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Curated Torah sources across every topic, from classical texts to contemporary responsa.
Spiritual Intentions for Mikvah on Erev Shabbat
Sources exploring the kavvanot (mystical intentions) and spiritual preparations associated with immersion in the mikvah before Shabbat, including both halakhic requirements and kabbalistic frameworks for elevating consciousness toward the holy day.
משפיעין הארת קדושת שבת
Operating Appliances on Shabbat With Timers
These sources address whether work that is set in motion before Shabbat and completes automatically during Shabbat is permitted, establishing the foundational rules for timer-operated devices and the conditions under which such arrangements are halakhically acceptable.
מותר להתחיל במלאכה בערב שבת סמוך לחשיכה אף על פי שאינו יכול לגומרה מבעוד יום והיא נגמרת מאליה בשבת
Using Shabbat Timers for Automatic Appliances
These sources address the permissibility of setting devices in motion before Shabbat so that they operate automatically throughout Shabbat without direct human intervention. They examine the foundational principles of pre-Shabbat activation, the appearance of labor on Shabbat, and the application of these rules to modern electrical timers and household appliances.
מותר להתחיל במלאכה בערב שבת סמוך לחשיכה אף על פי שאינו יכול לגומרה מבעוד יום והיא נגמרת מאליה בשבת
Laundry, Haircuts, and Mending on Chol HaMoed
Sources examine the Talmudic and codified laws governing laundry, haircuts, and clothing repairs during the intermediate days of the festivals. They present the general prohibitions and the specific exceptions recognized for circumstances of need or special status.
אין מכבסין במועד ואלו שמכבסין
Eating and Drinking Before Shabbat Begins
Sources discuss the permissibility of eating, drinking, and tasting food and wine in the period before Shabbat's onset. The sources address both general pre-Shabbat eating practices and the specific restrictions that apply once Kiddush becomes obligatory.
מִכְּבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת שֶׁיִּמָּנַע אָדָם מִן הַמִּ
Eating and Drinking Before Shabbat
Sources discuss the practice and halachic status of eating, drinking, and tasting food in preparation for Shabbat and as a way to honor the day. The sources address both the practical allowances for pre-Shabbat consumption and the spiritual significance of enjoying food and drink as part of Shabbat preparation and observance.
טועמיה חיים זכו
Setting Appliance Timers Before Shabbat
Sources explore the halakhic principles governing actions initiated before Shabbat that continue or complete themselves automatically during Shabbat. These texts examine whether setting a device in motion erev Shabbat—such that it performs labor on Shabbat itself—violates the prohibition against melacha.
מֻתָּר לְהַתְחִיל בִּמְלָאכָה בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת סָמוּךְ לַחֲשֵׁכָה
Setting Timers Before Shabbat
Sources address the permissibility of initiating processes before Shabbat that continue operating automatically on Shabbat itself. Classical rabbinic sources establish principles for such pre-Shabbat setup, while later halakhic authorities apply these principles to weight-based timers and mechanical devices.
מותר להתחיל במלאכה בערב שבת והיא נגמרת מאליה בשבת
The Obligation and Significance of Shabbat Candle Lighting
These sources address the halachic requirements for lighting Shabbat candles before sunset, clarifying who bears primary obligation in the household and the spiritual dimensions of the practice. Both men and women are obligated, though women are particularly charged with the responsibility due to their presence in the home, and the candles serve as a means of sanctifying Shabbat while representing the divine light revealed on this holy day.
וְאֶחָד אֲנָשִׁים וְאֶחָד נָשִׁים חַיָּבִין לִהְיוֹת בְּבָתֵּיהֶן נֵר דָּלוּק בְּשַׁבָּת
Creating Sound on Shabbat
These sources examine the halakhic rules governing sound production on Shabbat, including the distinction between prohibited musical sounds and permitted incidental noise. They address how these principles apply to various devices and activities.
אָסוּר לְהַשְׁמִיעַ קוֹל שֶׁל שִׁיר אֶלָּא בְּפֶה בִּלְבָד
Non-Jewish Labor Set Before Shabbat
These sources address whether an Israelite may instruct or set up a non-Jew to perform labor that will continue or execute during Shabbat. The texts examine the distinctions between explicit instructions, hints, and work begun before Shabbat, as well as questions of benefit and intention.
כל מה שהוא אסור לעשותו בשבת אסור לומר לעכו״ם לעשותו
Using a Hotel Elevator on Shabbat
Sources discuss the permissibility of asking or benefiting from a non-Jew operating equipment on Shabbat, including the general prohibition against instructing a non-Jew to perform work, exceptions based on pikuach nefesh (saving a life), and the practical halakhic framework governing such situations.
כל דבר שאסור לעשות בשבת אסור לומר לנכרי