Taking call on Shabbat

Hi,

The issue of taking call on Shabbat is rather complex, with many views; you may wish to listen to my shiur on the topic here.

Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that a physician who knows before Shabbat that he will be needed to save lives on Shabbat is required to arrange a place to stay in the hospital, or nearby, for Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:131)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a thermometer on Shabbos

Hi,

One may use a mercury thermometer to gauge the temperature of an ill person on Shabbos, even where it is known that the patient is not dangerously ill.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:128)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Would you like to have more? Part II

Hi,

We said here that one who is eating fruit must recite a new berachah if someone brings him a fruit of a different species.

However one who is a guest in a place where they normally bring out many types of fruit need not recite a new blessing when new species are brought; it is expected that new species will be brought out.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:125)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Washing fruit on Shabbat

Hi,

One may wash dirty fruit on Shabbat just before eating it, and this is not included in the prohibition against boreir [sorting] even though one separates the fruit from the dust.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:125)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Meat and dairy gas stovetops?

Hi,

The same burner on a gas stove may be used for both meat and dairy, without kashering in between. However, one must clean the surface of any actual food in between uses.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:124)

[I believe the same is true for electric burners, but the question was asked of Rav Moshe regarding gas.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a fork on Shabbat

Hi,

Background:
One may not sort items on Shabbat, separating desired items from items that are not desired right now. This is called 'boreir'.
However, one may sort a mixture by taking the items he does want right now, assuming he will use them now and assuming he does not use a tool (like a slotted spoon) which is normally used to sort things.

The ruling:
One may use a fork to take solid food from a liquid, such as pickles from a jar, so long as one selects the items he wants, and one uses them now. Although the fork does technically sort as it leaves the liquid behind, one does not intend to sort - the goal is simply to take the pickles - and the fork is not considered a tool normally used for sorting things.

One would not be permitted to use the fork for this if he did, in fact, intend to strain the solid, removing the liquid via the tines of the fork.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:124)

If a Jew turns on the heat on Shabbos

Hi,

If a Jew lives in a building in which another Jew turns on the heat on Shabbos for himself, and it's cold enough outside that leaving the building is not an option, then one may remain inside. One would not be obligated to close the vents in his individual room.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:123)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lowering a gas burner on Yom Tov

Hi,

One may lower a gas flame on Yom Tov in order to cook on it, where it is so strong that it would burn food placed on it, and no appropriate flame is available.

Even if one does have the theoretical option of lighting another burner (from a gas pilot), one need not do so - it is fine to lower the existing flame.

One may not lower a flame on Yom Tov just to save gas, though.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:115)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Lipstick on Shabbat

Hi,

Rav Moshe Feinstein notes two problems with use of lipstick on Shabbat: Coloring, and smearing. The latter may be solved by use of a liquid, and today there are "Shabbat lipsticks" which seek to solve the former as well; see here for more.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:114)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Liquid soap on Shabbat

Hi,

The Torah prohibits smearing a cream on Shabbat.

Many authorities permit use of liquid soap on Shabbat, arguing that it is liquid like water. Rav Moshe Feinstein was uncomfortable with this; since the soap, when rubbed, will cover far more area than it could have in its initial state, this is also considered an act of smearing.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:113)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Brushing one's teeth on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not brush one's teeth with toothpaste on Shabbat, because of the prohibition against smearing a cream on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:112)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Wearing a watch outside an Eruv

Hi,

One may wear a watch on one's wrist outside an Eruv on Shabbat, as this is like clothing, but one may not carry a pocket watch, or a watch attached to one's garment.

One who is careful should avoid wearing a wristwatch, lest he come to accidentally permit one of the other kinds of watches. [Note: Rav Moshe Feinstein wrote this in 1957; it is possible that he would not have been as concerned for this once the other types of watches became rare. On the other hand, this responsum does not address digital watches, with buttons which might easily be pressed by accident.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:111)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Hat Covers on Shabbat

Hi,

One may wear a hat atop another hat for the sake of beauty or extra warmth when travelling outside an eruv on Shabbat, if that type of garb is standard practice. However, one may not wear a hat atop another hat outside an eruv on Shabbat, just to protect the lower hat from the elements and where it does not add to the beauty of the garb.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:108)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Praying for the sick on Shabbat and Yom Tov

Hi,

If a person is dangerously ill, but is not in immediate danger, one should not recite special Tehillim for him on Shabbat or Yom Tov.

However: If the patient requests that people pray today on his behalf, then they should do so, lest he become upset, and have his health damaged, if they would not do so.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:105)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Two 'bar mitzvahs' on the same Shabbos

Hi,

If a minyan includes two boys who have just turned 13, and both wish to read the maftir and neither will back down, then the shul should do the following:

Have a minyan leave the shul after the 7th aliyah. Have one of the boys read the maftir and then the haftorah, without a hagbah/gelilah in between; the Torah is only covered. Then have the minyan who missed maftir return, and have the second boy read the maftir, and have him read the haftorah after hagbah/gelilah.

This would be burdensome for the minyan, but it would be better than causing strife in the community.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:102)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Leaving a shul

Hi,

One should not leave a shul because its members do not act properly; "a little light can dispel much darkness," and his education of others may be effective. However, this does not apply if the shul itself begins to function in a non-halachic manner.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:99)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Outreach on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not create an educational Shabbat morning minyan for Jewish children if he knows they will be driven to the minyan. Although education in prayer is important, it is no greater than education in the laws of Shabbat, especially as the organizer of the minyan will, essentially, instruct these children to violate Shabbat in order to come to the minyan.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:98)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Use of a thermos on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not insulate food on Shabbat, wrapping its receptacle in order to preserve its warmth. Nonetheless, one may place hot food in a thermos on Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:95)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Having a non-Jew help with heating up food on Shabbat

Hi,

If a Jew is not permitted to place food on a hotplate or blech due to the laws of Shabbat, he is also not permitted to have a non-Jew do it on his behalf, and food heated up in that manner would be prohibited.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:94)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Putting dry food on a hotplate on Shabbat

Hi,

One may not take food from the refrigerator and place it on a hotplate or blech on Shabbat, if the heat in that spot is high enough that food left there indefinitely could reach a temperature in excess of yad soledet bo [approximately 113 degrees Fahrenheit]. This includes food that does not contain visible liquid.

Note that the laws of heating up food on Shabbat are complex; please do not rely on these simple emails for practical rulings.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:94)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Multiple blessings of Shehechiyanu

Hi,

One who eats of many new types of fruit at the same setting should recite one blessing of Shehechiyanu for all of them, collectively.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:87)

Have a great Yom Tov,
Mordechai

Berachah on medicine

Hi,

One who ingests a pharmaceutical which he enjoys should recite the appropriate blessing beforehand, even if it is only consumed medicinally.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:82)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah before tasting? Part II

Hi,

Yesterday we mentioned that one need not recite a blessing before tasting food, assuming he is not doing it for benefit, but rather to check the quality of the food.

One who tastes an olive-sized amount of food would be required to recite a blessing, even if he did not do so for benefit.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:80)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah before tasting?

Hi,

One who tastes and swallows food only to learn whether it requires adjusting does not recite a berachah before doing so. However, one who also intends to benefit does recite a berachah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:79)

Have a great day,
Mordechai