All Questions
Tagged with shabbat halacha-theory
65 questions
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is "pikuach nefesh" on shabbos "hutrah" or "dichuya"?
Whenever two mitzvos come into conflict with each other, and one is given precedence over the other (such as in the case of bris milah on Shabbos, or any עשה דוחה לא תעשה (=positive commandment that "...
- 19.3k
6
votes
1
answer
903
views
Understanding the difference between shevus and gezeirah
I know that, in general, there is a difference in strictness between the two categories of protective measures, but am having difficulty in explaining the difference between the two.
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why is asking a non-Jew to turn on electric lights considered amira l'nochri?
Given that practically all poskim accept R' Shlomo Zalmen's view that electricity is d'rabbanan over the Chazon ish, I would think that a Jew could simply ask a non-Jew to turn on/off lights on ...
- 5,341
25
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why are Shabbat loopholes a good thing?
I'm not Jewish but do know that strict observance of religious laws is important in Judaism.
I recently visited one of our suppliers in Israel and the hotel and office block had sabbath elevators. ...
- 355
5
votes
1
answer
69
views
Medicines v. Spices on Shabbos
Medicines are forbidden on shabbos for the non-critically ill because in the old days, they had to be ground with a pestle beforehand.
Must not spices also be ground? How come spices are not also ...
- 9,127
4
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Using money on Shabbat
It is a thoroughly well-known feature of the halakha that one may not use money on Shabbat, and there are maybe a dozen questions on this website alone that seem to presuppose familiarity with that ...
- 19.1k
7
votes
1
answer
947
views
Flying on Shabbos
Would I be able to get on a direct flight that leaves Friday afternoon and lands on Motzei Shabbos?
How would this be different from getting on a boat before Shabbos and getting off the boat at your ...
- 321
13
votes
2
answers
3k
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 ...
- 7,532
9
votes
1
answer
373
views
are bionic abilities legal for shabbos
Today the world is high in technology; many medical fields are experiencing breakthroughs in artificial limbs and what not.
What are the legalities of these in Jewish law?
For example, a pace maker ...
- 311
14
votes
3
answers
320
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 (...
2
votes
1
answer
142
views
Does "burning" water fall under the Av Melachah of "bishul" on Shabbos?
If water that falls onto a hot plate on Shabbos immediately "burns" up and evaporates, does this fall under the Av Melachah of bishul? (The pracitical application of this I want to leave aside. ...
- 16.2k
2
votes
1
answer
661
views
Breaking Shabbos to keep future Shabbos(os)?
The reason we allow someone to violate shabbos to save a life is because of the principle "let him void one shabbat so that many future shabbosos will be kept". What are the parameters for this ...
user1668
8
votes
2
answers
359
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 ...
- 41.9k
4
votes
2
answers
239
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 ...
- 19.1k
32
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Why can't electricity be manipulated on Shabbat and Yom Tov?
Why can't we use and change electricity on Shabbat and YomTov? By this I mean why can't we turn lights on and off?
I've heard Rabbis say that its because you can't complete a circuit on Shabbat or ...
- 1,887