DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is For The Hatzlacha of
 Gerber & Aharonian Families in Israel
"May Tu B'Shevat be a new start to many nice things. Wishing all of Clal Yisroel security, health and happiness, B'H."

Dedicated By
Jeremy Gerber

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 1.04 MB)
Home Construction on Shabbat

The Shulhan Aruch (Siman 244) prohibits hiring a Non-Jew to do work on Shabbat in a public domain, e.g. constructing a house, even if contracted on a per-project basis. The Shulhan Aruch, follows the Rambam, as well as the Ramban and Ritva, that the reason for the prohibition is Marit Ayin, i.e. other Jews may misconstrue the work as being done in a prohibited fashion, e.g. on a daily basis. Accordingly, if there would not be an issue of outside observers, e.g. if the construction was taking place in a Non-Jewish area, where no Jews lived within walking distance on Shabbat, it would be permitted.

According to this logic, in a place where the prevalent custom is to build houses by contract, and therefore, people are not going to suspect that he hired a day worker, there would be no issue of Marit Ayin, and it would be permitted. This is, in fact, the opinion of the Pri Megadim. The Noda B'Yehuda, Rav Yechezkel Landau in his responsa and the Gaon Rabbi Akiva Eiger brings such an argument, as well.

However, on the other side of this coin, we have the opinion of Rabbeinu Nissim, the Ran. The Ran understands the reason for the prohibition to build a house on Shabbat by contract is not because of Marit Ayin-what other people may think. Rather, the concern is that the owner himself is not going to understand the Halachic difference between Kablanut (project contract) and Sechir Yom (day-worker). He is likely to start mistakenly hiring workers on a daily basis. Accordingly, there would be no room for leniency in a place where the prevalent custom is to build through contract.

The Be’ur Halacha (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933) brings both sides but does not want to give a leniency in such a case, because of other Rishonim that agree with the Ran. The Noda B'Yehuda, although leaning to leniency, concluded to permit only on Hol Hamoed and not on Shabbat.

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Russia-New York, 1895-1986) was very against building on Shabbat. He said the Shabbat is already so weak in the eyes of the people. If you start doing things that the people don't understand, like this, it's only going to weaken the Shabbat more.

On the other hand, Rabbi Moshe Halevi (Israel, 1961-2001), in his Menuhat Ahaba, was lenient. Hacham Ovadia understands the side to be lenient. Halacha l'ma'aseh, one must ask a competent authority before he wants to build on Shabbat with a Non-Jew b'kablanut. It is not something you can just say it's mutar.


SUMMARY
Building a house on Shabbat, where the prevalent custom is to contract the entire project, cannot be permitted without consulting a competent rabbinic authority.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Using a Plunger, Detaching a Fastener & Pins from New Clothes, Inserting New Shoe Laces
May One Use an Electric Blanket on Shabbat?
How to Remove Bones and Shells Which Are Mukse from the Shabbat Table?
Is It Permissible to Measure on Shabbat or Yom Tob?
Is a Discarded Item Considered Mukse on Shabbat?
Prescription Medication and Antibiotics on Shabbat
Shabbat – Using Mouthwash, Eating Food for Medicinal Purposes
Pills That are Allowed on Shabbat; Inducing Vomiting on Shabbat
Applying Ice to Reduce Swelling on Shabbat
Shabbat – Treating Dislocated or Broken Bones; the Use of Band-Aids and Iodine
Applying a Bandage with Ointment to a Wound on Shabbat
Shabbat – Using Eyedrops for Lubrication, and Lotions for Chapped Skin
Applying Gel to a Child’s Skin or Gums on Shabbat
Applying Cotton Balls and Alcohol to a Wound on Shabbat
Insulin Injections, Nebulizers, & Vaporizers on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found