Broadcasting a football game on TV (Photo: ShutterStock)
Many times in our daily lives halachic questions arise and topical doubts arise.
Rabbi Shai Tahan, head of the Sha'arei Ezra community and head of Beit Erzi HaLevanon, makes the laws accessible to us and answers questions asked in the Beit Midrash and outside of it.
And this week: Is it permissible to watch television on Shabbat by leaving it on from Friday?
Question
:
Hello Rabbi.
When I went to the synagogue on Shabbat, I met a neighbor who told me the results of the games that were held that day in the World Cup, when I asked him how he knew the results, since he keeps Shabbat, he replied that he leaves his television on on Shabbat to watch the games.
At first I was dumbfounded, but then I thought to myself that in fact he is not committing any Shabbat desecration and why not enjoy watching the games, so I turn to the rabbi with the question why not?
Answer
:
Hello to the honorable questioner, indeed a question that must be clarified once and for all.
In our times, several reasons were used to prohibit leaving a television on on Shabbat.
A.
Since behind the scenes there are Jews who edit the broadcasts such as the employees of the broadcasting station and the like, and we are not allowed to enjoy an act done by desecrating the Sabbath (see Shalchan Aruch C. Sheik SA), even though the arbitrators allowed the consumption of electricity on Shabbat and such as leaving the light on in the house before Shabbat, and if so, how is it different here, except that the electricity is relaxed since there are people who need the electricity for mental health monitoring, such as in hospitals and police stations, etc., therefore this is considered to be done with a permit and is permitted in use (Yevi says HA Orach C. 20) and not as making broadcasts The television is not mind control.
B.
Even if a person is abroad and the broadcasts are performed by gentiles, there are still some prohibitions, such as the so-called 'awsha milta', that is, since the device plays a sound that is heard outside the house, it is contempt for Shabbat, (Mishna Berura C. Ranev Sak Mah), but not All of them forbade, that while the Ashkenazim made it worse according to the Rama's opinion (C. Ranev section e) the Sephardim who went to the light of the Aruch Kilo.
third.
In addition, some believed that since a person is used to raising and lowering the volume of the device as well as changing channels on it, there is a fear that he will forget and do the same on Shabbat, however, many rulings have already written that we are not to make rulings out of our minds and that only the sages of the Gemara had the power to make decisions.
d.
There are also those who thought to prohibit it also because every so often there are advertisements in these programs and viewing advertisements was prohibited on Shabbat just as the Mishna Berura wrote (Ci. If he doesn't watch the ads.
However, it seems that the main thing that should be taken into account is that the warnings that were said regarding the Sabbath day are not only regarding the desecration of the day with the crafts and things that we took above, but we were also warned about honoring and the importance of the day and we certainly promised not to underestimate it, and this is because the Sabbath has special characteristics, and therefore the form of the essence of the day is important No less than the above, until the Sages (Shabbat Kig, 2) demanded from the verse (Isaiah Noah, 13): "And the weight of it is the deeds of your ways", that your Shabbat clothing should not be like your weekday clothing, and that a person should not walk on the Sabbath the way he walks on a weekday, that is, at a pace Rude, and he will not speak on Shabbat the way he speaks on a weekday, but simply also seeing things that are not for the holy spirit today must be avoided, and certainly this sand play that belongs to the culture of the Gentiles and is completely devoid of any trace of holiness is not suitable for the atmosphere of the holy day.
In the blessing that we will be blessed on Shabbat.
Judaism
news
Tags
Judaism
