is a (entirely hypothetical) light which turns on automatically if there are at least two people nearby, is it forbidden to walk up to someone standing underneath it on Shabbat? And are you ...
11
votes
2answers
3k views
Why does my box of Matzah say “BOX SHOULD BE OPENED BEFORE SHABBOS AND YOM TOV”
I bought a box of Matzah this year, and noticed, on the top, the declaration:
"BOX SHOULD BE OPENED BEFORE SHABBOS AND YOM TOV"
Why? The box does have perforations, but could probably be opened ...
5
votes
0answers
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How do we determine what is inevitable enough to be a Psik Reisha?
Regarding a psik reisha, my earlier question focused on whether the resultant action is judged according to a standard, but I am also unclear about what determines the "inevitable" nature of the ...
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votes
3answers
155 views
Is one allowed to wear a tallit that has writing on the collar on Shabbat or Yom Tov?
Many of the large tallitot contain writing on the atarah ("collar"). Is one allowed to unfold or fold such a tallit on Shabbat or Yom Tov?
When unfolding, one is putting words together - is that a ...
6
votes
1answer
798 views
How do hotels set up for the 2nd Seder?
I had heard from several rabbanim that one is not allowed to prepare anything on the 1st day of Pesach for the 2nd day (hachanah). This includes Seder preparations.
I'm curious how they do this in ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Affliction and refraining from work
Leviticus 23 describes some commands in regards to Yom Kippur in which it teaches us to afflict ourselves (verse 27). Although I'm familiar with most of the commentaries which teach what this '...
2
votes
1answer
96 views
Is there an obligation to work when it is not Shabbat?
related
Must one "work" and "deserve" to observe Shabbat?
Why don't we have to work every non-Shabbos day?
Is there any source which explains that the phrase lo ta'aseh kol ...
3
votes
1answer
101 views
Shvus dshvus dshvus
I've heard that shvus dshvus dshvus (like asking a non-Jew to do a melacha drabbanun with a shinui is permissible. Is that only bidieved or lichatchilah as well? Also is it a machlokes? Please bring ...
4
votes
1answer
79 views
Can the שנים שעשו recipe be doubled?
My kid asked: I understand that if two people complete a forbidden activity on Shabas by superfluously joining forces to do a task either could do alone, they don't get the punishment one of them ...
6
votes
0answers
89 views
Parole GPS monitor on Shabbos
Someone who was just released from jail. He is still serving parole and must wear a GPS monitor around his ankle.
1) Is the GPS monitor able to be worn on Shabbos? And if yes;
2) Is it allowed to be ...
6
votes
1answer
142 views
Is Zipping Something on Shabbos Tofer?
Assuming that it is okay to "zip up" articles of clothing on Shabbos (e.g. pants), is the act of zipping not considered Tofer at all, or is it just permitted because it lacks permanence?
