TMB for the record I do support students who learn all day, but becasue of your comments I will double think the Yeshivas that I know give to and will direct my hard earned money to those Yeshivas that are more in line with my thinking

The next time someone rings my bell asking for tzedakah I’m going to ask more questions then ever. I’ll ask them their views on going to college. If they equate it with Apikorism I wont give them one penny. If they dont have a job, I’ll ask why. If it’s because they learn all day then I will tell them that they should go learn a trade or get a degree, get a job and earn their own money. That advise will be my Tzedakah…and if they think it’s an assur to have a dog, well forget about it. they wont get anything from me.

I would hope the Yeshivas in Lakewood are producing strong enough Jews that won’t be tempted to go off the derech by taking a finance class at college…I should hope they would have enough strengh than that….And if they don’t well, we have a bigger problem on our hands then college.

Again I urge people to go and listen to Rabbi Lawrence Keleman on torahanytime.org In his story about the near death of his son a group of Chasids who learnt with Rabbi Feur in yeshiva were instrumental in saving the life of his child…The reason I bring this up is because is Rabbi Feur insisted that all who learn with him must have an advanced university degree in engineering. Rabbi is a big BIG Rav…I advise people to research him before commenting further

“Yes, but I don’t know what that has to do with this thread.”

for some it will dismiss anything you have to say here, but not for me

TMB…”charliehall: Haven’t you previously stated you are a congregant of Rabbi Avi Weiss’ synagogue?”

Do YOU really want to go down that road?

thats it…

Dear Cedarhurst

Not sure which University yoy went to , but my experience was very oposit then yours. As I mentioned above, lets contact Rabbi Moshe David Tendler, in Monsey. I would love to hear his opinion on the matter.

Cedarhurst, “today are breeding grounds of atheism, secularism, militantism, anachorism, and rampant sexual immorality.”

thats a big statement from someone who probably never stepped foot on a college campus or took any classes.

I find it funny that we have all these laws, then spend endless hours and money to work around them…This is not a jab at all, I think it’s funny how we find all these loopholes…

Derech HaMelech.

“you have no proof that they didn’t regret their decisions and would tell someone else not to go|”

AND you have no proof they DID regret their decision

“Gedolim are the leaders of our nation, in whose footsteps we yearn to follow and whose guidance has sustained us for thousands of years”

in my eyes Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Rabbi Noah Weinberg ARE Gedolim

“We do not go to college because “Withought I would never be able to enjoy my lifestyle”.

You have no right to say that, if that is my own experience

“

Trying my best “mike: Just because someone went to college in the folly of their youth”

I would disagree Rabbis like Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Rabbi Noah Weinberg would call their University education Follies.

TMB, Just becasue it is something you don’t agree with it doesn’t make it wrong. Wrong for you, YES, but not for others with different values then yours. Im proud of the University I went to and the education it provided me. Withought I would never be able to enjoy my lifestyle, which includes sending my Kids to a Yeshiva School and costly Jewish Summer Camps.

what about seeing eye dogs…

Some well known Rabbis who felt it was OK to go to University….

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan he earned a master’s degree in physics

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz Steinsaltz studied mathematics,[2] physics, and chemistry at the Hebrew University

Rabbi Motty Berger is a graduate of Loyola University and received his rabbinical ordination from Ner Israel Rabbinical College, Baltimore Md. He worked in anti-missionary activity, founding, Jews For Judaism prior to moving to Israel. A world renowned speaker, he is currently Senior Lecturer at Aish’s Discovery, Essentials, Fellowships Programs and the Executive Learning Center

Rabbi Noah Weinberg founder of AISH HATORAH completed his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and post-graduate studies at Loyola Graduate School

Please feel free to add more!

from chabad.org

Shabbat presents certain challenges for pet owners, but many, many pet owners are also Shabbat-observant Jews, and becoming familiar with a few basic rules and concepts is all that is needed.

There are four primary areas affected by the Shabbat laws:

1) Feeding

2) “Trapping”

3) Walking your pet

4) Touching and petting

Feeding

Feeding pets on Shabbat is permitted.1 In fact we are required by the Torah to feed dependant animals every day before we eat ourselves. This is derived from the verse (Deuteronomy 11:15): “I will give grass in your fields for your animal, and you shall eat and be satisfied”–food for the animal is mentioned before food for oneself!2

Trapping

Trapping, defined as any act which restricts the freedom of an animal, is forbidden on Shabbat.3

This prohibition is not relevant to many pets, because the prohibition against “trapping” only applies to animals which occasionally escape and are difficult to catch, not to domesticated animals which do not normally run away, since these are considered to be “trapped” already — due to their nature and/or training.4

If your pet is prone to running away, the following rules apply: 1) It is forbidden to put a leash on the pet in a public area, or any place where it would take more than one lunge to catch it; leash the pet before you leave the house. 2) One may not close a window (through which the pet can feasibly escape) or door while the pet is in the home.5 This problem can be circumvented by securing your pet every time you open and close the door or by bodily blocking the doorway when you open the door so that there is never enough space for the pet to fit through.

Walking a Pet

Walking a pet on Shabbat is not problematic per se, as long as you avoid carrying the animal or any pet accessories in the “public domain” (See The Shabbat Laws).

While the pet may be collared and leashed, it must be clear that you are walking an animal, not carrying a leash. The pet must therefore remain close to you at all times, and the length of the leash should remain taut; never sagging within a handbreadth of the ground, and no more than a handbreadth of extra leash should dangle from your hand.6

Touching and Petting

Any object which offers no immediate practical use is called muktzah, and may not be handled on Shabbat. According to conventional Jewish law, animals, too, fall into this category. While household pets may be an exception — as will be explained shortly — let us first discuss conventional halachah with regards to handling animals.

It is forbidden to pet, hold, or stroke an animal on Shabbat.7 An exception to the no-handling rule is if the animal is in pain or discomfort; in such an instance it is permitted to touch it in order to ease its pain. For example, one is allowed to apply oil or an ointment8 to a wound,9 or help an animal which is having difficulty walking.10

This exception only applies to the rules of muktzah. The laws of muktzah are of rabbinic origin, and were waived by the rabbis in an instance of animal pain or discomfort. However, in a case when the animal’s life may be in danger,11 it is permitted to ask a non-Jew to do any activity which is ordinarily forbidden on Shabbat.12

All of the above, as we said, is the conventional law pertaining to handling animals on Shabbat. It has been argued by certain prominent halachic authorities13 that household pets are not included in the category of muktzah at all, because they have an “immediate practical use” — namely, providing people with pleasure and companionship. There are others who disagree, maintaining that the rabbinic prohibition against handling animals on Shabbat was imposed across the board. As there are differing opinions in this matter, speak to your rabbi, who will advise you regarding your particular situation.

[Animal litter is also muktzah. But you may clean it up if it is in your home and disturbing you.14]

Note: All these rules apply to major Jewish holidays too, with the exception of the rules regarding carrying in the Public Domain, which are not applicable on Jewish holidays.

17 Comments

FOOTNOTES

1. It is forbidden to force-feed geese, calves, or other animals (for fattening purposes) on Shabbat (Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 324:6).

2. Talmud, Brachot 40a; Gittin 62a. On the other hand, it is forbidden to feed wild animals, or any animal whose upkeep is not your responsibility, on Shabbat (Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 324:7). The exception to this rule is wild dogs (Talmud, Shabbat 155b).

3. Mishnah, Shabbat 73a.

4. Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 316:25.

5. Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 316:7.

6. Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 305:19. Incidentally, though accessories such as leashes are not a problem, one may not take an animal into a public domain if the animal is bearing a load.

7. Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 308:78.

8. This is provided that that the ointment is liquified. A cream may only be dabbed on to a wound, not smeared and spread.

9. Interestingly, although many non-critical medicines and cures are forbidden on Shabbat for humans, for animals they are permitted.

10. Two caveats to this rule: 1) One may not lift the animal entirely. For that reason a bird’s feet may not be moved because that will cause it to automatically lift off from the ground. 2) This is only permitted in a “Private Domain” (See The Shabbat Laws).

11. Similarly, while a Jew may not deliver an animal’s baby on Shabbat, a non-Jew may do so on the Jew’s behalf.

12. Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 332.

13. Including Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (Responsa Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim vol. 5, responsa 22)

14. Shulchah Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 308:72.

when I give Tzedakah, no one ever seems to turn it down even though the money I’m giving was earned because I went to such an unholy place like a University…seems to be a bit of a double standard on that one.

Cedarhurst, thanks for the warning, but i dont need it

always here… My children are 3 and 5. Some of the “games” are very educatinal and helps the kids witrh their motor development. I will check out the other sites and see if they are a good fit for us…