Games on Shabbat: Difference between revisions

## Jigsaw puzzles <ref> Sefer Tiltulei [[Shabbat]] (pg 25 note 24) considers puzzles to be Keli SheMelachto LeIssur as it’s forbidden to put together a puzzle on [[Shabbat]]. So writes Shalmei Yehuda (pg 90) quoting Rav Elyashiv. [It’s clear to me, that the above poskim hold like those who forbid building puzzles [including Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:23]. However, according to those who are lenient regarding building puzzles [Sh”t Or Letzion 2:42:6, Sh”t Beer Moshe 6:26, Rav Pinchas Scheinberg (“Children in Halacha” pg 140), and Menuchat Ahava (vol 3, 22:16) under certain conditions (see there)], the jigsaw puzzle should only be Kli Sh’Melachto LeHeter.] </ref>

# Children who reached the age of chinuch shouldn't play stickers on Shabbat.<ref>The Rambam Shabbat 10:11 explains that sticking two papers together on Shabbat is a biblical prohibition of Tofer. The Shulchan Aruch O.C. 340:14 codifies this prohibition. Therefore, [https://torah.org/torah-portion/weekly-halacha-5761-kisavo/ Rav Doniel Neustadt (Weekly Halacha 5761 Ki Tavo)] writes that if the stickers are firmly placed on a surface that they can last there for 24 hours it may be forbidden. Rav Meir Mazuz in Mekor Neeman 2:352 writes that one shouldn't let children use stickers on Shabbat. Yeladim Khalacha p. 108, [https://dinonline.org/2013/06/09/stickers-on-shabbos/ dinonline.org], [https://www.yeshiva.co/ask/4491 yeshiva.co], [https://www.kipa.co.il/%D7%A9%D7%90%D7%9C-%D7%90%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91/%D7%9E%D7%93%D7%91%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%91%D7%A9%D7%91%D7%AA/ Rav Meir Zukerman] agree. See Minchat Asher 2:39 who discusses Tofer regarding identification stickers in a hospital setting.</ref> If the child did not reach the age of chinuch it is permissible to give the child something which he will do a melacha while playing for his own benefit. Therefore, if the child didn't reach chinuch it is fine to give a child a sticker since even if he sticks it onto a surface it is for his own benefit.<ref>Shulchan Aruch Harav 343:10 clarifies that there is no prohibition of giving a child something with which he might do a melacha for his own benefit. This is relevant to a child who didn't reach chinuch. Otherwise, a parent must stop their child from doing any sin (Rama 343:1 and Shulchan Aruch Harav 343:2). Bet Hillel v. 32 p. 72 applies this to giving a child a sticker that it isn't forbidden since the child can do it for his own benefit.</ref>

# Some say that snow isn’t considered [[Muktzeh]], while others believe it is. In any event it is forbidden to make snowballs or a snowman on Shabbat. <Ref> Children in Halacha (Rabbi Simcha Bunim, pg 138). Beer Moshe 1:20, Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchita 16:note 110 rule that snow isn't [[muktzeh]] based on the Gemara Eruvin 46a and Tosfot Beitzah 2a s.v. ka which says that rain is not [[muktzeh]] as nolad because the moisture was in the clouds before the rain fell. Rivivot Ephraim 1:223:1 agrees.

# Magnets are not [[muktzeh]] on [[Shabbat]].<ref> Tiltulei [[Shabbat]]  (pg 32) </ref> Some hold that it is permissible to attach things using a magnet.<ref> [http://thehalacha.com/wp-content/uploads/Vol3Issue14.pdf Halachically Speaking] in the name of Rav Yisrael Belsky </ref> Others disagree and say that it is an issue of [[tofer]].<ref> [http://thehalacha.com/wp-content/uploads/Vol3Issue14.pdf Halachically Speaking] quoting Rav Elyashiv from Sefer Migdal Dovid page 599:footnote 28 </ref>

# It’s permissible to climb a swing set, but it is forbidden to climb a tree or ascend a ladder which leans against a tree. (This is a Rabbinic prohibition related to [[Kotzer]]). <Ref> Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:15 </ref>

# It’s permissible to use a swing suspended from a swing set. <Ref>Children in Halacha (pg 140), Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:16 </ref>

# Some permit using a swing suspended from a tree as long as the tree doesn’t shake when used; however, a tire suspended from a tree shouldn’t be used. Others forbid all swings suspending from a tree unless the swing suspends from a pole that’s attached to two trees. <Ref>Children in Halacha (pg 140) is lenient, while Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:16 is stringent. </ref>

# Many poskim hold that playing with Lego or Tinkertoy is permitted and isn’t considered building (see page on [[Boneh]]) and is permissible. <Ref> Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:18, Sh”t Or Letzion vol 2 (chap 42:5 pg 272), Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 13:30, Sh”t Be'er Moshe 6:25, Sh”t Yabia Omer 7:39(4), Yechaveh Da'at 2:55, Yalkut Yosef 314:1, Chazon Ovadia ([[Shabbat]] v. 3 pp. 101-103 and v. 5 pp. 293-4), Children in Halacha (Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen, pg 135).  

# It’s forbidden to play a game that one normally writes when playing the game. (See the page on [[Kotaiv]].) <Ref> Chaye Adam ([[Shabbat]] 38:11) </ref> Therefore, some say that scrabble shouldn’t be played on [[Shabbat]] because one normally writes when playing the game. <Ref>Children in Halacha (Rabbi Simcha Bunim, pg 135), Tiltulei [[Shabbat]] (Halachos of [[Muktzeh]] pg 24) </ref>  

# Some hold that it is permissible to play as long as you do not use the scrabble board that has individual squares for each tile (which creates an additional problem of kosev.)

# Some poskim permit building puzzles on [[Shabbat]], while others forbid. (See the page on [[Kotaiv]].) To avoid the issue of [[Borer]] ([[separating]]) one must be careful not to separate pieces that one doesn’t want from those that one wants.<Ref> Sh”t Or Letzion 2:42:6 writes that it’s not considered writing since it’s only for the purposes of a game (and it’s temporary). So too there’s no issue of [[Borer]] since one takes the pieces one wants and uses them immediately. This is also the opinion of Sh”t Beer Moshe 6:26, and Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg quoted in Children in Halacha (pg 140), and Rav Moshe HaLevi in Menuchat Ahava (vol 3, 22:16). [[Asicha_Hilchos_Shabbos_Part_2| Rav Mordechai Willig (Asicha Shabbos 2 p. 6)]] is also lenient. However, Shemirat Shabbat KeHilchata 16:23 forbids if the pieces fit tight together (interlock). Similarly, Shalmei Yehuda (pg 90) quoting Rav Elyashiv and Sefer Tiltulei [[Shabbat]] (pg 25; Rabbi Yisrael Bodner) write that it’s forbidden. </ref>