Exercise on Shabbat

Exercise on Shabbat Day: Tuesday Date: July 14, 2015 Parshat: Matot/Mas'ei Yalkut Yosef: 328 Intentionally causing oneself to perspire is forbidden on Shabbat for the same reason as taking medications. Our Hachamim knew that forbidding these things would save people from grinding herbs on Shabbat, which is an issur De'oraita. (See DSH from May 20, 2015 and November 28, 2014). A person who wants to make himself perspire might grind and ingest diaphoretic herbs which will cause him to get to that point faster. Therefore it is forbidden on Shabbat to exercise if one's intention is to cause himself to perspire. There are some poskim who forbid exercising on Shabbat even if perspiring is not his intention. Their reason is that exercise is something that is done during the week and is not fitting for Shabbat. Even though technically one is allowed to exercise on Shabbat if his intention is not to perspire, nevertheless it is better to be more strict on oneself and not do so. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org