Shabbat Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

5 03, 2023

Pushing Someone in a Wheelchair to Shul on Shabbat without an Eruv

March 5th, 2023|Amirah LeGoy, Disabilities, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Jerusalem, IL

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe OH 4:90) writes that in a place where there is no eruv, a person can only propel themselves or be pushed in a wheelchair by a non-Jew. We are dealing with a case of someone about whom it is not clear if they can walk on their own. Is there room for a Jew to push this person to shul?

ANSWER

If you can do it with a shinuy, or have two people pushing, then it’s shevut d’shevut be’makom mitzvah (a Rabbinic prohibition coupled with another Rabbinic prohibition which is permissible for the sake of a […]

Building a Tent on Yom Kippur for a Puppet Show for Kids

23 02, 2023

Building a Tent on Yom Kippur for a Puppet Show for Kids

February 23rd, 2023|Orach Chayim, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Brooklyn, NY

We are planning on having a puppet show for kids on Yom Kippur. The plan is to build a small camping tent, that they’ve cut out a wall from which they rigged in such a way that it would serve as their stage for the puppet show. (The performers are in the tent, and the audience watching sees what’s happening through the cut out wall).

In its basic form it’s a classic camping tent, that you’d get for camping , with poles etc.

Is building a tent like that, which is meant to be taken down a problem of Boneh?

ANSWER

Yes. It’s […]

22 02, 2023

Adjusting an Electronic Keypad Oven or Stove on Yom Tov

February 22nd, 2023|Moadim, Orach Chayim, Technology, Uncategorized, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

Rabbi Linzer, can one raise the heat on an electronic pad-entry oven or stove on Yom Tov? I will be leaving the burner on, but just want to know if I can then raise or lower the heat.

ANSWER

I have addressed adjusting the heat on an electric stove top, which is very similar to this question.

There are two issues here […]

21 02, 2023

Playing a Game with a Sand Timer on Shabbat

February 21st, 2023|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

There is a fancy board game that makes use of a sand timer to limit the time in play (similar to how a chess clock measures the total time in play over the course of the game). Is it permissible to play this game on Shabbat? (What about chess clocks?) Nothing is being measured (30 seconds, 2 minutes), but the sand clock determines the duration of the game.

ANSWER

Although there is a general prohibition on Shabbat of medidah – […]

20 02, 2023

Attending a March for Women’s Rights on Shabbat

February 20th, 2023|Orach Chayim, Shabbat, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

Paris, France

There is an important march for women’s rights in Paris on Shabbat. Several members of my shul (all women) are asking whether they may go if they are not carrying anything (there is no eiruv). I am wondering whether this is really the spirit of Shabbat. Do Jews usually march on Shabbat?

ANSWER

Shabbat 150a states,

[…]

9 02, 2023

Adjusting the Temperature on an Electric Countertop Burner on Yom Tov

February 9th, 2023|Electricity, Orach Chayim, Technology, Uvda D'Chol, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

If I have an electric countertop burner that I put on a timer for yom tov, can I adjust the heat setting while the burner is on? Does it matter if I’m turning the heat up when the burner is already on or down when it’s already off (there’s a light that says if it’s currently heating or not)?

Do you have general guidelines on interacting with electronic devices on Shabbat/Yom Tov?

ANSWER

There are two issues here – havarah/mekhabeh (igniting/extinguishing), and use of electronics.

1. Regarding […]

29 01, 2023

Sous Vide – Tevilat Keilim and Warming Food on Shabbat

January 29th, 2023|Bishul, Kashrut, Orach Chayim, Shabbat, Technology, Tevilat Keilim, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

New York

Two questions regarding a sous vide:

1) Does it require tevilah?
2) Can it be used to reheat food on Shabbat, assuming it is on and in heated water from Erev Shabbat?

ANSWER

1. It does not require tevilah. It does not come in direct contact with the food (plastic bag and water both intervene). ([…]

16 01, 2023

Non-Jew Warming Fully Cooked, Dry food in an Oven on Shabbat For Kiddush

January 16th, 2023|Amirah LeGoy, Bishul, Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Shalom Rav Linzer – what are your thoughts on a gentile putting dry food to warm in an oven for kiddush? I know it’s not usually done but it seems like a d’rabbanan l’tzorech rabim (rabbinic prohibition done for the sake of the community)? The venue my shul meets at (a conservative synagogue) feels that hot plates are a liability.

ANSWER

This is exactly the case dealt with in SA OH 253:5 and […]

Starting Seder Earlier

31 03, 2022

Starting Seder Earlier

March 31st, 2022|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Marriage and Family, Orach Chayim, Pesach, Uncategorized|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

What is the earliest time for the first cup for the start of the seder?

ANSWER

I would definitely follow the Gra (Biur HaGra on SA OH 261:2; MB ad. loc., no. 23) here and start as early as 14 minutes after sunset.

The only reason not to start earlier than tzeit is the Terumat HaDeshen (137) – then paskened by the Shulchan Aruch OC 472:1 – who holds that just as matzah can only be at (full) […]

2 09, 2021

Sephardic Haftarah in Ashkenazic Context

September 2nd, 2021|Keriat HaTorah, Orach Chayim, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Baltimore, MD

Can one adopt the Sephardic custom of haftarah reading for one week to accommodate a bar mitzvah?

ANSWER

I think it should be totally fine, based on Iggerot Moshe OH 1:103. Rav Moshe Feinstein lets a bar mitzvah boy who prepared one haftarah say it another week when Sephardim read that same haftarah, as the bar mitzvah boy wasn’t be able to say it the week of due to another boy’s bar mitzvah. Since it at was the appropriate […]

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