May a Completely Healthy Person Take Medication on Shabbat?

May a Completely Healthy Person Take Medication on Shabbat? Day: Tuesday Date: June 30, 2015 Parshat: Balak Yalkut Yosef: 328 The prohibition against taking medicine on Shabbat only applies to a person who does not feel well. Therefore, a person who more or less feels fine may take things on Shabbat that are normally taken only by a person who is not feeling well. For example, some people consume raw eggs to help heal a sore throat, which would not be allowed on Shabbat. A person who wants to make his voice more smooth however, would be allowed to swallow a raw egg even though that is usually not done. Likewise, a person would be allowed to drink a mixture of baking soda and water in order to help his heart burn. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Taking Vitamins on Shabbat

Taking Vitamins on Shabbat Day: Monday Date: June 29, 2015 Parshat: Balak Yalkut Yosef: 328 It is permissible to take vitamins on Shabbat, whether it is a specific vitamin or a multi vitamin. This is true whether it is done for general health, to help with a deficiency, or even help prevent oneself from getting sick. It is best to start taking them before Shabbat if possible. A person who can refrain from taking them on Shabbat without any negative repercussions is worthy of beracha. A women who is allowed to take birth control pills may take them on Shabbat if she started them before Shabbat. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sleeping Pills on Shabbat

Sleeping Pills on Shabbat Day: Sunday Date: June 28, 2015 Parshat: Balak Yalkut Yosef: 328 A person who started taking a medication before Shabbat may continue to take it through Shabbat if not doing so will cause him pain or will damage his health. On Yom Tov there is no prohibition against taking pills. Therefore it is permissible for a person to take Advil or Tylenol on Yom Tov even if he has only a slight headache. A person who cannot sleep without sleeping pills may take them on Shabbat. On the flip side, it is permissible to take caffeine pills in order to keep oneself awake, especially if his intent is to stay up and learn or do a mitzvah. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

A Person Who Needs to Eat Before Shaharit on Shabbat

A Person Who Needs to Eat Before Shaharit on Shabbat Day: Friday Date: June 26, 2015 Parshat: Hukat Yalkut Yosef: 328 A person who was instructed by a doctor to eat as soon as he gets up in the morning should say kidush before eating on Shabbat morning. If he says it on wine he should have some cake or bread as well so the alcohol won't affect his tefilla. Otherwise he should say it on grape juice. After mussaf he should say kidush again before eating lunch. A weak person who needs to eat after shaharit before mussaf and has no wine or grape juice may eat without saying kidush. After mussaf he should say kidush before eating again. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Taking Pills on Shabbat

Taking Pills on Shabbat Day: Thursday Date: June 25, 2015 Parshat: Hukat Yalkut Yosef: 328 It is permissible for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana to take pills or use other medications on Shabbat. However, a person who is well but just doesn't feel 100% may not do so. As mentioned previously, if a person is suffering from a very strong headache or stomachache he may also take something to help it. A person who is allowed to take medications may not be strict on himself and not take them since by doing so he is preventing himself from having Oneg Shabbat, a very important component of Shabbat. When taking pills on Shabbat it is permissible to tear the foil backing even where there are letters. However it is better not to tear the letters. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Bishul Akum for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana

Bishul Akum for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana Day: Wednesday Date: June 24, 2015 Parshat: Hukat Yalkut Yosef: 328 If there is nothing else around, it is permissible to give to a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana on Shabbat food which was cooked by a non Jew and is Bishul Akum. Of course, that is only so if all of the ingredients in the food are kosher. As mentioned previously if the food was cooked that day it may not be eaten by a Sephardic person if it contains any muktzeh ingredients. In certain situations, a person with a life threatening condition may eat non kosher foods. However, he does not say a beracha on such foods since the food is still not kosher. A person in our scenario though, who does not have a life threatening condition and is allowed to eat Bishul Akum foods, but not actual non kosher food, does say a beracha on the food since it is kosher. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Giving Food Which is Muktzeh to a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana

Giving Food Which is Muktzeh to a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana Day: Tuesday Date: June 23, 2015 Parshat: Hukat Yalkut Yosef: 328 It is permissible to do things on Shabbat for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana that are otherwise forbidden Miderabanan. However it is forbidden for such a Holeh to eat food that is forbidden Miderabanan. Included in this is food which is muktzeh. Therefore, it would be forbidden for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana to eat fruits on Shabbat that were picked that day even if the doctor instructed him to. Likewise it would forbidden to drink milk that was milked that day. Ashkenazim are lenient in this regard and do allow a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana to eat muktzeh food on Shabbat. Of course, if a person's life is in danger everything possible must be done to help him. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Using a Humidifier or a Vaporizer on Shabbat

Using a Humidifier or a Vaporizer on Shabbat Day: Thursday Date: June 11, 2015 Parshat: Shilah Yalkut Yosef: 328 It is permissible to leave a humidifier or a vaporizer on over Shabbat in order to help a person who is having trouble breathing. The water in a humidifier is not heated and typically utilizes a fan to add moisture to the air. A vaporizer heats up its water and adds steam to the air. Very often, eucalyptus oil or some other plant extract is added to the vaporizer for its health benefits. If the water in the humidifier got used up it is permissible to add more water on Shabbat. In the case of the vaporizer, it is best to make sure there is enough water for Shabbat before Shabbat starts. However if the water ran out, more water can be added. Ideally the water should have been boiled previously so that at least according to the Rambam and other Poskim it will not be considered cooking. Of course, if there is a life threatening situation anything necessary must be done. A working humidifier is not muktzeh and may be moved on Shabbat. A vaporizer may only be moved if necessary to help the sick person. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Using a Thermometer on Shabbat

Using a Thermometer on Shabbat Day: Wednesday Date: June 10, 2015 Parshat: Shilah Yalkut Yosef: 328 It is permissible to take a person's temperature on Shabbat with a regular mercury thermometer. Liquid crystal thermometers, also called plastic strip thermometers, that display a number or change colors based on the person's temperature are also okay to use. Most disposable thermometers are liquid crystal thermometers. However, it is forbidden to use an electric thermometer except in a potentially life threatening situation, and even then only if there is no other thermometer around. It is permissible to weigh food for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana if the doctor ordered that he do so. It is better to weigh the food before Shabbat. However, if he didn't do so it may done on Shabbat with a non electric scale. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Using a Hearing Aid on Shabbat

Using a Hearing Aid on Shabbat Day: Tuesday Date: June 9, 2015 Parshat: Shilah Yalkut Yosef: 328 Using a hearing aid is not included in the Rabbinic prohibition against healing on Shabbat and is therefore entirely permissible as long as it was turned on before Shabbat. Since it may be used, it is also okay remove it and put it back into one's ear on Shabbat. Of course, no mechanical adjustments can be made when doing so. It goes without saying that it is entirely permissible to talk to a person who is wearing hearing aid. A regular hearing aid which is entirely inside or around the area of the ear may be taken out into a reshut harabim as well. However, if there is another part that that goes in his pocket for example, there are poskim who allow that as well as long as he secures it to his pocket with a safety pin. It is forbidden to switch the battery on Shabbat. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Using Eye Drops on Shabbat

Using Eye Drops on Shabbat Day: Thursday Date: June 4, 2015 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: 328 An elderly person who does not see well, or a person suffering from pain or infection in his eyes, who feels that he may lose his sight may do melachot Derabanan in order to help himself. This includes instructing a goy to do a melacha De'oraitah. Therefore, it is permissible for such a person to use any ointments or drops necessary to help the situation. If there is no danger of blindness, only a little pain, nothing may be done on Shabbat, just like any other situation of Mihush Be'alma. Of course, if it is a life threatening situation anything possible must be done. If the person is suffering from a serious illness in his eyes and is accompanied by extreme pain it is considered to be pikauh nefesh and anything necessary should be done. A person who wears contacts may put drops in his eyes if they get too dry. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Asking a Goy to Turn on the Air Conditioner on Shabbat

Asking a Non Jew to Turn on the Air Conditioner on Shabbat Day: Wednesday Date: June 3, 2015 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: 328 It is permissible for a person with a fever to ask a non Jew to turn on the air conditioner on Shabbat. A person with a fever may also put ice or a damp cloth on his forehead in order to lower his temperature. It is permissible to wet such a cloth on Shabbat as well. However, only a cloth that is clean may be used and even then it may only be dampened but not soaked. If the cloth was dirty or very wet it is forbidden due to the prohibition of Melaben (see DSH from February 12, 2012). A person, whether Sephardic or Ashkenazi, suffering from a fever may also take a cold shower on Shabbat. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Asking a Goy to Turn on the Heater on Shabbat

Asking a Goy to Turn on the Heater on Shabbat Day: Tuesday Date: June 2, 2015 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: 328 When it comes to extreme cold everyone is considered to be the same as a sick person. Therefore if it is very cold on Shabbat, it is permissible to instruct a non Jew to turn on the heater. If it is not extremely cold, but rather just colder than one is comfortable with, it is not okay to ask a Goy. However, even if it is not extremely cold, it is permissible to ask a Goy to turn the heater on for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana if necessary. If a Goy turned on a heater for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana anyone may take advantage of the heat even if it is not very cold out. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Filling a Prescription on Shabbat

Filling a Prescription on Shabbat Day: Monday Date: June 1, 2015 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: 328 A Jewish doctor may not write a prescription for a Holeh She'en Bo Sakana on Shabbat. If he did so purposely, the prescription may not be used on Shabbat. If the prescription was filled and brought to the patient anyways, the medication may be used on Shabbat. However, if the Jewish doctor thought when he wrote the prescription that the patient was in immediate danger, the prescription may be filled even once it becomes clear that it is not a life threatening situation. It is also permissible to have a non Jew drive to go get the medication if necessary. Of course, if the medication does not need to be taken on Shabbat, the non Jew should not be instructed to get it on Shabbat. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org