Shabbos Archives - AskTheRav

Is there any way I can avoid Boirer and put my laundry on Shabbos in its specified location of the divided hamper (dark, color, whites), for example by spreading out the laundry and putting one item at a time? Or do I have to wait for after Shabbos to put it in the proper division?

Organizing the laundry was on Shabbos is not only an issue of borer, but also an issue of ממצוא חפצך, doing something on Shabbos to prepare for a Melacha…

If my house keys are in my coat pocket with a tile key finder attached to it, does it make my coat Muktza for Shabbos? Can I move it out on Shabbos (it may be affecting the tracking as I move it)?

Your coat is not Muktzeh, and the key-chain may be removed from the coat if necessary as long as the tile key finder is not directly touched. Explanation: The…

Can one ask the cleaning lady on Shabbos to fill up the hot water samovar? And if it Is not permissible, are there any lenience’s to still use it for baby formula?

One may not ask a non-Jew to heat up water on Shabbos. However, if you have no hot water for the baby bottle or if needed for baby food,…

If the light is on in a child’s room and its a LED light, and it late (so it would be a challenge to find a goy), can a two year old be directed to turn the light off? [The AR says 334 that to extinguish even under Chinuch one should be Moche, but perhaps in a child’s room one can direct a child to the light.]

Where no other choice exists and it’s needed for the welfare of the child, for example, so that he should be able to sleep at night, he may be asked…

If someone told a cleaning lady on Shabbos morning that the Cholent Crock-Pot is too hot, she then went and turned the Crock-Pot off. When he saw what she did, he told her that is not what he meant, so she turned it back on to the lowest setting. Is this okay? Is it okay to eat from the Cholent?

If the cleaning lady made a mistake and you did not tell her anything, for example she mistakenly switched off the light and then she re-lit it, or she…

If I am visiting a community that has an Eiruv, and I do not want to (shouldn’t?) use it, can I ask someone to carry an object for me (to/from Shul for example)?

Firstly without knowing the Halachic status of the Eiruv it is difficult to answer. If you are referring to a metropolitan city Eiruv those issues are even more questionable,…

1. Can one touch flowers that are in a vase on Shabbos? According to Alter Rebbes Shulchan Aruch, 336:18; and 494:14, It seems like it is allowed since they were already prepared from Erev Shabbos. 2. Also, may one take flowers out of a vase with water on Shabbos? Would that be the same as Koitzer?

Moving flowers: Flowers and decorative leaves or branches which were cut and arranged prior to Shabbos are regarded as a decoration and are not Muktzeh. They may be handled directly. However, if…

At what point can one consider a woman a Yoledes and can start calling a taxi and do Melachos with a Shinui?

See here and here.

How may one clean up Seforim from a table on Shabbos and put them back on the shelf?

If your intention is to clear the table, but not to organize the Seforim, then you are allowed to take the Seforim off the table and put them back…

Can a sous vide be used for Shabbos? What is the correct way to do it? We are thinking about making something in place of Cholent for Shabbos day.

It may not be used on Shabbos, but is permissible for use on Yom Tov. An excellent comprehensive article about Sous Vide for Shabbos has been written by Horav…