When Reading in Shul, DO NOT Read During Davening or Krias HaTorah
...Continued from the previous week
1) The primary purpose of an oven is for baking and cooking, a prohibited Melacha on Shabbos. Therefore, an oven is classified as a Kli SheMelachto L’Isur.
2) The door of the oven is considered part of the oven, and is thus also classified as a Kli SheMelachto L’Isur.
This door may only be opened or closed if doing so L’Tzorech Gufo or L’Tzorech Mekomo, such as opening it to take out food that is inside the oven, or to close it so nobody hurts themselves by walking into the open door.
The same guidelines would apply to a washing machine, a clothes dryer, a dishwasher and to similar appliances, as we discussed previously.
3) Toys and other children’s games [which may be used on Shabbos] are not Muktzeh.
4) The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 308:45) rules that it is prohibited to play with a ball on Shabbos, as it is deemed like a stone, which is Muktzeh Machmas Gufo, a serious class of Muktzeh. (See Mishna Berura S”K 157)
However, the Rama (ibid) says that the custom is to be lenient and allow it, as it was manufactured for the purpose of playing with it at all times, and thus we cannot say that it was set aside to not be used on Shabbos. (See Mishna Berura S”K 158)
Many Poskim maintain that the Shulchan Aruch was referring to a ball that was made from paper or a rock (as was common in the olden days), but even he would agree that the balls used nowadays, which are expressly manufactured for the purpose of playing are permitted. (Ruling of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal, quoted in Shevus Yitzchok page 89)
For Halacha L'Ma'aseh, of course, each individual must consult their own Rav.
5) Even if a ball is not deemed Muktzeh, there are still many other considerations to keep in mind regarding balls and ball playing on Shabbos.
6) Adults, and children over Bar Mitzvah, should ideally not play ball on Shabbos. (See Mishna Berura Siman 338 S”K 21 quoting the MaHara Sason regarding not playing games even in the weekdays. See also Shu”t Or L’Tzion Vol. 2 Siman 42:5. See Talmud Yerushalmi Perek 15:3 that Hashem gave us Shabbos as a time to learn Torah. See also Ben Ish Chai, second year, Parashas Shmos in introduction that learning Torah on Shabbos is 1,000 times (!) as powerful as learning during the week. See also Talmud Yerushalmi Ta’anis Perek 4:5, cited by the Beis Yosef Orach Chaim Siman 308, regarding a city being destroyed due to ball playing on Shabbos, according to the interpretations of the Pmei Moshe and the Korban Ha’eidah there. See also Rokeach Hilchos Shabbos siman 55. See also Midrash Rabbah Eicha perek 2:4)
7) According to many Poskim, children, under the age of Bar/Bas Mitzvah may play with a ball on Shabbos on smooth surfaces, such as on a table, on concrete, asphalt, tile or carpet. If doing so outdoors, it is only permitted in an area that has a kosher Eiruv.
8) Some Poskim maintain that soccer, and other games which involve rolling a ball on the floor may not be played on Shabbos, even on smooth surfaces. (See Mishna Berura Siman 308 S”K 158 and Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa Perek 16:6. If the game does not involve the ball rolling on the floor, some Poskim allow it on grassy surfaces as well. See ‘Children in Halacha’ from Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen Shlita, page 137)
9) If a ball gets stuck in a tree or a bush, it is prohibited to get it out on Shabbos by shaking the tree or bush, by using a stick or by any other means. (See Mishna Berura Siman 336 S”K 3)
10) Organized ball games with proper teams, played on their designated fields (such as a basketball game on a basketball court or a baseball game on a baseball field etc.) should be avoided on Shabbos, even for children, as it is considered Uvda D’chol (a weekday activity) and a Zilzul Shabbos (disrespectful to the sanctity of the Shabbos day) for these events to take place.
Attending a sporting event on Shabbos is prohibited. (This is the case even if the issues of purchasing tickets, carrying tickets and other Shabbos prohibitions are somehow avoided. See Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa Perek 16:9)
For Halacha L’Ma’aseh, of course, each individual should consult their own Rav.
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
