Questions tagged [shabbat]
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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Halakhic International Date Line issues
According to halakha, where is the international date line?
More specifically, I have heard that some people say you should observe Shabbat on Sunday in Japan & New Zealand and/or on Friday in ...
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Why can't electricity be manipulated on Shabbat?
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, ...
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May one use a computer script or robot to do something specifically on Shabbos/Yom Tov?
May one run a program or machine that will operate on Shabbos, either by setting a timer to activate once Shabbos has started, or by leaving it running continually? What if the action is one that is ...
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When does somebody living in space (e.g. ISS) observe Shabbat?
I understand that Jewish astronauts have been advised to observe Shabbat by Cape Canaveral time, by analogy with traveling to a place that doesn't have daily sunrise/sunset where some rule you use the ...
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Riding the Subway on Shabbat
Assuming that there are no problems regarding paying for it (either you entered the system before Shabbat, or a non-Jew paid for you):
What are the halakhic issue with riding the subway on Shabbat? (...
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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 ...
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If the last day of Passover is Friday, may I eat chametz on the Shabbat right after?
This year, 5778, 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?
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Bootstrapping problem: havdalah ends shabbat (for one who didn't daven ma'ariv) but lighting the candle is melacha?
This answer (originally elsewhere, later merged here) to a question about melacha before havdalah notes that in that situation one should say "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" first. Does that ...
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Can a gentile go to Synagogue on Shabbat and what is forbidden on Shabbat for a gentile?
Is a gentile allowed to participate in Shabbat prayers in a Synagogue (of course he/she will not count for a minyan) if they do so in order to gain knowledge of Jewish customs for the purpose of ...
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Gentile keeping shabbos
While I do not know the source, I have heard many times that Gentiles are forbidden from keeping Shabbos and must make sure to violate at least one law of the Shabbos every Shabbos. If this is the ...
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When does a day start/end in the far North/South?
As I understand it, a day in the Jewish calendar is from sunset to sunset. How is this handled if you are living so far north or south that you have long periods of daylight or darkness?
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Can I cause a Melacha to happen in a place where Shabbat has already started?
Can I cause a Melacha to happen in a place where Shabbat has already started? For example, if I live in New York, could I send a fax (causing the machine to print a document) to Israel on Friday ...
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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, ...
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Am I allowed to view a Kotel Cam on Shabbos?
If there is a camera in Israel that is operating on Shabbos, am I (a person living in America, where Shabbos only starts 6 or 7 hours later) allowed to view such a camera?
I suppose the same could be ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Are you allowed to save a non-Jew's life on shabbos?
Is a Jew allowed to violate shabbos to save a non-Jew's life?
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Can an ecommerce website remain open on Shabbat?
This question is more general and doesn't apply specifically to ecommerce sites even though the discussion mentions them a little.
Specifically, we know we can't do business on Shabbat. So what is ...
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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, ...
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Do you have to close your blog / website on shabbos?
Do you have to close your blog on shabbos?
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Blowing bubbles on Shabbos
Is there any halachik problem with blowing bubbles on Shabbos? If so what melacha categories does it fall under? Does the age of the blower matter?
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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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Can you leave video chat on over Shabbos?
Basically:
Can you leave your computer with video chat on (to another person) on over shabbos? And what if there's also audio?
For example a relative in the hospital, relatives that in a far away ...
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Why are some bakashot made on Shabbat?
As I understand it, we don't make prayers of request (bakashot) on Shabbat (cf Rambam Shabbat 30:12).
For that reason, we omit so many liturgical requests because of shabbos - e.g., Avinu Malkeinu, ...
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Wearing Watches on Shabbat
What is a watch one can wear on shabbat?
There are the analogue quartz watches with just one crown to adjust the time that (as far as I'm aware) most people would wear on shabbat (especially an ...
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BT emailing non-observant family on Friday afternoon
A given person is Shabbat-observant; his/her immediate and extended family is not.
May this individual write an email to his/her family (who live in Israel) when it is before Shabbat (where s/he ...
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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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9 be-Av on Shabbos
When 9 be-Av falls on Shabbos, it is moved to the following Sunday.
Are there any restrictions on Shabbos because of 9 be-Av (maybe tashmish is forbidden)?
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Source for heter for making tea on Shabbos
There appear to be a few issues with brewing tea on Shabbos, some of which have already been discussed here:
Kli Sheini and Kli Shlishi (see here and here)
Kalei Bishul
A heter from Rav Moshe
I'm ...
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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? ...
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Would Adam and Chava have been permitted the tree of knowledge if they'd waited?
I've long been somewhat troubled by the episode with the tree in the garden, because it seems like it was necessary for man to acquire knowledge (how else could we enter a covenant and accept the yoke ...
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Is it permissible to open soda cans on shabbos?
What is the halacha regarding opening soda cans on shabbos?
I have heard that according to the ones who hold that you can open it, if I would ask that person to open it for me, I would need him to ...
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Unintentional closing and opening of electrical circuits on shabbat
As a non Jew, after reading Why are Shabbat loopholes a good thing? I have been pondering the above question:
The Torah forbids closing/opening electrical circuits on Shabbat.
- Danny Schoemann
...
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Why do korbanot require/allow exceptions from Shabbat restrictions?
Someone recently asked me why we keep Shabbat restrictions now if violation of those restrictions was clearly necessary to burn korbanot in the Beit Hamikdash.
My knee-jerk response is: God said so. ...
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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?
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When did the practice of Exodus 35:2 stop?
Exodus 35:2 JPS
ב שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, תֵּעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יִהְיֶה
לָכֶם קֹדֶשׁ שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן, לַיהוָה; כָּל-הָעֹשֶׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה,
יוּמָת.
Six days shall ...
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bicycle on Shabbat?
Is riding a bicycle on Shabbat permitted within an eiruv, being ridden only on pavement (so no unintended plowing), for transportation and not exercise, and with the understanding that repairs aren't ...
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Forbidden actions and the role of non-Jews
The question I am to ask is related to personal experience I've had but can be easily broadened. I am really asking for the sake of broadening my knowledge, and I apologize if any part of my question ...
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Is Exercise on Shabbos Allowed?
Is one allowed to do exercises on Shabbos?
Are any types allowed? Some examples of different types:
Lifting weights or heavy items
Jumping jacks
Taking a walk (long, but without Techum issues)
Doing ...
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Does everyone have to drink the Kiddush wine?
When making Kiddush, does everyone who is yotzei have to drink the wine or grape juice, or is merely hearing it enough?
In my experience, it appears that Friday nights everyone is careful to drink, ...
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Commencing Shabbos: Shkiya behind a mountain
It is common practice nowadays for Shuls to publish the zmanim (times) to begin Shabbos (the Sabbath) and other activities. These times, it would seem, are based upon standard calculations of sunrise ...
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Voice-activated electronics on Shabbat
Does using a voice-activated device constitute a melacha?
For example, Siri on an iphone
or, a even a voice-activated light-switch.
Does it make a difference if the computer doesn't take direct ...
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Can you pick your nose?
Is it a violation of halakah to pick your nose (unrefined act, possibly a violation of being a holy nation)? Would there be a difference in halakah if it were the sabbath (possible violation of ...
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Reading secular books on shabbat?
Which prominent halakhic authorities permit (or forbid) the reading of secular books, magazines, and newspapers from Friday evening until Saturday nightfall? Why? Is it uvda dechol? What if it is ...
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Lecha Dodi (לכה דודי) - Last Stanza
At Boi Veshalom (in Lecha Dodi), we turn around to greet the Shabbos queen. Firstly, to which direction are we supposed to turn? Is it towards the door of the synagogue, always to the rear of the ...
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Walking by an Automatic Door on Shabbos
Is one allowed to walk by an automatic door on Shabbos, if he/she has no benefit of the door opening (i.e. not walking in)?
How does this case compare/contrast to the walking by an automatic light on ...
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In regards to writing, can soda bottles be opened on Shabbos?
Specifically, when the writing - such as an expiration date - is printed in dot matrix style across the line between the bottle cap and the bottle cap's ring, what are the issues involved in opening ...
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Why are challot traditionally braided?
What is the reason that challot are traditionally braided? When did this tradition begin?
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Ask a friend to carry on Shabbos
Suppose there are two friends: one holds of the eiruv and the other doesn't. Is the second allowed to ask the first to carry for him?
And if the first anyways carried it, can the second benefit from ...
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