Heritage Weekly Newsletter

Do you have questions on the laws of Shabbos?

When they reach the land of Canaan, HaShem appears to Avram and tells him that this is the land that He will give to his descendants. A famine ensues and Avram is forced to relocate to Egypt to find food. Realising that his wife`s beauty would cause his death at the hand of the Egyptians, Avram tells her to say that she is his sister. Sarahy is taken to the Pharaoh, but HaShem afflicts the Pharaoh and his court with severe plagues and she is released unmolested.

Avram returns to Erets Yisrael (Canaan) with much wealth given to him by the Egyptians. After a quarrel over grazing rights breaks out between their shepherds, Lot decides to part ways with his uncle Avram. Lot chooses to live in the rich but corrupt city of Sedom in the fertile plain of the Jordan. A war breaks out between the kings of the region, and Sedom is defeated. Lot is taken captive. Together with a handful of his converts, Avram rescues Lot, miraculously overpowering vastly superior forces, but demurs from accepting any of the spoils of the battle. In a prophetic covenant, HaShem reveals to Avram that his offspring will be exiled to a strange land where they will be oppressed for 400 years, after which they will emerge with great wealth and return to Erets Yisrael, their irrevocable inheritance.

Sarahy is barren and gives Hagar, her Egyptian hand-maiden, to Avram in the hope that she will provide them with a child. Hagar becomes arrogant when she discovers that she is pregnant. Sarahy deals harshly with her, and Hagar flees. On the instruction of an angel Hagar returns to Avram and gives birth to Yishmael. The Parashah concludes with HaShem commanding Avram to circumcise himself and his offspring throughout the generations as a covenant between HaShem and his seed. HaShem changes Avram`s name to Avraham, and Sarah`s name to Sarah. HaShem promises Avraham a son, Yitschak, despite Avraham being ninety-nine years old and Sarah ninety. On that day, Avraham circumcises himself, Yishmael and all his household.

Introduction to Havdala

Havdala is said after Shabbat, Jewish festivals, Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur.  Shabbat havdala is more extensive than after Yom Kippur and Jewish festivals. 

Shabbat havdala consists of:

• Beverage: Wine, Grape Juice, or Chamar Medina. Wine is always the preferred beverage for all havdalas because it is prestigious.
• Spices: The extra soul we are given on Shabbat leaves after Shabbat is over, so we sniff a pleasant odor to cover for that loss.
• Flame: The Shabbat havdala flame commemorates that Adam HaRishon (the first man) created fire after the first Shabbat.

Last week`s question:

Non kosher vs: Transgressing Shabbos

Question: A Jewish patient is rushed to the hospital on Shabbos. Unfortunately there is no kosher food available and fasting for the duration of Shabbos would be dangerous for his health.

Should he eat non kosher food or should some one else transgress Shabbos by traveling to get him kosher food?

Answer: If the patient is an adult religious Jew then we transgress Shabbos [in a backhanded way if possible] on his behalf rather than having him eat non kosher. (M.B. 328:14; S.S.C 40:17) If there is food that is technically kosher just lacking proper supervision then that should be given before transgressing Shabbos.

Although the sin of Shabbos transgression is generally speaking more severe than that of not eating kosher and should therefore override, here it does not for two reasons.

We are concerned that the patient may be disgusted by the notion of being fed non kosher food and may therefore refrain from eating it and endanger his health.

The laws and restrictions of Shabbos were never said in a scenario where their observance would endanger someone`s life. Therefore it’s not considered an act of Shabbos transgression at all. 

Where as in regards to eating non kosher food, although it is permitted in life threatening situations it is still considered eating non kosher. The reason being, that the food will always retain its inherent status. Therefore to allow eating it would require overriding the  prohibition and that is only done when there is no other permissible option. 

This week`s question:

Motion sensing lights

In an effort to conserve energy, my condo association installed motion sensing lights in the room that houses the garbage shoot. Now anytime the door to the room is opened the light immediately goes on. It`s there any way I can throw out my garbage on Shabbos?