[Halachically Speaking appears on YWN weekly, Tuesdays and Thursdays]
Written by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits of KOF-K Kosher Supervisio
Photo Chromic Lenses
Glasses with photo chromic lenses that change colors when exposed to the sun may be worn on Shabbos and there is no problem of tzoveah (coloring).[1]
Asking a Goy to Turn On the Air Conditioning
Since today, many people are accustomed to air conditioning; one who is very hot on Shabbos may ask a goy to turn on the air conditioning. The reason for this is because doing so involves twoshevusim (Amira L’nuchri and turning on electricity)[2] in a case of tzar.[3] One who is too cold may ask a goy to turn off the air conditioning.[4] Horav Moshe Feinstein zt”l did not allow the use of a timer to make an air conditioner or other electric devices turn on during Shabbos, although he did permit using a timer to turn on lighting.[5] However, it has become customary to set a timer before Shabbos to make his air conditioner turn on during Shabbos.[6]
Using a Water Cooler/Water Fountain on Shabbos
One may use a water cooler or water fountain[7] (even when it is plugged in) on Shabbos if he is lenient in regard to opening a refrigerator on Shabbos (even if the motor is off).[8] The same would apply to changing the water bottle on top of a water cooler on Shabbos.[9]
Tevilas Keilim
Below is a short list of items that one tends to use more often in the summer and how they apply to tevilas keilim.
s The grates of a Disposable Grill which are made from hard metal should be toveled without a beracha.[10]
s Can openers do not require tevilla.[11]
s Tongs should be toveled without a beracha.[12]
sAluminum pans which are thrown out after use do not require tevilla.[13] Although some say one should tovel aluminum pans without a beracha,[14] it is not the minhag to do so. One who wants to use an aluminum pan more than once does not need to tovel it because the Yid is the one who is making the pan into a permanent utensil.[15] Others say one should tovel it without a beracha.[16]
s Potato Peelers- potato peelers should be toveled, without a beracha.[17]
Calling a Woman by Her First Name
In bungalow colonies men tend to be in the presence of women more frequently than during the rest of the year. One should not call other peoples wives by their first name. One can be lenient in regard to relatives such as his aunts or cousins. Unfortunately, many people are not careful with this and it leads to an excess of familiarity. Tznius is something that is learned, and the best way to promote an elevated level of tznius is to be extra stringent in a summer related setting such as bungalow colonies etc. One should use chuchmah and seichel to avoid putting himself into potentially harmful situations. Tiny breaches, if not controlled, can be openings for dangerous situations. Therefore, one should talk in a manner that reflects tznius and self control.[18]
Tzar Baley Chaim – Paining Animals
During the summer, insects often make their way into homes and bungalows where they can be very annoying. Many poskim say there is no issur to kill insects or flies (during the week) which are bothersome to a person.[19] One is permitted to hang up sticky paper on the wall,[20] or to use an electric fly killer.[21] On Shabbos one is permitted to put insect repellent on his hands before going outside on Shabbos to avoid being injured by insects. [22]
One should teach his children not to pain animals.[23] This is very common in the summer when children play near ponds etc or with insects and small animals.
Buying From a Jewish Store vs. a Non-Jew
There is a mitzvah for a person to help support his fellow Jew.[24] Included in this inyun is buying from a Jewish owned store instead of a non-Jewish owned one. If the Jew charges 1/6 more for his products then there is no obligation to buy at the Jewish store over the non-Jew.[25] However, if there is only a small difference in price then there is a mitzvah to buy from the Jew.[26] Some say even if the non-Jews prices are a lot cheaper one should still buy from the Jew.[27]
This inyun is very common in the summer where there are small Jewish stores competing with big non-Jewish owned stores such as Wal-Mart®. Since Wal-Mart® is much cheaper on products one may buy at their store. One should try to buy a few products at the Jewish store as well, if the store owner is counting on the money he makes over the summer to be his parnasa for the whole year.[28]
Copyright Issues
During the summer months it is very common to listen to more music than usual while walking, driving, or doing any other activities. Therefore, it is proper to discuss what one is and what is not permitted to copy as far as music CDs and tapes are concerned. One should not say that copying is permitted. That which many people justify copying by saying “everyone does it” is not an excuse for stealing from music producers and artists. Many people are accustomed to copying music from a friend’s iPod®. This is 100% stealing and against halacha.[29] Every CD that is copied steals at least five dollars from the producers. If all the money lost on the CDs that are copied would be added up the producers etc. are losing a lot of parnasa, despite their investing a lot of time and money to create something that the public is interested in. One wonders why some people who are very stringent to keep every custom even when it may have little backing inhalacha are so lenient with this halacha which is based on the posuk in the Torah of “לא תגנב.” [30]
A CD or tape which is no longer sold in stores and is not possible to buy may be copied from a friend.[31] However, one must make sure that the item is really not available for purchase. Many old tapes are still being sold online (by the original producer or someone who bought the rights to them). One who owns a CD or tape and is scared it may get lost is permitted to copy it. One who had a CD or tape which broke may make a copy of it from a friend. One who owns a CD or tape may make a copy of it for personal use. For example, he may make a copy for his car, since it can be assumed that the one would not buy another copy of the CD or tape for his car, so no loss is being caused by the copying.[32] A CD or tape may be copied for all the people in one’s house, as long as they actually live at home. However, once a child gets married a copy may not be made for that child. It is permitted to copy a song off the radio since the quality is not as good as it would be if one were to buy the CD or tape. Music that is offered on the internet may not be copied since it is only put there for one to listen to.[33] Some producers maintain that the forty-five second clips that are offered on the internet may be copied. Copying a CD or tape is forbidden even if one would never buy the CD or tape.[34]
Car Safety
Based on the posuk “ונשמרתם מאד לנפשתיכם”[35] one is required to drive safely.[36] Before the summer, when one tends to drive a lot more than during the year, it is a good time to review thishalacha.
Some say going much faster than the speed limit is included in the aforementioned issur.[37] Since one who speaks on a telephone while driving is putting himself in grave danger, doing so is also included in this issur. One who has a speaker phone or blue-tooth headset, etc may talk on his cell phone.[38] One should not have his inside light on during the night since it is bothersome for drivers who are passing by.[39] Any time one is in a car whether as a driver or a passenger he has an obligation to wear a seatbelt at all times.[40] One should also insist that his passengers wear seatbelts.[41] Those who wear seatbelts are three times more likely to survive a car crash than those who are not wearing them. One should make sure that he is awake and alert before driving, and if not one should sleep before going on the road.
[1] Igros Moshe O.C. 3:45, Be’er Moshe 6:46, Betzel Hachuchma 4:4, Yechaveh Da’as 2:47, Machzei Eliyahu 65:24, Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchoso 18:footnote 70, Shulchan Shlomo 320:footnote 29, Rivevos Ephraim 3:221, 3:226, Yalkut Yosef 301:34, 320:15, Orchos Shabbos 1:15:66, Chut Shuni Shabbos 1:pages 149 and 157, Nishmas Shabbos 4:292, Avnei Yushfei 2:39, Tzitz Eliezer 14:31Betzel Hachuchma 4:4, Yechaveh Da’as 2:47, Machzei Eliyahu 65:24, Zochor V’Shomer page 15, Contemporary Halakhic Problems 2:pages 14-15, see Nishmas Shabbos 4:292, Avnei Yushfei 2:39, Klalim Tzoveah pages 360-361. For a explanation on how the lenses change colors refer to Klalim ibid:pages 593-594.
[2] Refer to Keren L’Dovid O.C. 80, Be’er Moshe kuntres electric 6:4:4. The Chazzon Ish holds completing an electrical current is boneh (d’oraisa) (O.C. 50:9, Minchas Shlomo pages 93-94).
[3] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Lev Chaim 2:68, Chelkes Yaakov 3:139, Be’er Moshe 6 kuntres electric 43, Melachim Amuneich 5:page 121, Minchas Yitzchok 3:23, Shearim Metzuyanim B’halacha 90:20:pages 166-167, Divrei Chachumim page 104:290, Teshuvos V’hanhugos 1:277, Nishmas Shabbos 5:88, 91, Emes L’Yaakov 328:footnote 375. One may turn the vents of the air conditioner to go in the desired direction on Shabbos (Bais Avi 3:34, Rivevos Ephraim 3:221, Be’er Moshe 7 kuntres electric 19, Shalmei Yehuda 2:9, Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchoso 13:35, see Divrei Shalom 4:page 254:39 who is stringent). Many poskim hold that one may not touch the moveable pieces on a timer on Shabbos for any reason (Refer to Igros Moshe Y.D. 3:47:4, O.C. 4:91:5, Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchoso 13:28, Be’er Moshe kuntres electric 6:39, 7:35, 36, Yesodo Yeshurin 4:pages 303-305, Rivevos Ephraim 1:234, 4:246:page 404, Yabea Omer O.C. 3:18, see Encyclopedia Talmudis 18:pags 677-681). Horav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l was lenient in regard to moving the pieces on a timer to make an air-conditioner remain on for a longer period of time (Minchas Shlomo 2:23). As far as themuktzah status refer to Shalmei Yehuda 2:6:footnotes 30-35, Rivevos Ephraim 1:240, Be’er Moshe kuntres electric 6:36, Nishmas Shabbos Electric 77, 6:398.
[4] Igros Moshe O.C. 3:52, Nishmas Shabbos 5:92, Halachos Of The Country page 75.
[5] Am Hatorah 1:9:pages 8-10, Igros Moshe O.C. 4:60, Divrei Chachumim ibid. Refer to Rivevos Ephraim 3:248. See Chai Ha’Levi 4:8:2, Zera Yaakov 25:pages 146-164 in depth on the topic of Shabbos timers.
[6] Zekan Aaron 2:15, Chazzon Ish O.C. 38:2, Pri Hasadeh 1:81, Be’er Moshe 6:128:5, 7 K.A. 71, Minchas Osher 2:88-89, Divrei Shalom 6:62:page 85, Nishmas Shabbos 6:396-397, Shulchan Shlomo 313:7:4, Migdal Dovid 1:page 83:footnote 586 says this is the minhag haolam.
[7] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Be’er Moshe 6:58, Rivevos Ephraim 3:248:page 145, 5:534:1, Nishmas Shabbos Electric page 85.
[8] Those who permit the opening of a refrigerator even if the motor is off are the Minchas Shlomo 1:10, Shulchan Shlomo 1:277:1, Tzitz Eliezer 8:12, 12:92, Yalkut Yosef Shabbos 5:pages 201-202, Nishmas Shabbos Electric 36 in depth.Rivevos Ephraim 3:590:24, this is the opinion of Horav Moshe Feinstein zt”l quoted in The Shabbos Home 2:page 482 (although in the teshuva he says the opposite). The following poskim maintain opening a refrigerator is not allowed if the motor is off, Edos L’Yisroel pages 122, 151-153, Igros Moshe O.C. 2:68, Mishnas Rav Aron 4, Har Tzvi 1:151, Chelkes Yaakov 1:54, 2:47, 3:179, Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchoso 10:12, Minchas Yitzchok 2:16, 4:64:2, Bris Olom page 78, Oz Nedberu 1:59, 2:36:3, Be’er Moshe kuntres electric 6:4-6, Yaskil Avdi O.C. 5:36, Yabea Omer O.C. 1:21, Shalmei Yehuda page 55:footnote 66 quoting the opinion of Horav Elyashiv Shlita, Kovetz Bais Aron V’Yisroel 87:pages 102-107, see Rivevos Ephraim 3:248 in depth. The Chazzon Ish holds a refrigerator may not be opened on Shabbos if it runs on a thermostat (Chut Shuni Shabbos 1:pages 199-201). Some say one should open a refrigerator with a shinu (Teshuvos V’hanhugos 1:222, see Teshuvos Horav Shteiff 66:page 66).
[9] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Nishmas Shabbos Electric pages 85-87.
[10] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. Refer to Tevillas Keilim 11:34.
[11] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see OU document A-66, Avnei Yushfei 1:147:2.
[12] Refer to Article from the OU on this inyun from Horav Forst Shlita.
[13] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see L’Torah V’horah 2:page 41, Igros Moshe Y.D. 3:23, Kinyan Torah 1:51:1, Oz Nedberu 7:71, Minchas Yitzchok 5:32, Yeishiv Moshe 1:111, Teshuvos V’hanhugos 3:259, Shraga Hameir 2:83, Minchas Osher Y.D. 2:5, Divrei Chachumim page 189:37, Shalmei Moed page 515, Pischei Halacha Kashrus (Hebrew) page 60:20, Tevilas Keilim 1:7:footnote 10, 11:148, Chelkes Binyomin Y.D. 120:69.
[14] Pischei Halchos Kashrus (Hebrew) page 109 quoting the opinion of the Be’er Moshe, Tevilas Keilim pages 243-244 teshuva from Horav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l, Emes L’Yaakov Y.D. 220:footnote 51, see Teshuvos V’hanhugos 4:192.
[15] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Chelkes Binyomin ibid.
[16] Refer to Tevilas Keilim 1:7:footnote 10 in depth. The Star-K holds an aluminum pan used more than once requires tevila with a beracha.
[17] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see OU document A-66, Avnei Yushfei 146:1.
[18] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Bach E.H. 21, Taz 21:1, Ben Yehuyoda Sotah 2a:page 109 (new), Divrei Chachumim page 256, Rivevos Ephraim 6:402:page 440, Sharei Halacha U’minhag E.H. page 147, Teharas Hamisphacha page 240. The custom is to be lenient in regard to calling a non-Jewish woman by her first name (Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita). Refer to Yisroel Kedoshim pages 165-169. Refer to Sdei Chemed chof:120:page 203, Darchei Chaim V’sholom page 372:1063, Minchas Elazar 3:13, Bais Avi 2:121, Betzel Hachuchma 4:70 Yismach Lev 1:pages 255-256, if a man can call his wife by her name.
[19] Refer to Sefer Chassidim 831:page 480, Sheilas Yaavetz 110:page 58, Chaim V’sholom 1080, Igros Moshe C.M. 2:47:1, Shevus Yaakov 2:45, Nodeh B’yehuda Y.D. 2:10, Teshuvos V’hanhugos 2:726, Nefesh Kol Chai 3:footnote 5, see Toldos Yaakov Y.D. 33 in depth.
[20] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Halachos Of The Country page 13:footnote 23, V’ein Lumo Michshal 5:page 93, Vihiy B’nsoa page 238:1. Refer to Ezer Mekodesh E.H. 5:14, Yad Ha’Levi C.M. 10:page 395.
[21] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Avnei Yushfei 1:80:1.
[22] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, see Ketzos Ha’shulchan 138:page 199 “ney,” Be’er Moshe 2:23:4, Avnei Yushfei 1:80:1, 2, Horav Eider Shlita (Dosh) page 107:footnote 219.
[23] Nefesh Kol Chai 2:17.
[24] Refer to Rashi Parsha Behar 25:14, Rabbeinu B’Chai 25:14, Chinuch mitzvah 337, Rama Y.D. 249:6, Ahavas Chesed 5:6.
[25] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, Nisiv Hachesed 12, see Maharam Shik C.M. 31, Minchas Yitzchok 3:129.
[26] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita, Nisiv Hachesed 7, Be’er Moshe 2:120, Minchas Yitzchok ibid.
[27] Teshuvos Rama 10, see Tashbatz 3:151 pages 26-26b (old). Refer to Teshuvos V’hanhugos 1:805, see 2:724. There is an uncertainty whether or not a Jew has to buy from a Jew whose store is further than the non–Jewish store. (Halachos Of The Country page 24:footnote 18).
[28] Teshuvos V’hanhugos 1:805.
[29] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. Refer to Igros Moshe O.C. 4:40:19, Yabea Omer C.M. 7:9, Mishnas Zechuyos Hayotzer pages 81-86, Nezer Ha’chaim page 220:171, Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society Spring 91 (number 21).
[30] Parshas Yisro 20:13.
[31] Refer to Igros Moshe O.C. 4:40:19.
[32] Refer to Rivevos Ephraim 4:248, 3:596.
[33] All the above halachos are the pesakim of Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. Refer to Pischei Choshen Geneiva/V’onah 9:footnotes 26-27.
[34] Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. One is not allowed to copy even one song from many CDs or tapes to make a mix (Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita). If one who copied a CD or tape despite not being allowed to do so may listen to it in any case refer to Rivevos Ephraim 8:158:9. See V’Yan Dovid 2:226.
[35] Devarim 4:15, Yehoshua 23:11.
[36] Meir Nisivim page 20.
[37] Shevet Ha’Levi 6:112:1:4, Meir Nisivim page 211.
[38] Meir Nisivim pages 54, 211.
[39] Meir Nisivim page 55. Refer to Shevet Ha’kehusi 5:241.
[40] Meir Nisivim pages 67, 136, 138, Rivevos Ephraim 8:128:7, Madanei Shlomo (Moadim) page 145.
[41] Meir Nisivim page 69.
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One Response
” However, it has become customary to set a timer before Shabbos to make his air conditioner turn on during Shabbos. ”
Most recent model air conditioners have “Energy saver” settings that completely turn off the air conditioner when they are not needed for cooling, so a timer isn’t an issue any more.
“there is no issur to kill insects or flies (during the week) ”
I would think that it might be mutar or even a mitzvah to kill some insects such as ticks and mosquitos even on Shabat as they often carry life-threatening diseases. Have any poskim addressed this?
“Wal-Mart® is much cheaper on products”
One reason Wal-Mart is much cheaper is that it doesn’t even come close to meeting the Torah’s standards for treatment of employers and suppliers, and engages in predatory business practices that would be forbidden to a Jew (and maybe even to non-Jews).