What Are You Reading?

[Patrycja]

Fun fact - Sep. 21, 1937: The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is published. Another reason why this day is great.

Edited September 22, 2010 by Patrycja

[Kiwi_Zep_Fan87]

When Giants Walked The Earth : A Biography of Led Zeppelin

Edited September 22, 2010 by Kiwi_Zep_Fan87

[pagemccartney95]

Giant by Edna Ferber; so far, pretty good.

[spidersandsnakes]

By blackglove at 2010-09-24

[Atlas]

Halachos of Shabbos Goyim [non-Jews]

Summarized by Rabbi Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer

A. General Principles

1) It is prohibited to tell, or even hint in a way that infers a command, to

a goy to do any Melacha d'Orysa [activity prohibited by the Torah] or

d'Rabbanan [prohibited by the Talmud] on Shabbos.

2) It is permissible, however, to hint in a way that does not infer a

command to a goy to do a Melacha [prohibited activity] on Shabbos; and it

is permissible to hint, even in a way that infers a command, to a goy

either before Shabbos to do a Melacha on Shabbos, or on Shabbos to do a

Melacha after Shabbos.

3) In any event, it is forbidden for a Jew to derive direct benefit from any

Melacha done for him by a goy on Shabbos.

4) Examples:

a. It is permissible to say to a goy on Shabbos: "It's hard to sleep when

the light is on in the room," but not: "Why didn't you turn off my light

last Shabbos."

b. It is permissible to say: "I can't read because there isn't enough

light," or: "The house isn't lit up enough because only one candle is

burning," but not: "Do me a favor, there's not enough light in the room."

If there was previously no light at all in the room, it is prohibited to

derive benefit from the Melacha of the goy even bemakom mitzva [when doing

so will enable the performance of a mitzva].

c. It is permissible to say: "I have no torn toilet paper" (since the paper

may be used, albeit with difficulty, uncut).

d. Before Shabbos it is permissible to say to a goy : "Why didn't you want

last week to open the letters which came for me on Shabbos?"

B. For a Sick Person

5) For a sick person's needs, one may tell a goy explicitly even to do a

Melacha d'Orysa.

6) The category of sick people is extended to include people who are

suffering from cold weather conditions that require heating or hot weather

conditions that require air conditioning.

C. To Save Seforim [Holy Books]

7) To save seforim, including mezuzos affixed to houses, one may tell a goy

explicitly even to do a Melacha d'Orysa.

D. Cases where a Great Loss may be Sustained

8) In cases where great losses [to the principal] may be sustained it is

permissible to hint, even in a way that infers a command, to a goy even to

do a Melacha d'Orysa. Example: "Anyone who puts out the fire won't lose."

E. Cases where a Goy may be told Outright to do a Melacha D'Rabbanan

9) In the following cases a goy may be told outright to do a Melacha

d'Rabbanan [activity prohibited by the Talmud]:

a. Potential great loss; b. great need; c. Need of a mitzvah; d. Arrival of

unanticipated guests; e. Results of the d'Rabbanan Melacha could have been

achieved by a Jew without any Melacha having been committed; f. Saving

objects other than seforim from a fire.

10) Examples:

a. Taking a siddur to shul where there is no eruv [enclosure to permit

carrying]; b. Removing chametz on Pesach from the house; c. Carrying a

valuable object that is muktzeh [may not be moved on Shabbos] to a safe

place.

F. Needs so that the Masses are Kept from Sinning

11) If the only way to prevent the masses from sinning is by telling a goy

to do a Melacha d'Orysa, it is permissible to do so.

G. If the Goy will do a Melacha D'Orysa, but not at Your Request

12) Even if one knows that a goy will do a Melacha d'Orysa in the course of

fulfilling a request (i.e., the goy is asked to wash the dishes, and he

will heat up water to do so), nonetheless, since this Melacha is not

inherent in this activity, it is permissible to make such a request.

H. Twilight

13) In the twilight period at the beginning of Shabbos [bein HaShemashos]

one may tell a goy explicitly even to do a Melacha D'Orysa, if the need is

great, or it is necessary for Shabbos or for a mitzva.

I. Payment, Employment, and Work for Self

14) One may pay a goy for work he did on Shabbos for a Jew which was

permissible, but monetary compensation should not be given until after

Shabbos.

15) One's nonÄJewish employee may not do work for him on Shabbos, unless the

goy is working then solely for the purpose of gaining free time for himself

on a weekday. Even then, the work may only be done on the goy 's own

premises.

16) One may tell a goy even to do a Melacha d'Orysa [activity prohibited by

the Torah] for his (the goy's) own good, as long as the Jew does not

explicitly tell the goy to use his (the Jew's) appliances to do that

Melacha .

J. Benefit from the Goy's Melacha D'Orysa

17) If there is direct benefit to a Jew from a Melacha d'Orysa performed by

a goy for him on Shabbos, pleasure from that benefit is prohibited for a

Jew until enough time to have completed that Melacha if it had been begun

after Shabbos has elapsed [bekedai she ya aseh].

18) Examples:

a. If a Jew directed a goy to do a D'Orysa Melacha on Shabbos, the

prohibition of benefit is so severe, that if, for instance the goy turned

on a light, the Jew must leave the room so as not to derive pleasure from

the Melacha .

b. If the goy did the Melacha d'Orysa without being asked, but did so for

the benefit of a Jew, then the Jew must protest.If he did not protest, the

Jew may derive indirect benefit from the Melacha ; i.e., carry on a

conversation by the light, but not read thereby.

c. If the goy did not heed the protest, and nevertheless turned on the

light, the Jew may even read thereby.

d. Similarly, if a goy cooked food for a Jew on Shabbos, that food is

muktzeh and no Jew may partake of it until until enough time to have

completed that Melacha if it had been begun after Shabbos has elapsed

[bekedai she ya aseh].

e. If the Melacha d'Orysa that was performed was Hotza ah [forbidden

carrying in an unenclosed area] there is no need to wait until enough time

to have completed that Melacha if it had been begun after Shabbos has

elapsed [bekedai she ya aseh]

19) A healthy Jew may derive benefit from a Melacha done by a goy for a sick

person as long as: a) the goy did not do any extra Melacha for the benefit

of the healthy Jew; and, the product of the Melacha is not hjqvm.

20) Even if these conditions are not met, there is no need to wait until

enough time to have completed that Melacha if it had been begun after

Shabbos has elapsed [bekedai she ya aseh].

21) Melacha done by a goy for his own or another goy 's benefit follows the

same parameters outlined in # 19Ä20.

22) Examples:

a. A light turned on by a goy for his own use (even if it is in order to do

permissible work for a Jew); b. Water heated in a hotel or other setting

where it is clear that the goy has no knowledge of, or is not concerned

with, individual Jewish patrons.

K. Benefit from Melacha done for both Jews and Goyim

23) If the majority of people, or even a significant minority (i.e., that

the Melacha may be intended for them) of the population for whom a goy does

Melacha are Jewish, the Melacha is considered to have been done for the

Jews.

24) If the majority of people, or even a significant minority of the

population for whom a goy does Melacha are goyim (i.e., that the Melacha

may be intended solely for them), the Melacha is considered to have been

done for the goyim. In cases of a 50Ä50% population, the Melacha is

considered to have been done for the Jews.

25) Examples of Ramifications:

Heat, light, and elevator use in Apartment Buildings (Note: an additional

factor of Mar ees Ayin [other Jews noticing the activity, not realizing

that in this case it is permissible, and extrapolating to other cases where

it may well be impermissible] may be involved in elevator use.); Traveling

by ship on Shabbos.

L. Indirect Benefit from the Goy's Melacha

26) Indirect benefit from the Melacha of a goy is permissible.

27) Examples:

a. Reading a letter which was inside an envelope opened by a goy on Shabbos

(it is therefore permissible to hint to a goy in a way that does not infer

a command to open a letter which it is permissible to read on Shabbos).

b.Eating food which was inside a can opened by a goy on Shabbos (it is

therefore permissible to hint to a goy in a way that does not infer a

command to open a can on Shabbos, even if one personally refrains from

doing so).

c. Reading in a room in which prior to the goy 's lighting candles it was

possible to read, at least with difficulty.

M. Benefit from the Goy's Melacha D'Rabbanan

28) If there is direct benefit to a Jew from a Melacha d'Rabbanan [activity

prohibited by the Talmud] performed by a goy for him on Shabbos, pleasure

from that benefit is prohibited for that Jew and all members of his

household until until enough time to have completed that Melacha if it had

been begun after Shabbos has elapsed [bekedai she ya aseh]. Any other Jew

may derive pleasure from that Melacha immediately. The product of the

Melacha is not considered Muktzeh even for the Jew for whom the Melacha was

done.

29) Examples of Ramifications:

Objects brought from beyond the 2000 amos one is permitted to travers on

Shabbos [michutz latechum]; through a d'Rabbanan [prohibited by the Talmud]

public domain [Reshus haRabbim];or bought on Shabbos. Note: i.e., a

newspaper. See, however, above, # 18e.

N. Pesik Reisha [Automatic Result]

30) It is permissible to direct a goy to do some act even if a Melacha will

result automatically (even a Melacha d'Orysa [activity prohibited by the

Torah]), i.e., telling him to open a refrigerator door even though the

motor or light will turn on as a result; or to put a cold, but already

cooked, pot of food to heat up on a stove which will turn on automatically.

O. Telephone Conversations

31) One may carry on a long distance telephone conversation with a goy even

if the goy is located in a time zone where it is already or still Shabbos.

Source: Shemiras Shabbos k'Hilchasa Chaps. 30-31.

Return to National Education Program Page

[spidersandsnakes]

tHE NOVELIZATION OF THE MOVIE.......COOL

By blackglove at 2010-09-24

[BUCK'EYE' DOC]

I just got back from a two week cruise vacation to New England and Canada where I had the rare opportunity to read two books: "Eat, Pray, Love" and "The Accidental Billionaires : The Founding of Facebook". Now I need to see the movies made from these books. I really enjoyed the books, and am guessing that the movies will not be quite as good. Has anyone seen the movies?

[Virginia]

I just got back from a two week cruise vacation to New England and Canada where I had the rare opportunity to read two books: "Eat, Pray, Love" and "The Accidental Billionaires : The Founding of Facebook". Now I need to see the movies made from these books. I really enjoyed the books, and am guessing that the movies will not be quite as good. Has anyone seen the movies?

Not yet, but I really want to see the Facebook movie! And I want to read "Eat, Pray, Love" too.

I finally started re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the other day; I'm about 150 pages in and it's like reading it for the first time, I'd forgotten everything. I'm actually thinking I need to re-read the 6th book too (or at least the end).

[dazedcat]

"Order In Chaos" by Jack Whyte. This is the third novel of his Knights Templar trilogy series.

[Deborah J]

Delta Blues by Ted Gioia

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/books/review/Ratliff-t.html

[Cecil.]

Delta Blues by Ted Gioia

http://www.nytimes.c.../Ratliff-t.html

Any good Deborah ? would like to read a book that everyone can agree on.

[Deborah J]

Any good Deborah ? would like to read a book that everyone can agree on.

Hi Cecil!

So far it's a great book. I'll let you know when I have a complete read:-). Really enjoying the book so far!

[ledzepfvr]

Boots On the Ground by Dusk by Mary Tillman

[Kayte]

Back-woodsmen, or, Tales of the borders : a collection of historical and authentic accounts of early adventure among the Indians

The Kentuckiana Digital Library has all kindsa full-text scans of old books online. A lot of them are politically incorrect now.

[redrum]

Hitchcock's bio

A book on directing movie shots

The Stone Boudoir by Theresa Maggio

[JimmyPageZoSo56]

When Giants Walked the Earth; A Led Zeppelin Biography by Mick Wall.

Edited October 15, 2010 by JimmyPageZoSo56

[Hotplant]

nerd girl ~~ Rocks Paradise City Anne Thomas Soffee

[spidersandsnakes]

MARC BOLAN BIO:)

By blackglove at 2010-10-13

[Jahfin]

First heard about this during an interview with author Steve Almond on NPR. During the show a caller phoned in to share their latest musical obsession, Mumford & Sons. The song played was Little Lion Man which immediately sold me on that band. If you're interested in learning more about Steve and his book, click on the photo above.

[aeonblue]

Blood and Gold by Anne Rice...but i´m getting bored...

[tom kid]

J. Edgar Hoover - The Man and The Secrets

I've only just started it, going to be a mammoth task. It's about 700 pages long.

[Magic Fills the Air]

Life by Keith Richards. It's very insightful and well written. Highly recommend.

[spidersandsnakes]

By blackglove at 2010-10-22

[Magic Fills the Air]

By blackglove at 2010-10-22

What do you make of it? I've watched documentaries which suggest that the moon landing was fake, but I'm not convinced.

[spidersandsnakes]

By blackglove at 2010-10-30