Friday, January 31, 2014

Using An Electric Heating Blanket On Shabbat

Using An Electric Heating Blanket On Shabbat
Day: Friday
Date: January 31, 2014
Parshat: Terumah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


If one has a drawer, for example, that contains muktzeh and non muktzeh items making it permissible to open on Shabbat, he is allowed to take out the non muktzeh items even though that will cause the drawer to now become a basees only for muktzeh and therefore it itself will be muktzeh. This is not considered nullifying the drawer from it's permitted status on Shabbat since it is happening inadvertently when he takes out the non muktzeh items and he is not actively placing muktzeh items inside if it. One may use an electric heating blanket on Shabbat if it was plugged in and set before Shabbat. The blanket is not considered to be a basees. One may not adjust any settings though. Ideally one should either write "Shabbat" over the switch or cover it or do something abnormal to it so that if he goes to adjust something he will be reminded that it's Shabbat and he is not allowed to. A watch that has a backlight or has other functions is not muktzeh and may be used on Shabbat. Obviously, one may not use the light or any of the other functions during Shabbat.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Causing A Vessel To Become Unusable On Shabbat

Causing A Vessel To Become Unusable On Shabbat
Day:  Thursday
Date: January 30, 2014
Parshat: Terumah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Our Hachamim forbade us to on Shabbat nullify a vessel from use. Meaning, one may not cause a vessel that would otherwise be permitted to use to become forbidden to use. For example, one may not put a bowl under a candle so that the wax will drip into the bowl instead of onto the table since by doing so the wax will cause the bowl to be forbidden to be moved for the rest of Shabbat.  For this reason one who is eating seeds or nuts on Shabbat and putting the shells onto a plate should also put a few nuts or some food on the plate as well in order to avoid causing the plate to become muktzeh. By putting edible nuts or food on the plate it become a basees for both, the permitted and the forbidden items, making it permissible to move. If one did not leave food on the plate, he may still move it if he puts some food after he's done. He may also move the plate if it becomes very unpleasant. If none of these conditions apply and he still moves the plate, as long as there is salt on the shells or they can be fed to an animal he has what to rely on. One is permitted to dispose of unusable items into an empty trash can on Shabbat.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Basees That Has Muktzeh And Non Muktzeh Items As Well

A Basees That Has Muktzeh And Non Muktzeh Items As Well
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 29, 2014
Parshat: Terumah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


A basees that has on it muktzeh items as well as non muktzeh items may be moved as long as he considers the non muktzeh items to be more important. Ideally one should try to shake the muktzeh item off before moving it but if that isn't practical it can be moved without doing so. A drawer that contains money or other such muktzeh items as well non muktzeh items may be moved if the non muktzeh items are more important to their owner. Candlesticks that had burning candles in them when Shabbat started are muktzeh even after the candles burn out. This is true even if one put bread on the candlesticks since the candles mean more to him than the bread. If the candlesticks are resting on a tray made specifically to hold candlesticks the tray should also not be moved even if one put bread there as well. However, if the tray is not made for that purpose one may move it as long as he put something on the tray that is more valuable to him than the candles.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Which Category Of Muktzeh Does The Basees Fall Under

Which Category Of Muktzeh Does The Basees Fall Under
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 28, 2014
Parshat: Terumah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


A basees follows the same rules as the type of muktzeh that is resting on it. Rocks that are not set aside to be used on Shabbat are muktzeh mahmat gufo - since they are not kelim and are not edible. Items that are muktzeh mahmat gufo may not be moved for any reason. Even if one needs the space they occupy. If a rock was resting on pillow when Shabbat started the pillow takes on the status of muktzeh mahmat gufo and may not be moved for any reason until Shabbat is over. A drawer that contains electronics or cooking utensils or any other such muktzeh is also considered to be a basees and may not be opened on Shabbat.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 27, 2014

Creating A Basees

Creating A Basees
Day: Monday
Date: January 27, 2014
Parshat: Terumah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


An item only becomes a basees if the owner intended the muktzeh item to be on it when Shabbat started. For example if Reuven put Shimon's shechita knife on a chair and Shimon was okay with it and it remained there until Shabbat started, the chair is now a basees and may not be moved on Shabbat. Even if the knife is no longer on the chair, the chair still retains it's basees status for the rest of Shabbat. However if Shimon did not know about it, then the chair is not a basees and may be moved for any reason. Likewise if Shimon himself did not intend to leave the knife on the chair then it is also not a basees. If however, the owner did not explicitly intend to leave it there but that is where the item is normally kept, it does become a basees. Kitchen appliances that are muktzeh cause the item they are resting on to become a basees if they are normally kept there.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org



Sunday, January 26, 2014

The Concept Of "Basees"

The Concept Of "Basees"
Day: Sunday
Date: January 26, 2014
Parshat: Terumah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


If a muktzeh mahmat hesron kees item or any other item that may not be moved for any reason on Shabbat was on top of a non muktzeh item when Shabbat started the non muktzeh item becomes muktzeh too. It is called a "basees" which literally means base. Even if the muktzeh item is no longer there the basees is still considered to be muktzeh since it had muktzeh status when Shabbat started. For example, if a water pipe (hookah), or a stamp was left on a plate when Shabbat started, the plate is muktzeh and may not be moved. Even if the hookah got knocked off or the stamp blew away, the plate is still considered to be muktzeh and may not be moved until Shabbat ends.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Friday, January 24, 2014

Kli Shemelachto Leheter

Kli Shemelachto Leheter
Day: Friday
Date: January 24, 2014
Parshat: Mishpatim
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


An object who's primary function is permitted on Shabbat is called a kli shemelachto leheter. These items may be moved for any reason, including to protect them from the elements, or from getting stolen. However as with any vessel they may not be moved without constructive reason. For example one may set the table but he may not twirl a fork around just because he is bored. If a person asks someone to bring him a kli shemelachto leheter, and he brings him the wrong item, it should not be returned to its place unless it will get ruined otherwise. Likewise one should also not move chairs or tables around for no reason. Torah books and food are unique in that they may be moved without any reason. Even if a Torah book has been set aside to put into the genizah, or is set aside to be sold it can still be moved. Food that is ready to eat also may be moved without reason. However food that is not ready to eat yet is considered to be muktzeh.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Lifting Weights On Shabbat

Lifting Weights On Shabbat
Day: Thursday
Date: January 23, 2014
Parshat: Mishpatim
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Pills that are not allowed to be taken on Shabbat are muktzeh for a healthy person who doesn't need them. However they may be moved for a person who needs to and is allowed to take them on Shabbat. Generally the muktzeh status of an item cannot change on Shabbat. If an item is muktzeh during the onset of Shabbat it becomes muktzeh for the entire Shabbat. However, pills may be taken by one who needs them even if they were muktzeh because he didn't need them when Shabbat started. Vitamins and other such preventative measures that are allowed to be taken on Shabbat are not muktzeh. A Sephardic person who's intention is not to cause himself to perspire may lift weights on Shabbat. Therefore weights are not muktzeh on Shabbat. A car key that is made only to turn on a car is muktzeh. A car key that turns on the car and opens the doors as well is not muktzeh since if there were no lights one would be allowed to open the door on Shabbat.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Using A Ladder On Shabbat

Using A Ladder On Shabbat
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 22, 2014
Parshat: Mishpatim
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


A small step ladder that is used to reach things around the house is not considered to be muktzeh. It is considered to be a kli shemelachto leheter. An object who's primary function is permitted on Shabbat. Therefore one may use such a ladder to return items to their place or to take them off a high shelf on Shabbat. One may also move it to protect it from the elements or from getting stolen. Larger ladders that are used or construction and other such purposes are also not muktzeh if they are also used for purposes that are permitted on Shabbat. However they should still not be used because people who see may think that he is going to do repairs on Shabbat. One who puts a lamp on a timer so that it will turn on and off at specific times may switch the lamp off when the timer causes it to turn off so that it will not turn on again. However in order to be able to do so he needs to stipulate verbally before Shabbat that he wants to be able to turn it off if he desires. One should preferably make the stipulation every week however as long as it was made once a year it works. If he forgot to stipulate one week he may tell a goy to switch the lamp off so that it will not turn back on with the timer.  If there is no goy he may do it himself as long he stipulated at least once during the year.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Moving A Fan Or A Heater On Shabbat

Moving A Fan Or A Heater On Shabbat
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 21, 2014
Parshat: Mishpatim
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


One may use the blade of a pocketknife on Shabbat even if there are other features on the pocketknife like a nail file, or a scissor. A fan is not considered to be muktzeh and may be moved on Shabbat as long there is no chance that the plug will come out of the socket. One may also adjust the tab on Shabbat in order to cause the fan to move from side to side. A portable heater should not be moved directly by hand. Instead one should slide it along by foot. A lamp may not be moved. A hot water urn should ideally not be moved for any reason whether it has an indicator light or not. However one who does move it has what to rely on.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Monday, January 20, 2014

Tidying Up The House On Shabbat

Tidying Up The House On Shabbat
Day: Monday
Date: January 20, 2014
Parshat: Mishpatim
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Wanting to clean up the house is not considered needing the space that muktzeh is occupying. Therefore if one wants to tidy up the house he cannot move muktzeh items that may be lying around. However he may move them in an abnormal way. One who directly moved muktzeh anyways has what to rely on. As we have said, if he needs to put a chair or something else in that spot then he may move the muktzeh items. If one picked up a muktzeh item accidentally in one hand, ideally he should not pass it to the other hand. Sewing needles are muktzeh since sewing is forbidden on Shabbat. However if one needs the needle to temporarily close a rip in his clothes or to take out a splinter he may use it for those purposes. One may take out a splinter on Shabbat even if it may cause blood to come out as well.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Sunday, January 19, 2014

Moving A Muktzeh Item To Protect It from The Elements

Moving A Muktzeh Item To Protect It from The Elements
Day: Sunday
Date: January 19, 2014
Parshat: Mishpatim
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


In general one may not move a kli shemelachto le'isur to protect it from getting ruined (from the sun/rain) or from getting stolen. However there are eight "loopholes" that can be used to move muktzeh in order to protect it. They are:
1. If one already picked up the muktzeh item he can put it down anywhere he wants so that it won't get ruined in the rain or stolen even though he will carry it more than necessary.
2. If he needs to use the item or he needs the place that the item is occupying he may move it.
3. He can push it with his body, the back of his hand, or some other irregular method.
4. Moving it indirectly (with a broom, or a cane).
5. Blowing on it in order to move it.
6. Putting something that is permissible to move on top of it. (This does not work for some other kinds of muktzeh)  
7. Having a non Jew do it. (See below)
8. If one knows he will need the item later on during the day he may move it to protect it even before he needs it.

If it will otherwise be a big loss, or if one has a great need, he may tell a non Jew to move a muktzeh item for him so it doesn't get ruined or stolen. However one who refrains from telling a non Jew to move it for him even in these situations will experience beracha.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Friday, January 17, 2014

Using A Kli Shemelachto Le'isur By Putting Something On It

Using A Kli Shemelachto Le'isur By Putting Something On It
Day: Friday
Date: January 17, 2014
Parshat: Yitro
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Pots and pans that were empty when Shabbat started are considered to be kli shemelachto le'isur and are therefore muktzeh. If one wants to move one to put food into, he may do so because he is using it for a permitted purpose. However a pot that one does not store food inside of ever may not be moved without needing the pot for some other use or the space it occupies or to protect it from the sun or the rain. One may move an item that is a kli shemelachto le'isur by putting bread or a baby on it. For example if one put bread in a pot, he may move the pot even out of the sun or the rain. This applies specifically to kli shemelachto le'isur. One may not move candlesticks that were lit when Shabbat started by using this method.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Thursday, January 16, 2014

Saying Shehechiyanu On Etrogim

Saying Shehechiyanu On Etrogim
Day: Thursday
Date: January 16, 2014
Parshat: Yitro
Source: Yalkut Yosef: Laws of Tu Bishvat


Some people have a custom to eat etrog jam or sugar coated etrog slices on Tu Bishvat. Men should not say shehechiyanu when eating these since the shehechiyanu said on sukkot over the lulav and etrog covers eating as well. However, women who did not say shehechiyanu on sukkot (as is the Sephardic custom) should say shehechiyanu on Tu Bishvat if they eat from an etrog. Fruits that ordinarily have bugs in them must be checked for bugs before one says the beracha. One must be very careful to check well as eating bugs is a very serious sin.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Wednesday, January 15, 2014

The Order Of Berachot

The Order Of Berachot
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 15, 2014
Parshat: Yitro
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 211


If one has in front of him a variety of fruits to choose from, if available he should first say a beracha on one of the shiv'at haminim. The shiv'at haminim are: wheat products, barley products, olive products, dates, grape products, figs, pomegranates (Devarim 8:8). Even if he likes a different kind if fruit better he should still say the beracha on one of these first. Within the 7 species, one should say the beracha on whichever fruits are mentioned closer to the word "eretz" in the pasuk. For example, wheat products come before barley products, dates come before grapes and grapes come before figs. The hierarchy of berachot in general is as follows: Hamotzi comes before anything else, next is mezonot, followed by hagefen. After hagefen comes ha'etz, ha'adamah and shehakol. However, the beracha on olives and dates should be said before hagefen since they come first in the order of the shiv'at haminim.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Tuesday, January 14, 2014

When To Have The Tu Bishvat Fruits

When To Have The Tu Bishvat Fruits
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 14, 2014
Parshat: Yitro
Source: Yalkut Yosef: Laws of Tu Bishvat


Many people have a nice custom to eat fruits, and especially fruits of the shiv'at haminim, on the eve of Tu Bishvat. This is done to acknowledge the significance of the day, and also to bring blessing to the trees by making blessings on their fruit. If one is having a meal he should not wait until after birkat hamazon to have the fruits, instead they should be eaten before birkat hamazon. The reason is that by waiting until after birkat hamazon he causes himself to require an after beracha which he wouldn't have needed to say otherwise. This is called a beracha she'eno tzericha - an unnecessary blessing. If one forgot to bring the fruits until after birkat hamazon he can still bring them out and he may say an after beracha.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Monday, January 13, 2014

Nefilat Apayim On Tu Bishvat



Nefilat Apayim On Tu Bishvat

Day: Monday
Date: January 13, 2014
Parshat: Yitro
Source: Yalkut Yosef: Laws of Tu Bishvat


Gd willing, this Wednesday night and Thursday will be Tu Bishvat. Tu Bishvat is the new year for trees. Since it is a holiday one may not fast on it. We do not say viduy and we do not do nefilat apayim either. As with other holidays we also omit viduy and nefilat apayim from mincha the day before. Some people have a tradition to read specific mishnayot and parts of the Zohar. It is best to understand what one is reading as much as possible. One should try to study laws that are relevant to Tu Bishvat on the day itself. Among those laws are the order in which to say berachot, as well as halachot relevant to agriculture.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

 


Sunday, January 12, 2014

Moving A Kli Shemelachto Le'isur

Moving A Kli Shemelachto Le'isur
Day: Sunday
Date: January 12, 2014
Parshat: Yitro
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


One may move a kli shemelachto le'isur if he needs it for a permitted purpose or if he needs the space that the item is occupying. For example he may use a hammer to crack open nuts even though the hammer's primary function is to assist in building which is forbidden on Shabbat. Or, he can use an unused match as a toothpick even though the match is normally used for a purpose forbidden on Shabbat. If these items are in a place that he wants to make use of he may also move them. Once he picks up the item he can put it down anywhere he wants. He does not need to put it down in the closest place available. For example, if he wants to sit down but there is a hammer on the chair, he may put the hammer away so that he can sit down. Or if a person wants to set the table but there are matches on it, the matches may put away in order to set the table. If there is another table that can be used, or another chair, one does not need to use it instead to avoid moving the muktzeh item.

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, January 10, 2014

Kli Shemelachto Le'isur

Kli Shemelachto Le'isur
Day: Friday
Date: January 10, 2014
Parshat: Beshalah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


A kli shemelachto le'isur is a kli who's primary function is something that is forbidden to do on Shabbat. Examples are, paint brushes, sharpeners, umbrellas, saws, sandpaper, weapons, pens, hammers, and Tefillin. All of these items are made to do something which may not be done on Shabbat. However an item that is intended to be used equally for things that are okay on Shabbat and things that are not okay is not considered to be muktzeh. An example of this is a woman's handbag which she sometimes uses to hold money in and sometimes to hold other things that are not muktzeh. If an item is usually used for forbidden things but it's sometimes used for permitted things, like a pot that is sometimes used to store food, one may rely on the opinions that maintain that it is not muktzeh.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Thursday, January 9, 2014

Unclogging A Sink On Shabbat

Unclogging A Sink On Shabbat
Day: Thursday
Date: January 9, 2014
Parshat: Beshalah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Many sinks have a trap above the drain to prevent food particles and other undesirables from going down and clogging the drain. If the trap got full and is blocking the water from draining properly one may clean it out on Shabbat even though technically the items have no purpose and are muktzeh. One may not pick up a stone on Shabbat and use it to hold a door open or closed because a stone has no purpose on Shabbat and is muktzeh. However, if he decided before Shabbat that he wants to use that specific stone as a door stop then he may use it. If he used it during the week for that purpose then he doesn't need to set it aside since by using it he showed that he wants it to be his door stop. One needs to decide before Shabbat that he wants to use it for that purpose. If he didn't do so it is too late to decide on Shabbat itself.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org




Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Buttons And Beads That Fell Off

Buttons And Beads That Fell Off
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 8, 2014
Parshat: Beshalah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Buttons that have never been used are muktzeh. Buttons that have been used do not become muktzeh even if they fall off. Therefore if ones button falls off whether on or before Shabbat he may put it aside to reattach after Shabbat. Beads from a necklace or a bracelet that became undone on Shabbat may be gathered and set aside to restring after Shabbat. However they may not be restrung on Shabbat. Even though garbage has no purpose on Shabbat, one may still take out the garbage on Shabbat.  If one took out the whole can he may bring it back in afterward even though he doesn't need it on Shabbat and is just bringing it in so it doesn't get stolen.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org










Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Toys On Shabbat



Toys On Shabbat

Day: Tuesday
Date: January 7, 2014
Parshat: Beshalah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


It is forbidden for Sephardic boys 13 and over and girls 12 and over to play with a ball on Shabbat. This is true whether it is a makeshift ball, or one that was made to be a ball. Parents may allow their kids under Bar/Bat Mitzvah to use them. Kids may play with Legos on Shabbat. Toys that are made for little kids are not muktzeh and may be handed to little kids to play with. However toys with batteries should not be moved by girls and boys over 12 and 13 respectively. Toys that make noise (but not music) may also be used by little kids but an adult may not help the child use the toy. One may wind a toy for a child on Shabbat.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org



  
 
 

Monday, January 6, 2014

Moving Animals On Shabbat



Moving Animals On Shabbat

Day: Monday
Date: January 6, 2014
Parshat: Beshalah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


If one notices an ant or a spider on the table on Shabbat he may blow it off. One may not sweep it off with his bare hands since it is a living being and therefore muktzeh. If one notices a fly in his soup he may scoop it out as long as he takes some of the soup with it so as not to transgress borer (separating). One may walk a dog on Shabbat by holding on to the collar. The same is true regarding a person using a seeing eye dog. If an animal is sitting on chair one may not push the animal with his hands to get it off the chair. However one may use his foot to encourage the animal to move.

Using a leash is also allowed on Shabbat.
However if one is using the leash in a place with no eruv he must be careful of 2 things.

1: He has to hold the leash within a tefach of the end (furthest from the animal) and can't let the end hang more than that . So it will be obvious that he's holding the leash to guide the animal and not just to transport the leash.

2. He cannot let the slack between the part he is holding and the animal reach within a tefach of the ground. Otherwise it won't necessarily be obvious that he is leading the animal. (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 305:16)

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org


Sunday, January 5, 2014

Animal Cages And Fish Tanks

Animal Cages And Fish Tanks
Day: Sunday
Date: January 5, 2014
Parshat: Beshalah
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


Because animals are muktzeh, their cages are muktzeh as well. Even if the cage is also there for decorative purposes as opposed to being there solely to house an animal it is still muktzeh. For example a fish tank is muktzeh even though the only reason why it is kept in that room as opposed to another is to beautify the room. Likewise, a bird cage that is kept in the living room in order to entertain guests etc., is also muktzeh and may not be moved. However if the placement of the cage is causing pain to the animals it may be moved. For example if the sun is shining directly on the cage and the birds are suffering because of it one may move the cage to shadier spot. One may not add water to an aquarium on Shabbat unless there is a concern that the fish might die if he doesn't add water.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, January 3, 2014

Caring For Animals

Caring For Animals
Day: Friday
Date: January 3, 2014
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308


All animals are muktzeh on Shabbat and therefore may not be moved. Before moving on to the halachot of animals as they pertain to muktzeh, a few important principles should be understood. Raising an animal in one's home is a big responsibility and must be viewed as such. The Torah views tzar ba'alei chayim (causing pain to living things) very strictly. Therefore one must be careful to avoid causing the animal any unnecessary pain or discomfort. There are special allowances made in Halacha for this. For example, a person may not ride an animal on Shabbat. However if a person got on an animal on Shabbat he is directed to get off the animal immediately, so as not cause the animal discomfort by having the person wait until Shabbat is over to get off. However if a person were to climb a tree on Shabbat he must wait in the tree and is not allowed to climb down until Shabbat is over (Y"Y:304). Additionally, ideally one must give food to the animal before he himself eats (it is okay to drink first though). If one said a beracha on food and before he ate he told someone standing nearby to feed the animals it is not considered to be a hefsek since he is not allowed to eat before feeding them (Y"Y:167).


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Coins Used for Purposes other than Money



Day: Thursday
Date: January 2, 2013
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308
 
A coin that is used as a keychain by putting a hole through the coin is
not muktzeh and may be moved on Shabbat. However if that particular
coin is meant to have a hole in it then ideally it should be removed
before Shabbat. If one forgot to remove it he can still move the
keychain. An example of a coin that is meant to have a hole in it
would be the coins that used to be issued to be used for pay phones in Israel. A
coin that is used as a kameiah (charm) is not considered to be
muktzeh. It should be noted that one may only wear the kameiah in an
area without an eruv if it was written by a person who is an expert in
kameiahs.
The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org
 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Reattaching a door handle on Shabbat

Day: Wednesday
Date: January 1, 2014
Parshat: Bo
Source: Yalkut Yosef; 308


A door handle that falls off may not be re-attached to the door on Shabbat because it is a form of building. Therefore the handle is muktzeh and may not be moved. However, a door handle that is made to be taken out of the door when not in use is not muktzeh. Keys are not muktzeh. They are considered to be a kli shemelachto leheter. They can be moved for any reason, although not for no reason, like any other kli shemelachto leheter. A mezuzah that falls off a doorpost may be moved since one can use it to learn from the pesukim written inside. If one forgot money, checks or some other muktzeh item in a garment he must shake out the garment before wearing it.



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The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org