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...
The Proper Way for Kohanim to Position Their Hands and Fingers During Birkat Kohanim
The Proper Pronunciation of the Name of Hashem
The Importance of Learning Torah at Night
Performing the Misva of Shilu’ah Ha’ken with a Bird’s Nest in One’s Property
Reciting the Verse “Vihi No’am” Before Performing a Misva
Asking Questions To Your Rabbi
Touching a Torah Scroll with One’s Bare Hands
Kissing Somebody After He Received an Aliya
What Kind of Book or Scroll Should be Used for the Haftara Reading?
Shemitat Kesafim- Somebody Who Did Not Write a Prozbul Before the End of a Shemita Year
The Status of Willful Violators of Shemitat Kesafim
Rolling a Torah Scroll in its Case
Studying Torah in a Synagogue or Study Hall; Studying Audibly; Studying with a Partner or Group
The Reading of Parashat Masei at Mincha on Shabbat, Monday and Thursday
Earning a Livelihood - Basic Halachic Guidelines
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found