Dose of Halacha

Question: Do I need to cross the road on Shabbos to avoid triggering a motion sensor light? Answer: The Mishna Berura (277:9) writes that one mustn’t open a door near a candle. As the breeze will inevitably fan the flame, this is considered to be pesik reisha denicha lei as one may benefit from this too. The Piskei Teshuvos (277:9) writes that this halacha applies equally to walking past a light that will be triggered by a sensor. Nonetheless, R’ Chanoch Padwa (Cheshev Haefod 3:83) and R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 7:1231; 8:532:1) argue that when one isn’t interested in triggering someone else’s light it is considered to be pesik reisha delo nicha lei. Thus, they write that while it is ideal to avoid triggering such lights, one may walk past them if necessary. R’ Ribiat (The 39 Melochos, p1214) differentiates between a regular residential road and a rural area. Only if the street is lit up enough that one can see where they are going clearly is this extra light...

Question: We rented a cottage for the weekend and forgot to check if the fridge had a light that will switch on when we open the door. Could we have asked our three year old child to open and close the fridge on Shabbos? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 120b) writes that it is assur to do a permitted action which will inevitably cause a melacha to be transgressed. This prohibition is known as pesik reisha . Thus, one mustn’t open a fridge door on Shabbos if by doing so it is inevitable that the light will come on, even though the reason they are opening it is to take food out or replace it. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer 9:OC:108:187) writes that as one benefits from the light going on in the fridge ( pesik reisha denicha lei ), doing so is assur mideoraisa (See Rambam, Shabbos 1:6). One mustn’t therefore ask a child to open the fridge for them. While one cannot normally ask a non-Jewish person to do a melacha for them, the Magen Avraham (OC 253:41; 277:7; 314:5) writes that the pro...

Question : I can’t leave work every night in time to light when it gets dark. Should my wife light for me? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 21b) writes that the time for lighting the menora is when everyone from the market has left. Thus, Rambam (Chanuka 4:5) writes that the latest time to light is half an hour after lighting time. Nonetheless, the Rema (OC 672:2) follows Tosafos (Shabbos 21b) who writes that as nowadays we light indoors, we have more time. Thus, the Magen Avraham (OC 672:6) and Elya Rabba (672:2) write that providing one’s family members are awake, one can light all night up until dawn (See Aruch Hashulchan OC 672:7). The Mishna Berura (672:11) writes that one should even wake up their family members if necessary so that they can light with a beracha (See Rivevos Ephraim 4:159). However, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:105:7) disagrees, writing that while it is ideal for others to see the lights, one would perform the mitzva regardless of there being any wit...

Questions: I have always enjoyed relaxing on Friday night with the newspaper, though someone told me that I mustn’t read it on Shabbos. Is that true? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 113b) teaches us that the manner of speech on Shabbos should be different to that of the weekday. Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 307:1) writes that one mustn’t discuss future business deals on Shabbos. The Mishna Berura (317:5) writes that this is the reason for wishing others ‘Good Shabbos’ or ‘Shabbat Shalom’ rather than ‘Good morning’, etc. Elsewhere, the Gemara (Shabbos 149a) writes that one mustn’t read a shtar hedyot (common document) on Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 307:17) writes that there is a machlokes as to what this includes. Rambam (Mishnayos Shabbos 23:2) and the Baal Hamaor (quoted by the Beis Yosef OC 307:17) write that it refers to regular letters. Thus, one mustn’t read anything other than Torah on Shabbos. The Rashba (Shabbos 149a; Shut Harashba 7:288) understands shtar hedyot as ...

Question: I am on a course of antibiotics and forgot to remove the pills before Shabbos. There is writing on the blister pack which will be torn if I pop them out. What can I do? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 340:14) writes that one mustn’t tear in a constructive manner on Shabbos. The Mishna Berura (314:25) writes that while one is usually forbidden miderabanan to tear even in a destructive manner, they may do so if they have specific Shabbos needs, such as for guests. The prohibition of mocheik , erasing, however, is more severe. While destroying writing is forbidden mideoraisa under the melacha of mocheik (Shulchan Aruch OC 340:3), the Mishna Berura (340:17; 41) writes that one wouldn’t be able to do so even for specific Shabbos needs (See Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 9:n47). One should, therefore, ideally remove the pills before Shabbos. If one forgot to do so, they should attempt to cut them out from the back where no writing will be destroyed. If necessary, howev...