Friday, May 30, 2014

May One Give Directions To A Jewish Driver On Shabbat?

May One Give Directions To A Jewish Driver On Shabbat?
Day: Friday
Date: May 30, 2014
Parshat: Naso
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


One who is stopped on Shabbat by a Jewish driver asking for directions may not answer since by doing so he is helping to propagate chilul Shabbat. One instead may tell him "today is Shabbat and it is forbidden to assist in chilul Shabbat." If however the driver is asking for directions to a hospital one may answer since he maybe be going for pikuach nefesh.


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

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Cars That Stop On Shabbat To Allow People To Cross

Cars That Stop On Shabbat To Allow People To Cross
Day: Thursday
Date: May 29, 2014
Parshat: Naso
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


Products that come from a factory in which Jews work on Shabbat may be consumed although it is preferable not to. They should especially not be purchased if that will encourage more chilul Shabbat. In a place where drivers on Shabbat are typically Jewish one should not cross a street while cars are approaching if doing so will cause them to stop, slow down, or honk. This holds true whether in middle of the street, at a corner, or even at a crosswalk. If a car stops to allow one to cross, it is permissible to cross even though it will hold back the driver.


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

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Benefiting After Shabbat From Melacha Done On Shabbat

Benefiting After Shabbat From Melacha Done On Shabbat
Day: Thursday
Date: May 29, 2014
Parshat: Naso
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


One must ideally refrain from having any benefit during the weekday from melacha done on Shabbat. However if it is not clear that the melacha was done on Shabbat or if it is not normally done one many have benefit if there is no other choice. For example, one should refrain from patronizing on Sunday a Jewish bakery that stays open on Shabbat. However if it is not clear that the products on Sunday were baked on Shabbat they may be purchased if there are no other options available. If one knows that the products were baked on Shabbat and the baker normally bakes for the public on Shabbat, the products may not be eaten.


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

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

A Mechalel Shabbat Who Brings Candies To Shul On Shabbat

A Mechalel Shabbat Who Brings Candies To Shul On Shabbat
Day: Tuesday
Date: May 27, 2014
Parshat: Naso
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


All the halachot mentioned previously with regards to melacha done by a Jew on Shabbat apply when the melacha has changed the subject of the melacha. However if the subject is completely unchanged as a result of the melacha, while it is certainly very preferable to refrain, strictly speaking one may have benefit from it. In a public forum it should not be allowed unless it will cause machloket or worse. For example, if a person who is not Shomer Shabbat brings candies on Shabbat to throw at a Bar Mitzvah, the candy should not be eaten unless it will cause machloket among the congregants or cause people to distance themselves from Torah.


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

Monday, May 26, 2014

Bread That Had Hafrashat Challa Done To It On Shabbat

Bread That Had Hafrashat Challa Done To It On Shabbat
Day: Monday
Date: May 26, 2014
Parshat: Naso
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


The Hachamim forbade hafrashat challa on Shabbat. Therefore, if one forgot to take challa before Shabbat and did it on Shabbat thinking it's okay, he is allowed eat the bread on Shabbat. If he knew it was not okay and did it anyways, the bread may not eaten by anyone until after Shabbat. In Eretz Yisrael, if a person thought it was okay to take Terumah and Maaser from fruit on Shabbat and did so, he may still eat the fruit. On Yom Tov, if one turned on a fire he may use it to cook even though the Hachamim forbade starting a new fire and what he did was forbidden. If one cooked on the first day of Yom Tov for the second day he may still eat the food on the second day even though what he did is not allowed.


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

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Having Benifit From An Issur Darabanan Done On Shabbat

Having Benefit From An Issur Darabanan Done On Shabbat
Day: Sunday
Date: May 25, 2014
Parshat: Naso
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


If one purposely transgressed an issur derabanan on Shabbat it is forbidden to have any benefit from that transgression until after Shabbat. If the transgression was an accident it is permitted to have benefit. For example if one cooked on Shabbat in a pot that was warmed up by the sun, even though it is an issur derabanan, if it was beshogeg he may eat the food on Shabbat. In general one who did a melacha is believed if he says it was beshogeg and therefore in such a situation it is okay to benefit from that melacha. If one accidentally turned on the air conditioner or a fan on Shabbat it is permissible to benefit from it as long as there is no light that turns on as a result. If there is a light, unless it is an LED or similar light, turning it on is an issur de'oraita and one would be having benefit from an issur de'oraita which is not allowed.


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

Friday, May 23, 2014

Benefitting From Melachot That Are The Subject Of A Machloket

Benefitting From Melachot That Are The Subject Of A Machloket
Day: Friday
Date: May 23, 2014
Parshat: Bamidbar
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


One may benefit from the transgression of a "melacha" that has Poskim who allow and Poskim who don't allow it on Shabbat, even if the Shulchan Aruch does not allow it. Therefore if one put soup on the platta on Shabbat and it reached yad soledet bo it is permissible to have the soup even though heating up liquid on Shabbat is forbidden. Likewise, if one put food on the platta that was not fully cooked (but was cooked enough to eat if absolutely necessary) when Shabbat started he may eat the food after it finishes cooking. Another example is, if on Friday night one opened the lid of a pot that was not finished cooking and put the lid back on, which is forbidden since it speeds the cooking time, he may still eat the food on Shabbat.


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

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Sleeping In A Room Who's Light Was Turned Off On Shabbat

Sleeping In A Room Who's Light Was Turned Off On Shabbat
Day: Thursday
Date: May 22, 2014
Parshat: Bamidbar
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


If the light in a room was turned off on Shabbat, one may still sleep in the room even if it was done on purpose. This is not considered benefiting from melacha done on Shabbat. Likewise, if the air-conditioner was turned off purposely because it got cold one may still stay in the room. One may not have benefit from the melachot mentioned previously or any other melacha that is done on Shabbat by a Jew on Shabbat if all the Poskim forbid doing that action on Shabbat. However, if there is a disagreement among the Poskim whether it's okay to do or not, one may benefit from it.


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

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

One Who Walked Into A Room With Automatic Lights On Shabbat

One Who Walked Into A Room With Automatic Lights On Shabbat
Day: Wednesday
Date: May 21, 2014
Parshat: Bamidbar
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


If a person accidentally leaned against a light switch on Shabbat and turned it on without realizing he may use the light to read if he has nowhere else to read. However if he turned on the light intentionally without realizing it was Shabbat or because he thought it was okay he may not use the light just like any other melacha done beshogeg. If one walks into a room that with automatic lighting and causes the light to turn on, if he was unaware that the lights would turn on he may stay there if he has no other room he can stay in. If he knew that by walking in the light would turn on and he went in anyways he may not have any benefit from the light. If by leaving such a room he will cause the light to turn off he should have a non-Jew come in and then he may leave. If that is not an option he may leave the room without calling in a non-Jew.


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

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Food Cooked On Friday Night Before Rabenu Tam's Tzet Hakochavim

Food Cooked On Friday Night Before Rabenu Tam's Tzet Hakochavim
Day: Tuesday
Date: May 20, 2014
Parshat: Bamidbar
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


If the electricity was turned back on in the house some say it is permissible for one to learn Torah there. If one has nowhere else to study he may rely on them and study in the house however he should learn things that don't give him so much pleasure. One should also not do shnayim mikra in that situation unless he has nowhere else to do it. If the electricity was turned back on before Rabenu Tam's tzet hakochavim The food must also cool down before one eats it. If it wasn't cooked and by turning electricity back on the cooking finished it may not be eaten until after Shabbat. If there is no other food around he may eat the food since according to Rabenu Tam it was not tzet hakochavim yet.


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

Monday, May 19, 2014

One May Not Benefit From Melacha Done On Shabbat

One May Not Benefit From Melacha Done On Shabbat
Day: Monday
Date: May 19, 2014
Parshat: Bamidbar
Source: Yakut Yosef: 318


If a light is turned on on Shabbat in a forbidden manner one may not have any benefit from it even if it was turned on by accident. One does not need to leave the house, however he should be careful not to do anything next to the light that he couldn't do in the dark. If there was an object in a room where a light had been turned on on Shabbat, even though technically one is allowed to use the object it is proper to be strict on oneself and not use it. Similarly if there is a blackout on Shabbat and a Jew turns the electricity back on, one must ensure to take all the uncooked food off the plata so as not to cause that person to cook on Shabbat. If there was cooked food on the plata and it warmed up one may not eat the food until it cools down again, so as not to have benefit from melacha done on Shabbat.


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

Friday, May 16, 2014

Food Cooked On Shabbat That Got Mixed With Food Cooked Before Shabbat

Food Cooked On Shabbat That Got Mixed With Food Cooked Before
Day: Friday
Date: May 16, 2014
Parshat: Behukotai
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


Adding water to the cholent after Shabbat started to prevent it from burning or adding an egg are both examples of cooking on Shabbat. One may mistakenly think these things are permitted and thereby cook on Shabbat. The egg is forbidden to eat following the halachot mentioned previously regarding  food cooked on Shabbat. However in both scenarios the cholent may still be eaten. If food cooked on Shabbat (which is therefore forbidden) got mixed with food that is permitted the mixture may be permitted. If there is enough permitted food to nullify the taste of the forbidden food (51% to 49% or in some cases 60:1 ratio) the mixture may be eaten by anyone, including the cooker, even on Shabbat. Normally when forbidden and permitted foods are mixed they can be permitted if the above percentages are there. However if the forbidden food will eventually become permitted the mixture remains forbidden until the forbidden part becomes permitted again. An example would be an egg born on Yom Tov or Shabbat (which may not be used) that gets mixed with other eggs that were born before. Since after Yom Tov or Shabbat they will all be permitted, no eggs in the mixture may be used. By the same token, in our scenario, the cholent that had water added to it, or the permitted food that had food cooked on Shabbat mixed into it, would also be forbidden since after Shabbat it will be permitted for everyone other than the cooker. However since the part cooked on Shabbat will never be permitted for the cooker, the entire mixture is considered to be a food that will never be permitted and is therefore permitted for anyone to eat even on Shabbat itself.


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

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Does A Pot That Was Cooked In On Shabbat Need To Be Kashered?

Does A Pot That Was Cooked In On Shabbat Need To Be Kashered?
Day: Thursday
Date: May 15, 2014
Parshat: Behukotai
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


If one cooked after ben hashemashot on Shabbat but before Rabenu Tam's tzet hakochavim time it is considered as if he cooked on Shabbat an all the halachot previously discussed apply. However, if that is the only food he has for Shabbat he may be lenient and eat it. One might think that these halachot are irrelevant in our Torah observant circles. The truth is that they are very relevant, as in the following scenario; it may happen that someone will put food on the plata just after Shabbat has started. It is important to know the halachot in these situations so as not to waste food that the Halacha may permit.
A pot that is used to cook food on Shabbat does not need to be kashered. However it is good to kasher it before the one who cooked uses it again. The pot may not be used on Shabbat by the one who cooks in it. Others may use it right away on Shabbat.  


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

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Food That Was Cooked By A Jew During Ben Hashemashot On Friday

Food That Was Cooked By A Jew During Ben Hashemashot On Friday
Day: Wednesday
Date: May 14, 2014
Parshat: Behukotai
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


Because melacha done purposely by a Jew on Shabbat is forbidden for himself forever, if a Jew purposely washed a garment on Shabbat he may not wear the garment. In order to be allowed to wear it again he must get it dirty and then rewash it so that he is not benefitting from his desecration of Shabbat. If a Jew cooked during ben hashemashot (14 minutes immediately following shekia) on Friday, the food may be eaten on Shabbat. It must be noted that it is completely forbidden to cook during ben hashemashot since that time may already be Shabbat. However since the prohibition against having benefit from such an action is a rabbinic prohibition, it is a safek derabanan and therefore one may eat such food.


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

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Food That Was Cooked Beshogeg On Shabbat

Food That Was Cooked Beshogeg On Shabbat
Day: Tuesday
Date: May 13, 2014
Parshat: Behukotai
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


Food accidentally cooked by a Jew on Shabbat may not eaten by anyone until Shabbat is over. After Shabbat it is permissible for anyone, including the one who made it, to eat it right away. Cooking accidentally means that the person either didn't realize that it was Shabbat, or he knew it was Shabbat but he thought what he was doing was okay. If one was told that something is not allowed and did it anyways that is considered doing it on purpose. If one mistakenly did a melacha on Shabbat because he was wrongly told he may do so by a Rabbi, depending on the situation it is sometimes considered shogeg and sometimes mezid. If the Rabbi is known to be quite knowledgable about the laws of Shabbat it is considered a shogeg. If the Rabbi is not it is considered mezid since he should have known better than to rely on direction from such a Rabbi. The laws of benefitting from a melacha done bemezid or beshogeg apply regardless of which melacha was done and are not only true with regards to cooking.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Food That Was Cooked Bemezid On Shabbat

Food That Was Cooked On Shabbat Bemezid
Day: Monday
Date: May 12, 2014
Parshat: Behukotai
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 318


If a Jew who knew that cooking is forbidden on Shabbat cooked food anyways while knowing that it's Shabbat he may never eat the food even the next day. Others may not eat it on Shabbat itself however they may eat the food as soon as Shabbat has ended. If the Jew (who does not normally cook for others on Shabbat) cooked food for another person that person does not have to wait any amount of time once Shabbat has ended either. As soon as Shabbat is over he may eat it right away. Even though the one who cooked the food may never eat it, he may still sell it.


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

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Tying Knots On Shabbat

Tying Knots On Shabbat
Day: Sunday
Date: May 11, 2014
Parshat: Behukotai
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 317


One may not tie a knot on Shabbat that is meant to last for more than seven days or a knot that is used by professionals for a trade (like the knots used on boats or on some animals). Tying a knot that fits both of these descriptions constitutes a Torah prohibition, and one who does so owes a korban hatat when the Bet Hamikdash is rebuilt. If it it's one of the disruption it is still forbidden by the Hachamim. A knot that doesn't fit either of these categories may be tied on Shabbat. A knot on something that is sometimes left for many days may not be tied on Shabbat unless one says that he plans on untying it after Shabbat. However a knot that is usually left forever may not be tied on Shabbat. One may tie a double knot on Shabbat if he plans on untying it during the week. Any knot that may not be tied on Shabbat may not be untied.


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