From the Rav’s Desk: 1) Hammock on tree on Shabbos 2) White wine by 7th hour 3) Mezuzah fell on Shabbos

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  1. Question: [Monday, 25th Tishreiy, 5781]

We have a hammock that is directly attached to a tree in our seminary. The ropes which hold up the hammock are directly attached to the trees. May the girls sit on it on Shabbos?

 

Answer:

No. It is Rabbinically forbidden to make use of a tree on Shabbos, which includes a prohibition against making use of items that are attached to a tree, known as Tzidei Ilan. Thus, if the hammock is directly tied to the tree then it is forbidden to make use of the hammock on Shabbos. Only if the hammock is attached to a second item, such as a nail that is knocked into the tree then it is permitted. This is known as Tzidei Tzedadin. If the hammock is attached to a chain, and the chain is attached to the tree, it is nevertheless forbidden, as to be considered Tzidei Tzedadin the hammock must be attached to a secondary item that is part of the tree, and not simply to a secondary item that it is attached to.

Sources: See here for the full sources on this subject: https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/may-one-lie-on-a-swing-or-hammock-which-is-attached-to-a-tree-on-shabbos/

  1. Question: [Thursday 28th Tishreiy, 5781]

May one make Kiddush on white wine during the 7th hour. I have heard different things on this subject?

 

Answer:

No. There is no source to limit the prohibition to red wine and not white wine. On the contrary, the fact that no Posek makes any differentiation is a clear ruling that in truth the wine color makes no difference, and so is the custom. Rav Leibal Groner related to me that “The Rebbe said that we do not make kiddush at that time no difference what color wine.”; Rav Eli Landa Shlita related to me that those who allow white wine have no source for allowing it and that it is equivalent to “Purim Torah” and should not be relied upon at all, at all. Accordingly, although the ruling of Rav Levi Bistritzky Z”al of the Tzefas community was to permit white wine, practically, one should not rely on this ruling. Perhaps even Rav Bistritzky A”h would retract from his ruling if he were aware of all that we have mentioned here. Viein Mashivim Acharei Hari, although one should not rely on this Halacha Lemaaseh.

Sources: See here for the full sources on this subject: https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/avoiding-making-kiddush-during-the-7th-hour-on-friday-night/

 

  1. Question: [Thursday 28th Tishreiy, 5781]

During our meal, the Mezuzah [with its case] fell off from the door of the dining room. What do we do? Can we replace it on Shabbos? Must we leave the room to a different room in order not to be in a room without a Mezuzah?

 

Answer:

Forbidden to replace. One may remain in the room.

The explanation: One may not replace the Mezuzah on Shabbos due to the building prohibition. The only time it would be permitted to replace a Mezuzah is if the Mezuzah parchment slid out of the case, in which case one may enter it back into the case. However, to tape, or nail, or glue etc the Mezuzah back on is forbidden. Nonetheless, one is not required to leave the room being that some Poskim rule that there is no prohibition against living in a home without a Mezuzah, and even according to the stringent opinion who prohibits one can argue that on Shabbos there is no prohibition, as since he is unable to erect the Mezuzos on Shabbos, he is therefore exempt from the Mitzvah, and it is as if he living in a room that is not obligated in a Mezuzah. Nonetheless, some Poskim conclude that even on Shabbos if another room is available then one must switch rooms. However, regarding the above case that the Mezuzah fell from the dining room, being that relocating the meal would take much time, seemingly even the stringent approach would be lenient to define it as if another room is not available at that time, and hence it would be permitted to remain there according to all. To note that if the above occurred on Sukkos, such as if the Mezuzah of the backdoor from which one enters into the Sukkah fell off, there would be an even greater leniency if based on Heker Tzir the Mezuzah is placed towards the direction of entering the Sukkah, as a Sukkah is exempt from Mezuzah during the seven days of Sukkos.   

Sources: See M”A 13:8 [no prohibition to enter home without Mezuzah]; P”M 38 A”A 15 [must move out of room on Shabbos if other room is available]; Pischeiy Teshuvah Y.D. 285:1; Daas Kedoshim 289:2; Sdei Chemed Mareches 40:115 [main opinion follows that there is no prohibition to live in home without

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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