Q & A from Ask the Rabbi (names and emails withheld)
Question: May I walk by a security light on Shabbos if the motion detector will turn on the light as I pass?
Answer: An activity that is permitted on Shabbas but may result in a forbidden activity is called “Davar Sh’eino Miskavein,” which literally means “Something for which one had no intention.” This activity is permissible, for even if something forbidden resulted, one can claim that he or she did not intend for the consequence. If walking by the motion detector may or may not turn on the light, depending on the distance you walk from the device, then even if the device does go on, it is permissible for you to walk there on Shabbos, as long as you don’t purposefully try to turn on the light. An activity that is permitted on Shabbas but inevitably results in a forbidden activity is called "Psik Reisha (V’lo Yamus?)", which literally means "Can you cut off the [chicken’s] head (and not expect it to die?)", i.e., the consequence is clearly unavoidable. In such cases, the next question is — is the forbidden consequence desirable or undesirable (or just don’t care) to the one who performs the original permitted activity ("nicha lei" or "lo nicha lei")? If the forbidden consequence is desirable (nicha lei), the first activity is also forbidden.
Therefore, if walking down the street will definitely turn on the light, and the area is not well light to begin with, then the additional light is considered desirable (“niche lei”) and it is forbidden to walk there on Shabbos. If the consequence is clearly undesirable or you don’t care, (“lo niche lei”) however, then one can be lenient when there is a combination of other halachic factors. A classic example of such a situation is the opening of a refrigerator on Shabbas. It is a "Psik Reisha" that this will admit warm air to the refrigerator which will inevitably turn on the compressor. This result is undesirable, however, because one does not want to use up electricity while the door is open.
This factor in combination with the fact that the turning on of the compressor results indirectly (“gramma” in Hebrew) from opening the door, (i.e. there is a delay), allows one to open the refrigerator on Shabbos even though the compressor will eventually come on. In the case of walking by a motion detector in a well lit area, the fact that the light will come on is (“lo niche lei”) undesirable, or at least he doesn’t care.
This, in combination with the fact that he is walking to do a mitzvah, (i.e. going to shul or going home to eat his Shabbos “seudah” or meal), and turning on a light through a motion detector is (“kilachar yad”) being done in an unusual way, then, if there is no other way to go, it is permitted.
Question: If, when I remove my challos from the pan, some bread sticks to the bottom, may I still use it for Lechem Mishneh (my two whole loaves for the Shabbos meal)?
Answer: One of the daily miracles which Hashem performed for the Jews during their forty years in the desert was to give them manna each day. The manna descended from heaven each morning to provide that day’s sustenance. On Shabbos morning, however, no manna fell. Instead, twice the usual daily ration fell on Friday, half of which was set aside for Shabbos. As a remembrance of this double portion, we begin each Shabbos meal with two loaves of challah (or bread, rolls, buns, matzoh, etc.) These two loaves are known as lechem mishneh. Here are some relevant laws concerning lechem mishneh.
- One must use two complete loaves (challos) for lechem mishneh.
- A loaf is considered whole even if it has a split or crack provided that when one lifts the challah by the weaker section, the loaf does not break in two.
- Loaves that become attached during baking may be separated and are still considered whole for the purpose of lechem mishneh. According to some opinions they may even be used while they are still attached to each other. However, it is best to separate them from each other, and they remain whole, even if one can tell they were joined together. Where part of one loaf remains stuck to the other, it is best to remove the piece, so that the loaf to which it is stuck should look whole.
- Where possible, one should be particular that the loaves be perfectly whole. Therefore, if there is a label stuck to the loaf itself, one should not remove it until after one has cut the bread, so that the loaf remains whole at the time of the blessing.
- A partially burnt loaf whose burnt portion has not yet been cut off is considered whole. If, however, it is so burnt that it is impossible to eat it, even through great difficulty, then it is not called whole.
- A broken loaf is considered whole according to some authorities if the amount missing is less than 1/48 of the entire loaf. If it is greater, i.e. the loaf got cut in half, or a big piece got stuck to the bottom of the pan, and you don’t have another whole loaf, then, the two halves, or two pieces may be stuck together through the use of a toothpick or something else inconspicuous, to give the appearance of a whole challah while making the brochah. This is only true of two halves or pieces, not three.
Not a comment but a question, if I may.
On Shabbas, in what manner may one return a pot, which was completely removed from the stove, back to its original position? Are there conditions?
Thanking you in advance.
P.S.I learn a lot from your site. Thankyou and G_d Bless.
Hannah,
The conditions for returning food to the fire (stove) on Shabbos are:
1) The stove must be covered with a blech (piece of sheet metal or aluminum foil
2)The food must be completely cooked
3)The food should not have cooled off completely
4)The pot of food must still be in his hand
5)At the time he removed the pot of food he intended to return it
Many authorities hold that if the pot is still in his hand, even if he did not intend to return it to the covered stove, he may nevertheless return it. Similarly, many authorities hold that if he intended to return it, but placed it down on a table, bench, bed or counter [but not on the ground] he may return it to the covered stove. One may rely on this lenient opinion in case of necessity (e.g. for guests).