Question: Dear Rav, Reading science and story books give me a tremendous amount of oneg shabbos. I also have an issue that I’m more prone to depression than other people…. Read more »
Category: Rabbinical laws of Shabbat
Showering a child on shabbos.
Question: Is it permitted to bathe a kid on shabbos if they are super dirty. Covered in mud and dirt etc. Answer: The Ashkenazi minhag is not to take even… Read more »
The use of credit/debit cards on Shabbos
Question: A rabbinical student told me that their use is permitted on the Sabbath as no money changes hands. It is just a promise that the bank will pay at… Read more »
Attendance to speaker presentations at Costume College convention during Shabbos?
Question: I love sewing and making tznius clothes for myself, family, and friends. It is not a business; it is an activity I engage in for fun and to ensure… Read more »
Mechanical alarm clock
Question: May one stop the ringing off a mechanical alarm clock? Why? Thank you Answer: It is permitted to stop the ringing of a mechanical alarm clock because there is… Read more »
Wedding on Shabbat
Question: I have been asked to perform a wedding in September before Shabbat is over. 1. Is it permissible to perform a wedding on Shabbat? This would assume that documents… Read more »
Leftover cholent or food on Shabbos
Question: Can someone put away leftover Cholent or other food on Shabbos day (not necessarily Friday night) in the refrigerator so that it does not spoil? This leftover food will… Read more »
Carrying business cards on shabbat
Question: is it mutar to carry and hand out business cards on shabbat (with an eruv of course)? Answer: We should not hand out business cards, because they are business… Read more »
Business open in Shabat
Question: Business Open on Shabbes Shalom u’bracha, is there a way for a business owned by a couple that sells things (in a non-jewish area) who don´t have a non-jewish… Read more »
Feeding and animal on Shabbat
Question: A friend, who lives a few blocks away, is going away for Shabbat. He has a pet bird and he asked me if I can go over once or… Read more »
Reading on Shabbos
Question: I really enjoy occasionally reading science material or a self help book on shabbos and it really gives me a lot of ones shabbos. Can I read such material… Read more »
Ashkenazi + cold shower on Shabbat
Question: Good afternoon, Rabbi, I am an Ashkenazi Jew living in a tropical rainforest. Sometimes on Shabbat it is extremely hot and humid (35-40 C) to the point that I… Read more »
Bookmarking pages on Shabbos
Question: May I use a paper clip, rubberband, or any other item to bookmark pages in a book on Shabbos? May I fold the corner of the page? If not,… Read more »
Riding bicycle to shul within an eruv
Question: Even when there is an eruv permitting carrying on Shabbos, people do not ride bicycles to shul. I know that doing this is not permitted, but why not? Answer:… Read more »
Gezeiroh and shvus
Question: What is the difference between a gezeiroh and a shvus? Answer: Both a shvus and a gezeira are m’drabonon, the difference between them is that a shvus is derived… Read more »
May one play with a stethoscope on shabbos
Question: Can I use a stethoscope (for fun, not for health reasons) on shabbos to hear my heartbeat or is that a problem of hashmaas kol? Answer: It is not… Read more »
Is saying v’tain tal u’matar 90 times on Yom Tov preparing for the weekdays?
Question: If one desires to accustom himself to say vsein tal umatar by saying it 90x (so that he shall not have to repeat his prayer in a case of… Read more »
Using a sand timer on Shabbos
Question: Is one allowed to use a sand timer on Shabbos to help a child space his eating and time his chewing to prevent over stuffing and choking on food…. Read more »
shofar
Question: I learned that something that is on a tree bein hashemashos Friday evening is muktzah the whole Shabbos. Let us assume that there is a shofar on a tree… Read more »
Crossing Out Words on Shabbos
Question: It is Shabbos. Somebody is reading a page that was written (or printed) in ink. He finds an error and crosses it out with a pen. Does this fall… Read more »
Lighting Extra Shabbos Candles
Question: On a couple of occasions in the last couple of years my wife has missed the zman for lighting Shabbos candles and as a result has added two more… Read more »
Washing Kiddush Cup on Shabbos
I have a Hilchos Shabbos Shailoh. Shabbos Morning after Kiddush, my hands and my Becher are wet from Grape Juice that I had just made Kiddush on. I then stand… Read more »
Cleaning Dishes on Shabbos
Is one allowed to wash dishes on shabbos for the sake of cleanliness, so that they shouldn’t leave off a smell or clutter up the kitchen? There are additional clean… Read more »
Forbidden Preparations on Shabbos
Hi On shabbos I took a crockpot and put some potatoes meat and spices on it and after shabbos I added more am I allowed to cook it now and… Read more »
Rinsing Dishes
I’d like to know if it is permissible on Shabbos to rinse dishes right after use before placing them in the sink to be washed after Shabbos. Thanks for your… Read more »
Moving Hefker (Ownerless) Item on Shabbos
On shabbat, in an eruv: Is it acceptable to pick up an ownerless object (a free book for instance) and move it to a slightly less exposed place in the… Read more »
Freezing the Soup on Yom Tov
If soup was served at a meal on yom tov and there is leftover soup in the pot, can one freeze the soup after the meal so it stays fresh… Read more »
Grinding Ice on Shabbos
If one were to make ices before Yom Tov (basically a big peice of frozen juice), and before serving the ices one were to take the spoon rub it against… Read more »
Preparing To Clean
Question: We are considering buying a mechanized dishwasher — but I am confused about a Shabbos-related issue. I often see families that are shomrei torah u-mitzvos wetting and brushing down their… Read more »
Preparing For Motzei Shabbos On Shabbos
Question: What can I do towards the evening as Shabbos is leaving to prepare for the night? May I bring a tallis from my study to the living room for… Read more »
Preparing For A Test On Shabbos
Question: If students have a Jewish history test on Sunday, are they permitted to study for the test on Shabbos? Answer: It is permissible to study a Torah subject on… Read more »
Folding Tallis After Davening
Can one fold one’s talis after davening at shul and replace it in the talis bag, or would this be considered preparing for the next Shabbos? If I cannot fold… Read more »
Washing Kiddush Cup
Can one rinse out the kiddush cup on Shabbos to prepare for the mitzvah of havdalah, or this is considered preparing for the weekday which is forbidden? Answer: If it… Read more »