Questions tagged [melacha-creative-work]
Commonly refers to 39 categories of activity that are forbidden on Shabbos & yom tov.
283
questions
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Why is using an umbrella forbidden on Shabbat?
Several rabbi's have told me that one is prohibited from using an umbrella on Shabbat because one is "constructing a shelter".
Assuming they've used the correct reasoning, I'm not following it. I ...
1
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3answers
99 views
Why are certain melachot permitted on Shabbat for food purposes and others not?
I'm relaying this question from my son...
Tearing is a melacha. But, as far as I understand, one may tear open a food bag (like a bag of chips) on Shabbat. Yet, one may not cut between the letters ...
1
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1answer
81 views
Can a gentile work for a Jew on Shabbat?
There is a rabbinic decree that a Jew may not ask a gentile, right before Shabbat, to do work for him because he might do it on Shabbat [Gittin 8b]. But in the Mishna [Shabbat 1:8] Hillel allows it, "...
3
votes
0answers
44 views
Tying and untying knots on Shabbos & Yom Tov [duplicate]
Someone tied a garbage bag with a double knot (due to distraction by talking) on Yom Tov. He then quickly opened the top knot as if to "undo" the melacha.
A) Did he transgress "tying"?
B) Did he ...
1
vote
1answer
140 views
Composing religious songs and melodies on Shabbos [duplicate]
"Shiru laHashem shir chadash..."
"Mizmor shir leYom haShabbat"
Recently on Shabbat I put together some notes in a pleasing order, and used it as a zemer at our table. A guest was concerned that I was ...
6
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0answers
54 views
Why is turning on a faucet not considered molid or boneh?
As has been discussed in many questions on this site, halachic authorities generally agree that the use of electricity is prohibited on Shabbat, but some differ in their analysis of why. (There is ...
3
votes
0answers
93 views
Does Shabbat desecration have a “time duration” factor?
One of my friends told me that when Kvish Shesh - "Tollway rte. 6" in Israel was completed, there was some concern about cars driving on the road on Shabbat. The CEO of Derech Eretz, the company that ...
6
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1answer
979 views
Tying double knot of garbarge bag
I remember seeing in a Shu"t that one is allowed to tie a double knot of something that will be going into the garbage since one doesn't care about it. Has anyone seen this opinion anywhere. I do know ...
9
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1answer
2k views
Can one extinguish Shabbat candles after dark if you a worried about an animal knocking it over and causing a fire?
If one lit Shabbat candles before dark, had them burning during dinner, and now wants to go to bed, but is worried that a cat or a dog might knock them over and cause a house fire; is it permissible ...
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0answers
54 views
Heter to Work on 9 b’Av But No Bracha
Shulchan Aruch 554:23 says one is permitted to work even before chazot if he will lose money. 554:24 says he will not see a siman bracha from that work.
Why would the mechaber go out of his way to ...
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0answers
60 views
Sources discussing Trick Candles
Are there any rabbinic sources which discuss whether one can blow out a "trick candle" on Shabbat?
I see issues related to m'chabeh but also possibly mavir, but because the intent is not to relight, ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Is it permitted to turn off a time switch on Shabbos?
On a time switch (timer), there are generally two options: one which will ignore the time switch and let the current flow, and one which activates the timer.
In the case where the switch is on the ...
3
votes
1answer
86 views
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
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0answers
35 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
129 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
172 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
23 views
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
85 views
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
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1answer
157 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
73 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
68 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
87 views
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
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1answer
86 views
Could there be permission to write software on Chol Hamoed?
Is it permissible to write computer software code on Chol Hamoed?
3
votes
0answers
50 views
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) ...
4
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1answer
81 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
138 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
65 views
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 ...
2
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0answers
32 views
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
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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
53 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
89 views
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
155 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
27 views
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 ...
1
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0answers
19 views
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
49 views
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
91 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
91 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
114 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
83 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
91 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
476 views
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
163 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
221 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
150 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
80 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
346 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
96 views
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
198 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
195 views
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
177 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 ...
