Prohibitions Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

21 06, 2026

Uber or Bicycle on Shabbat: Visiting Baby and Wife in the NICU

June 21st, 2026|Amirah LeGoy, Choleh, Eiruv, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

A family has a premature baby in the NICU. Barukh Hashem (thank God), the baby is doing okay, but he needs to remain there until he gets bigger and stronger.

The parents have two other very young children at home, and they want to be with their children while also being present for their baby in the hospital. The mother is planning to go back and forth over Shavuot and Shabbat using pre-ordered Ubers. The father can either bike or take an Uber.

Is there a preference between biking and taking an Uber?

ANSWER

1 03, 2026

Contacting non Shabbat-observant people in a different time zone when it’s Shabbat for them, but not for you

March 1st, 2026|Family, Kibbud Av Ve'Eim, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Technology|

QUESTION

Is it permissible to have a phone call with someone non-observant in a time zone where it is currently Shabbat for them? I am assuming there is no particular need beyond the relationship. Does it make a difference if it is
a) a close relative/parent
b) if they call you rather than you calling them
c) if there is a need, but not a life-threatening need?

ANSWER

No, one may not have such a phone call.

There is a concept in the Gemara of מסייע בידי עוברי עבירה (mesaye’a bidei ovrei aveirah – assisting transgressors) which is distinct from the issur of לפני עוור (lifnei iver

8 02, 2026

Charging Hearing Aids on Shabbat

February 8th, 2026|Choleh, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Technology, Technology, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

1 02, 2026

Managing Motion-sensor Lights in Hallways/stairwells on Shabbat

February 1st, 2026|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Shulchan Arukh, Technology, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

New York, NY

A young man told me that his building recently installed motion-sensor lights in the stairwell and hallways, and that it is impossible to avoid triggering them. He will verify, but we are fairly certain that they are LED lights. What should we advise in this situation, especially given that this is becoming increasingly common?

ANSWER

Yes, this is going to become a widespread issue, especially as NYC has already enacted a law requiring buildings to install energy-saving motion sensors in

25 07, 2024

Using a Vegetable Spiralizer on Shabbat

July 25th, 2024|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Technology, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

Israel

May one use a spiralizer on Shabbat, assuming one is making vegetable noodles that include the vegetable’s peel (e.g. zucchini zoodles)?

ANSWER

I can’t see why this wouldn’t be permissible; it just cuts something up. I imagine the question here is whether it is uvda di’chol, but that would not be a problem, since this is something that is done in the home context. As I wrote elsewhere

Rav Moshe (Igrot Moshe OH 4:74, Tochein 4) was asked whether an egg- or cheese-cutter should be forbidden on the basis of uvda di’chol. He first points out the irony that a labor-saving device would

23 06, 2024

Having a non-Jew help after a communal Shabbat meal

June 23rd, 2024|Amirah LeGoy, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

France

Is it okay to have a non-Jew come at the end of a communal Shabbat meal to do any of the following?

1. Unplug the hot plates
2. Turn off the lights
3. Take the trash out (in a yard that belongs to the whole building)

If the answer to any of the above is yes, which of the following is the best way to relay the message to the non-Jew?

a) Ask directly (though we don’t actually need to)
b) Make a not-so-subtle allusion to the fact

12 03, 2024

Having a Non-Jew Help Clean Up After a Communal Shabbat Meal

March 12th, 2024|Amirah LeGoy, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

France

Is it okay to have a non-Jew come at the end of a communal Shabbat meal to do any of the following?

Unplug the hot plates
Turn off the lights
Take the trash out (in a yard that belongs to the whole building)

If the answer to any of the above is yes, which of the following is the best way to relay the message to the non-Jew?

a) Ask directly (though we don’t actually need to)

1 02, 2024

Traveling by Electric Scooter on Shabbat

February 1st, 2024|Choleh, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Synagogue, Technology, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Maryland

I have a congregant who can no longer walk to shul. I have discussed the option of using the Grama scooters approved by Zomet and the Star K, but they cost more than $4000. She is able to purchase a “regular” used scooter for only $400. Would the financial savings justify using a regular scooter on Shabbat (perhaps with using a shinuy)?

Do you have any advice for

28 01, 2024

Conversion Candidate Using Public Transportation to Get to Preferred Shul

January 28th, 2024|Amirah LeGoy, Geirut and Geirim, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Shulchan Arukh, Synagogue, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

A woman who converted to Judaism under Reform auspices and is married to a Jewish husband is interested in relocating to our neighborhood and will eventually undergo another giyur (conversion) under Orthodox auspices. She does not currently live in our neighborhood and knows that she will not be able to complete her conversion until she moves to the neighborhood. For various financial reasons, it could be as long as three years before she is able to relocate.

Until she relocates and converts,

1 12, 2023

Using “Water Wow!” Toy on Shabbat

December 1st, 2023|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Shulchan Arukh, Technology|

QUESTION

Canada

Would it be permissible to use the Water Wow! toy on Shabbat? Assuming that it is, at the very least, uvda d’chol, what are other issues are there?

Here’s a description of how it works:

The basic concept is that each page is “laminated” with a very thin sheet of paper – almost like tissue paper, but more durable. When the paper is moistened by the water in the pen, it becomes see-through and reveals the picture underneath. There’s no chemical reaction involved.

ANSWER

Had it been that the water was interacting with some chemical to create the color, it obviously would be

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