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...
If a Person Did Not Recite Habdala on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Abelut When Somebody Passes Away on Ereb Shabuot
If Yom Tob Occurs During the Sheloshim Mourning Period
Shiba and Sheloshim When Somebody Passes Away During or Just Before Yom Tob
Which Restrictions Apply to Mourners When Somebody Passes Away During Yom Tob?
Is Hallel Recited in a House of Mourning on Rosh Hodesh?
The Status of the Clothing, Shoes and Hair of a Deceased Person
The Tombstone – When it Should be Erected, and How the Deceased’s Name Should be Written
May a Woman in Mourning During Hol Ha’mo’ed Immerse in the Mikveh?
Which Mourning Practices are Observed During Hol Ha’mo’ed?
May a Mourner Attend a Hachnasat Sefer Torah Celebration?
Does a Mourner Lean at the Seder on Pesah?
Does an Onen Perform the Misvot at the Seder?
The Status of Family Members Before the Funeral on Hol Ha’mo’ed Regarding Aninut and Sefirat Ha’omer
Wearing New or Freshly Laundered Garments During Abelut
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found