Shimon and his friend Asher were walking home from shul on a Shabbos morning.
All of a sudden, Shimon pointed with his finger and said, “Look! Something does not look right over there.” When they approached closer, they realized that the recent storm broke a power line and, now, one end of it was on the ground. “This is very dangerous,” said Asher, “No one should step on this open wire.”
“I think we need to call the electric company and tell them about it, so that they will come and fix it. Although it is Shabbos, for Pikuach Nefesh we can do melacha.” said Shimon.
Asher thought for a moment and said, “We can avoid that by standing here until the end of Shabbos and warning people not to come close to the power line.”
Question: Who proposed the right solution - Shimon or Asher?
Hints & Answers
SHMIRAS SHABBOS: Sefer Chut Shoni—a collection of shiurim from HaRav Nissim Karelitz, shlita—teaches the following: “If a person sees on Shabbos an active electric power line that fell on the ground, and there is a concern that people might endanger themselves by coming in contact with it, the halacha appears to be as follows: Although the person who discovered the power line or other people are able to stand there the entire Shabbos and warn others not to come near the power line, it is nevertheless permitted to call upon Chevrat Hachashmal (Israel’s Electric Company) so that they will fix the power line on Shabbos. This is because a person who stands there to protect others from getting hurt from the power line is not providing a complete solution that will save others from danger. Having said that, a person needs to judge each situation separately.” (Chut Shoni, Shabbos, vol. 4 p.162)
RHYME: “I”.
RIDDLES: Kiyor (the washing basin). The Torah says that it was made from copper that came from mirrors that Jewish women donated to the Mishkan.
*Note: Menucha’s answer are not to be taken as final decisions in halacha.
