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...
Reciting Keri’at Shema While Lying on One’s Side
Is it Preferable to Recite Shema Standing or Sitting?
When is the Earliest Time for the Evening Shema?
Can One Make Up a Missed Shema Recitation?
Keri’at Shema – The Large “Ayin” and “Dalet” in the First Verse; Making a Pause After “Ehad” and After “Le’olam Va’ed”
The Recitation of “Hashkibenu” On Weeknights and On Friday Night
Calling Family Members for Successive Aliyot
Is There Such a Thing as a “Bad” Aliya in the Synagogue?
The Latest Time for the Morning Shema; Reciting Shema with Concentration
Which Responses are Allowed While One Recites Shema?
Are Women and Children Required to Recite Shema?
If the Tenth Man Leaves in The Middle of Tefila
Can Several Aliyot be Given to Yisraelim on a Monday or Thursday?
May a Minor Read the Torah or Receive an Aliya?
When Does One Answer “Amen” to His Own Beracha?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found