Dose of Halacha

Question: I accidentally left my smartphone on my bed on Friday night. Was I allowed to move it? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 308:3) writes that items that are primarily used for prohibited acts ( keli shemalachto leissur ) can be moved on Shabbos if one needs the space. Thus, one can move a hammer on a bookcase to access books or from a chair which one wants to sit on. This doesn’t apply, however, to items that are muktze machmas chisaron kis , muktze for fear of financial loss. Where one is very particular about an item, be it an expensive item or a delicate tool, etc. it takes on a higher level of muktze. Unlike regular muktze items, such items are not used for other functions. Thus, craft knives and expensive electronics cannot be moved just because they are in the way. Seemingly, smartphones would fit into this category, and thus may not be moved in a regular way. The Mishna Berura (309:10) writes that in such a scenario, the muktze item should ideally be tilted o...

Question: We have a baby swing that is operated by winding it up. Can we use it on Shabbos? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 338:3) writes that one can set an old clock before Shabbos even though it will chime throughout Shabbos. The Mishna Berura (338:14) explains that people will understand that it was set before Shabbos. The poskim discuss whether one can pull the chains that operate the clock on Shabbos. The Mishna Berura (338:15) paskens like the Chayei Adam (44:19) who writes that it is forbidden because it is akin to ti kkun mana (fixing something). The Chazon Ish (OC 50:9) also says it is forbidden, though explains that as you are making the watch operational again, it is akin to boneh (building). As there is a machlokes as to whether one can wind a watch on Shabbos that is still ticking (See Ksav Sofer OC 55; Daas Torah OC 338:3), the Mishna Berura (338:15) and R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbas Kehilchasa 28:20) pasken , that one may only do so under extenuating...

Question: I baked challos for Shabbos though forgot to separate challa before baking them. Can I take challa on Shabbos? Answer: The Gemara (Eruvin 83a) writes that one only needs to separate challa when making a dough that is the size of a tenth of an eifa . Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (YD 324:1) writes that one making a dough from the five grains with a volume of 43 (and one fifth) eggs, must separate challa. As there is a machlokes as to the size of kabeitza nowadays, there are different customs as to how large the dough must be. Common practice is to separate challa without saying a beracha if using 2.5lb of flour (See Shiurei Torah p158) and with a beracha only when using over 5lb of flour. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 327:2; 5) writes that ideally one should separate challa after kneading the dough, though if one didn’t do so then, they can still do so after baking it. One mustn’t eat the bread until they have separated challa. The Mishna Berura (339:26) writes that on...

Question: Can we leave a baby monitor in our baby’s room on Shabbos so that we can hear her when she cries? Answer: Contemporary poskim give different reasons for why one can’t use microphones on Shabbos. R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 2:17), R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 3:16:11; 4:26) and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:230) write that one can’t use a microphone on Shabbos even if it has been switched on before Shabbos just like one can’t leave a radio or television playing on Shabbos. There is an issur derabanan of a vsha milsa, allowing sounds to be made on Shabbos that will give people the impression that one is performing a melacha (See Shabbos 18a; Eruvin 104a; Rema OC 252:5). Thus, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:70:6) wrote that one shouldn’t set very loud alarm clocks to go off on Shabbos. R’ Moshe Feinstein (ibid. OC 3:55; 4:84) gives other reasons why one mustn’t use a microphone on Shabbos, even if it was switched on beforehan...