Dose of Halacha

Question: We’re having a lot of people over for Shabbos lunch. Are we allowed to move the bookcase into the other room to create extra room? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 35a) cites a machlokes as to how heavy an item needs to be in order for it to be rendered muktza. Tosafos, however, demonstrate that the halacha does not follow this Gemara as elsewhere (ibid. 45b; Eruvin 102a), the Gemara allows moving large items on Shabbos. Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (308:2) writes that an item does not become muktze based on its size or status. The Mishna Berura (308:9) adds that this applies even if it takes a few people to lift the item. The Mishna Berura (308:8) and R’ Yehoshua Neuwirth (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasa 20:22) write, however, that if one would normally be hesitant about moving something because they are concerned about it getting ruined, then it is considered to be muktza machmas chisaron kis ( valuable items which cannot be moved). The Gemara (Shabbos 138a) teaches that the...

Question: I see that some people switch off the lights during havdala before saying the beracha, borei meoiray haeish. Is this necessary? Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 51b) teaches that one doesn’t recite the beracha, borei meoiray haeish, unless one benefits from the light, though there is a machlokes in the Gemara (ibid. 53b) as to whether one actually needs to benefit from the light or not. Thus, Rambam (Shabbos 29:25) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 298:4) write that one should ensure that the flame is close enough so that one would be able to distinguish between various types of currency. While R’ Moshe Sternbuch ( Moadim Uzemanim 6:90) writes that he switches the lights off during havdala, elsewhere (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 5:86) he writes that one would still say amen upon hearing the beracha while the lights were on, as if necessary , one can rely on the electric lights themselves (See Rivevos Ephraim 2:115 :32). Similarly, R’ Menashe Klein (Mishne Halachos 15:92) writes t...

Question: Can I wrap my pot of soup in tea-towels to keep it warm on Shabbos? Answer: The Gemara (Shabbos 34a) writes that one can only insulate food ( hatmana ) providing that they use a material that doesn’t emit heat and that they do so before Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 257:3) lists which substances are considered to be heat emitting, and therefore forbidden to place around one’s pot even before Shabbos. Rambam (Shabbos 4:3) explains that chazal were concerned that if one were to place their pot among the embers, they may come to stoke the coals. Thus, one would be able to wrap a pot with tea-towels, provided they did so before Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 257:8), however, writes that while one can leave a pot on a stove on Shabbos, one would not be able to wrap it with tea-towels even before Shabbos. While the tea-towels themselves don’t emit heat, they will insulate the heat coming from the stove. For it to be considered a prohibition of hatmana , the insulation wo...

Question: I have a nice silver menora though it takes a lot of effort to clean. Is there an advantage to using this over a cheap disposable one? Answer:   When the Bnei Yisrael sang shira  after crossing the yam suf, they said “ zeh eli veanvehu,  this is my G-d and I will glorify Him” (Shemos 15:2). The Gemara (Sukka 11b; Nazir 2b) writes that this passuk  teaches us that we should not just perform mitzvos  in their most basic manner, but we should make extra effort to build a nicer sukka  and spend more money on our lulav and esrog, etc. Similarly, the Gemara (Shabbos 23b) teaches that one who is particular about lighting their Shabbos candles will merit having children who will be Torah scholars. The Tur (OC 263) and Bach (OC 263:1) qualify this to those who make beautiful lights . Rashi writes that this applies equally to the Chanuka menora . Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 673:3) writes that earthenware dishes should not be reused as th...