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...
Hanukah – The Shamosh; The Meaning of “Ha’nerot Halalu Kodesh Hem”
Hanukah: Lighting on Erev Shabbat
Hanukah – Lighting Candles Without a Menorah?
Hanukah: Using Inedible Olive Oil
Hanukah – Lighting the Candles From Left to Right; Lighting in a Synagogue That Has Several Minyanim
Chanukah- Types of Menorahs and Oils
Is There a Torah Obligation to Celebrate Hanukah?
Halachot Regarding Hallel on Hanukah
Hanukah – Where Does a Groom Light Candles on His Wedding Night?
Hanukah – Learning and Eating Before Candle Lighting; The Time for Lighting
Hanukah – The Preferred Material for the Menorah; The Status of Coagulated Oil
Hanukah- The Status of Inedible Olive Oil for Hanukah Candle Lighting
Hanukah – The Procedure on the Second Night if One’s Wife Lit for Him the First Night
Hanukah – The Berachot Over the Candle Lighting
Chanukah- Lighting in the Morning in the Synagogue
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found