On a Shabbos afternoon, Shmuli was having fun playing Peek-A-Boo with his baby brother, Moishy.
“Shmuli – I need to go to a shiur,” said Imma, “You are 11 years old. I think you’re old enough to babysit your baby brother.”
Shmuli was happy to do it. Five minutes after Shmuli’s mother left, the baby started crying. The Peek-A-Boo game was not keeping him happy anymore. Shmuli tried all kinds of tricks, but nothing worked. Then, he saw a deflated beach ball in the toy corner of the living room.
“Great!” exclaimed Shmuli, “The baby will love playing with it. I just need to blow it up.”
Question: Can Shmuli blow up the beach ball?
Hints & Answers
SHMIRAS SHABBOS: Sefer Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchosa (16:7) teaches that something that holds the air with a plug can be blown up on Shabbos, as long as it was blown up before Shabbos (and then deflated).
RHYMES: “tefilla”.
RIDDLES: Rivka ate grapes and other fruits that get a bracha of Borei Peri HaEitz. Therefore, her after bracha for the grapes (Al HaEitz) will cover the other fruits as well. Sarah ate grapes and strawberries or similar such fruits that get a bracha of Borei Peri HaAdama. For the after-brachos, she will need to say Al HaEitz for the grapes and Borei Nefashos for the other fruits.
*Note: Menucha’s answer are not to be taken as final decisions in halacha, but rather as a springboard for discussions and further study.
