Prohibitions Archives | Page 2 of 3 | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

25 01, 2021

Checking Email on Shabbat to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine

January 25th, 2021|Choleh, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions|

QUESTION

New York, NY

Shabbat and getting vaccine question:

A person who works in a healthcare setting and thus has high vaccine status and is at somewhat heightened risk themselves, will get an email at some point telling them that the vaccine is available and to sign up immediately, first come first serve, before it runs out. They have already missed one such opportunity because the last email happened to come on Shabbat.

Can they check their phone on Shabbat, for such emails, which may or may not […]

24 01, 2021

Wrapping Food in Foil and Putting on a Blech on Shababt

January 24th, 2021|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions|

QUESTION

The Rav Moshe below rules that one could not wrap something in foil and place it on top of pot (or hot plate or blech for that matter) because of hatmanah. Is this how we pasken? Thank you.

ANSWER

That is not how we rule. First, if the aluminum foil is only to prevent the pot from getting dirty, and not to keep the heat, then it is not a problem. See Shulchan […]

24 01, 2021

Wearing a Seiko Spring Drive Watch on Shabbat

January 24th, 2021|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Technology|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

Can a watch like this be worn on Shabbat. The battery is charged by the movement of the wearer. But, when Shabbat begins, the battery has enough charge to last 3 days. (And the mechanism is a merger of self winding spring mechanism and quartz powered regulator for accuracy).

https://youtu.be/BQ4yxc7EviQ

ANSWER

I can’t see how it can be a problem. It is totally mitaseik, or at most pesik reisha delo ikhpat lei. It’s probably even […]

27 12, 2020

Does a Water Urn Require Tevilah? May It Be Used on Shabbat?

December 27th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Technology, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Canada

Newly purchased water urn – do you hold that it’s patur from tevilah because it’s mechubar lakarkah (and maybe will get ruined by tevilah? not sure the metziut) or that it requires tevilah as per Rav Moshe? See the picture for reference.

ANSWER

I think you don’t need to do tevilah based on the combination of the following 3 reasons (any 2 would really suffice):

Mechubar […]

25 12, 2020

Tree House on Shabbat

December 25th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions|

QUESTION

New York, NY

Is one permitted to use a tree house on Shabbat in the following situations?

The tree house is built around the tree and is constructed using columns or other support from the ground, and neither the treehouse nor the ladder is supported in anyway by the tree. Would this be marat ayin to use on Shabbat?
The tree house is supported by the tree, but is constructed in such a way that there is an intermediary between the tree and the part of the tree house that you […]

16 12, 2020

Using a Grinder Pump for a Toilet on Shabbat

December 16th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Technology|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

A basement bathroom has a grinder pump that goes off every time the toilet is flushed. Can the toilet be used on Shabbat?

ANSWER

If it happens every time, then it is a pesik reisha denicha lei of a grama. The actually issur being performed is really only electricity. I can’t think how grinding waste fits into any category of a melakhah. So there are many reasons to be lenient:

Me’ikar hadin, grama is mutar even with a […]

24 11, 2020

Planning for Going into Labor on Shabbat

November 24th, 2020|Birth, Choleh, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions|

QUESTION

Midwest, USA

Curious about a woman who goes into labor on Shabbat. Clearly we allow her husband to drive to the hospital with her. Would we allow him to do this if he was driving separately? What about other support people who are part of her “birth plan” (like a mother or sister)? What about someone like a doula, who is not part of the medical team, but is a trained support person who the woman is expecting to be there? (Let’s assume everyone is Jewish.)

ANSWER

22 11, 2020

Preparing Coleslaw on Friday Night for Shabbat Lunch

November 22nd, 2020|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

Is it a problem of koveish yerakot to prepare a large batch of coleslaw Friday night, some of which is for immediate use and some of which will sit with the dressing (including lemon juice and vinegar) until lunch which improves its flavor?

ANSWER

Shulchan Arukh OC 321:3 says that pickling is forbidden on Shabbat because it is like cooking, although not Biblically, obviously, because it doesn’t use fire.

In this case, if one were to eat it all at once, nothing would […]

22 11, 2020

Making Sushi on Shabbat

November 22nd, 2020|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions|

QUESTION

May one roll sushi on Shabbat? May one chop vegetables for sushi?

ANSWER

Why should chopping vegetables be a problem? Tochein? It’s fine if you plan to eat it right away – see Shulchan Arukh OC 321:12,

המחתך הירק דק דק, חייב משום טוחן… וכל זה לא מיירי אלא בחותך ומניח, אבל אם לאכלו מיד, הכל שרי מידי דהוי אבורר לאכול מיד, דשרי

Regarding the roll, I have to tell you that in the past I had doubts that it […]

15 11, 2020

Is a Ladle Keli Sheni or Keli Rishon

November 15th, 2020|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions|

QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

Can one rely on the ladle as a keli sheini in order to (on Shabbat) put cheese on top of pareve chili once that pareve chili has been ladled from the crock pot insert (removed from the heating element) into a bowl?

ANSWER

If I understand you correctly, the question is whether the bowl is a keli shelishi, since we would be machmir for Kalei HaBishul if it were only a keli sheini. I think definitely yes.

First, it is not clear that we have to be choshesh that everything might […]

Prohibitions

QUESTION

New York, NY

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Chicago, IL

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Canada

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New York, NY

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Chicago, IL

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Midwest, USA

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QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

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Riverdale, NY

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