DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1018 KB)
Trapping Explained- One of the 39 Forbidden Melachot on Shabbat

One of the 39 Melachot is "Saad"-trapping. This was done in the Mishkan in several forms. They trapped the Hilzaon fish in order to use its blue dye for the Tehelet. They also trapped the Tahash, to use its skin to drape over the roof of the Mishkan.

Maran brings a practical application of trapping a wild bird into a caged area. Doing so is a Torah violation of Shabbat. The question arises what to do if a bird flies into one’s house. Is he allowed to close his door? He may want to keep other birds from entering, or prevent the cold form penetrating his house or he may just want to go to sleep and leave himself protected. Does closing the door constitute a violation of Saad?

The Mishna Berura cites the Hayeh Adam (Rav Abraham Danzig of Vilna, 1748-1820) who permits closing the door if his intention is to ward off the cold or other nuisances, since he does not have any intention to trap the bird. Hacham, Ovadia explains that such a trapping would not be a Torah violation anyway, since the house is so big, the bird remains free, even with the door closed. Therefore, this case is a "Pesik Resheh D’lo NIcha Leh B’drababnan"-a Rabbinic Melacha unintentionally performed automatically, which is permitted.

SUMMARY
If a bird flies into a house, it is permitted to close the door in order to protect himself from the cold or other annoyances.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Does One Recite a Beracha Over a Secondary Food That Was Brought Only After He Recited the Beracha Over the Primary Food?
If One Eats the Secondary Food Before the Primary Food
The Beracha Over Cereal with Milk, and Yogurt with Fruit
If One Recited a Beracha Over a Cracker With Cheese, and Some Cheese Was Left Over
If a Person Changes His Mind and Decides Not to Eat After Listening to a Beracha
If a Person Mistakenly Concluded “Al Ha’mihya” With the Words “Al Ha’perot”
Fulfilling One’s Requirement by Listening to a Beracha Recited by Another Person
The Requirement of “Shem U’malchut” in a Beracha
Does the Beracha of “Gefen” Cover Other Beverages if One Does Not Intend to Drink More Wine?
Halachot Concerning the Berachot Over Wine, Fruit Juice and Coffee
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Beer or Whiskey Drunk During a Maal if HaMosi Was Recited?
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Tea and Coffee Drunk After a Meal If Ha'Mosi Was Recited ?
Must One Recite a Beracha Over Water or Wine During a Meal Where One Recited Ha'motzi?
Is Wine Still Considered A ‘Bore Peri HaGefen’ And Acceptable for Kiddush If It is Diluted
The Sequence of Berachot When Eating Cake With Coffee
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found