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Reading on Shabbat: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Learning secular subjects on Shabbat
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# It is permitted to read the ingredient list on food products on [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Yalkut Yosef 307.12 </ref>. | # It is permitted to read the ingredient list on food products on [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Yalkut Yosef 307.12 </ref>. | ||
# It is permitted to look in a phone book to find a specific name and address on [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Yalkut Yosef 307.13 </ref> | # It is permitted to look in a phone book to find a specific name and address on [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Yalkut Yosef 307.13 </ref> | ||
==Learning | ==Learning Secular Subjects on Shabbat== | ||
# According to Sephardim, one should only learn Torah on [[Shabbat]] and one may not learn secular subjects. According to Ashkenazim, many are lenient to allow learning secular wisdom on [[Shabbat]] but a pious person should refrain. <Ref> | # According to Sephardim, one should only learn Torah on [[Shabbat]] and one may not learn secular subjects such as science. According to Ashkenazim, many are lenient to allow learning secular wisdom on [[Shabbat]] but a pious person should refrain. <Ref> | ||
* Mishna [[Shabbat]] 148b writes that one may not count the number of guests from a list on [[Shabbat]]. Abaye in the Gemara 149a explains that this is a rabbinic restriction so as not to come to read a Shtar Hedyot on [[Shabbat]]. What is a Shtar Hedyot which one may not read on [[Shabbat]]? Rashi 116b s.v. Shtar explains it to be financial calculations or letters. The Rambam (Pirush Mishnayot [[Shabbat]] 23:2) also explains Shtar Hedyot to mean letters and the reason for this is that on [[Shabbat]] one may only read Navi and it’s explanations and not even a book of wisdom and science. Bet Yosef 307:17 quotes the Baal HaMoer (43a s.v. VeHa) who agrees. | * Mishna [[Shabbat]] 148b writes that one may not count the number of guests from a list on [[Shabbat]]. Abaye in the Gemara 149a explains that this is a rabbinic restriction so as not to come to read a Shtar Hedyot on [[Shabbat]]. What is a Shtar Hedyot which one may not read on [[Shabbat]]? Rashi 116b s.v. Shtar explains it to be financial calculations or letters. The Rambam (Pirush Mishnayot [[Shabbat]] 23:2) also explains Shtar Hedyot to mean letters and the reason for this is that on [[Shabbat]] one may only read Navi and it’s explanations and not even a book of wisdom and science. Bet Yosef 307:17 quotes the Baal HaMoer (43a s.v. VeHa) who agrees. | ||
* However, the Rashba (149a s.v. VeLeInyan) explains Shtar Hedyot as a business documents. This is also the definition of the Ri quoted in Tosfot 116b d"h "kol sheken" and the Rosh (see there where he writes that reading shtarei hedyotot is a problem of mimtzo cheftecha from Yishayahu 58:13) [[Shabbat]] 23:1 (Rashi himself on 149a seems to say this also, and tosfot 149a d"h "shtarei" questions Rashi. see Netziv in Meromei Sadeh 149 for a reconciliation of Rashi). Therefore, Sh”t Rashba 7:288 rules that it’s permitted to read books of wisdom and medicine and quotes the Ramban who agreed. [Bet Yosef 307:17 learns this out from another Teshuva of the Rashba 1:772 where he says that one may analyze an astrological tool called the Istrolav.] | * However, the Rashba (149a s.v. VeLeInyan) explains Shtar Hedyot as a business documents. This is also the definition of the Ri quoted in Tosfot 116b d"h "kol sheken" and the Rosh (see there where he writes that reading shtarei hedyotot is a problem of mimtzo cheftecha from Yishayahu 58:13) [[Shabbat]] 23:1 (Rashi himself on 149a seems to say this also, and tosfot 149a d"h "shtarei" questions Rashi. see Netziv in Meromei Sadeh 149 for a reconciliation of Rashi). Therefore, Sh”t Rashba 7:288 rules that it’s permitted to read books of wisdom and medicine and quotes the Ramban who agreed. [Bet Yosef 307:17 learns this out from another Teshuva of the Rashba 1:772 where he says that one may analyze an astrological tool called the Istrolav.] | ||
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# Many authorities forbid reading novels on [[Shabbat]]. Some are lenient for pleasure reading.<ref>S”A 307:16 writes that secular literature, romance, and history of wars are forbidden to read on [[Shabbat]] and even during the week because it is considered an activity of scoffers (Moshav Letzim) and it is like following idolater’s practices (Al Tifnu El HaElilim) and reading romance is also a violation of provoking the Yetzer Hara. Rav Chaim Kanievsky (quoted by Menucha Shelemah pg 226) says that it is forbidden to read narratives and dramas on [[Shabbat]] because they do not inspire to Yirat Shamayim. Similarly, [[Shabbos]] Home (Rabbi Simcha Cohen, vol 1, pg 57-8) writes that the minhag is lenient by science, math, and medicine but not history and fictional novels which are not considered ‘wisdom’, however, one who fears heaven should refrain from any secular wisdom on [[Shabbat]]. However, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 4, pg 982) (based on Rama 307:1 and Mishna Brurah 307:65) writes that strictly speaking pleasure reading is permitted but concludes that it’s best to refrain from any secular book on [[Shabbat]]. 39 Melachos adds that obviously if there’s objectionable material it’s forbidden to read on [[Shabbat]] or the week. </ref> | # Many authorities forbid reading novels on [[Shabbat]]. Some are lenient for pleasure reading.<ref>S”A 307:16 writes that secular literature, romance, and history of wars are forbidden to read on [[Shabbat]] and even during the week because it is considered an activity of scoffers (Moshav Letzim) and it is like following idolater’s practices (Al Tifnu El HaElilim) and reading romance is also a violation of provoking the Yetzer Hara. Rav Chaim Kanievsky (quoted by Menucha Shelemah pg 226) says that it is forbidden to read narratives and dramas on [[Shabbat]] because they do not inspire to Yirat Shamayim. Similarly, [[Shabbos]] Home (Rabbi Simcha Cohen, vol 1, pg 57-8) writes that the minhag is lenient by science, math, and medicine but not history and fictional novels which are not considered ‘wisdom’, however, one who fears heaven should refrain from any secular wisdom on [[Shabbat]]. However, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat, vol 4, pg 982) (based on Rama 307:1 and Mishna Brurah 307:65) writes that strictly speaking pleasure reading is permitted but concludes that it’s best to refrain from any secular book on [[Shabbat]]. 39 Melachos adds that obviously if there’s objectionable material it’s forbidden to read on [[Shabbat]] or the week. </ref> | ||
# Concerning studying for a secular test on [[Shabbat]] see [[Hachana#Study Torah and other subjects|Hachana]]. | # Concerning studying for a secular test on [[Shabbat]] see [[Hachana#Study Torah and other subjects|Hachana]]. | ||
==Bus schedule== | ==Bus schedule== | ||
# One shouldn’t read a bus schedule on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]], vol 2, pg 197) </ref> | # One shouldn’t read a bus schedule on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Yalkut Yosef ([[Shabbat]], vol 2, pg 197) </ref> | ||
