‘Do You Know Hilchos Shabbos?’ – A Teaser
“Do You Know Hilchos Shabbos? – Practical Questions for the Whole Family” is an entertaining new Halacha book by Rabbi Michoel Fletcher, published by Menucha Publishing, Brooklyn NY, USA.
With a beautifully designed hardcover, the book includes chapters on every Melacha and major aspect of keeping Shabbos properly. Every discussion is kept admirably brief and is introduced with an amusing real-life question from an imaginary family showcasing actual dilemmas faced weekly.
The book can be purchased here. The author’s previous work, “A Practical Guide to Our Daily Brochos”, can be bought here.
The following chapter (aka “Do You Know Hilchos Shabbos?”) is an excerpt (pages 27 – 30).
Enjoy!
There are twenty questions in the following short story. How many can you answer correctly?
It had been a busy Erev Shabbos at the Goldsteins. Moshe was delayed at the office, Chaim had come home from cheder with a grazed knee, Chaya couldn’t find the belt which goes with her new dress and the cleaning lady’s children were sick so she couldn’t come.
It wouldn’t have mattered so much except for the fact that we’d invited our neighbors, the Cohens (because Mr Cohen was away on business), 2 seminary girls, and of course old Mr. Black who’s quite a regular here since his wife went into the old age home.
But baruch Hashem “bo shabbos bo menucha” and at licht benshen everything was spick and span.
The first question we had was about Chaya’s belt which she finally found. Can she thread it through the belt-loops [1] and tie the bow[2]?
Then Chaim decided he needed a new band-aid. Can he have one?[3]
We were short of lechem mishnes. Can we take one from the freezer?[4]
I couldn’t remember the seating plan. Good job I fixed it to the fridge. But who’s going to read it out?[5] Mrs. Cohen gave me a bottle of wine which she said was to pay me back for the one we lent her last week. Could I accept it?[6]
Oy vey. I left the bathroom light off and the bedroom lights on. Can I call in the non-Jewish neighbor?[7]
I don’t believe it. Chaya left her purse on the couch, just where I relax after the meal.
Is the couch a bosis?[8]
We’re only five minutes into the meal and Moshe has spilt the wine. I wiped up the red wine with a red napkin and one of the seminary girls gave me a funny look. Did I do something wrong?[9]
Then Mr. Black wanted his avocado mashed the way his wife used to make it. The whole table discussed the problem until Mrs. Cohen came up with a simple solution. What was it?[10] Moshe then said that he wanted to add some more mayonnaise to his chopped liver. Was that allowed?[11]
Three minutes peace and then tragedy. Avi started with his carrot. If there’s one thing Avi doesn’t like, it’s carrot in his soup. Can he take it out and pass it on to me?[12]
This is getting beyond a joke. Moshe’s found a broken bone in the chicken. The Rov’s out of town but Moshe said, ‘Let’s get out a ruler. Seeing that it is for a mitzva we are allowed to measure how far along the bone it’s broken.’— Another funny look from the sem girl. Was she right this time?[13]
Boruch Hashem, I had some spare meat and then we had some nice singing and a dvar Torah expounding on the theme of “bo shabbos bo menucha”.
Chaim went off to read (or so I thought) and we had some sensible conversation until a red-faced Chaim re-emerged, with Mr. Black’s hat looking more like a flying saucer than his best Shabbos hat. Can he fix it?[14]
The meal was drawing to its conclusion. There was a bit of a problem when Avi wanted to put his ice cream right on the hot apple pie; was he allowed?[15] Mr. Black had brought some peanuts. Could we shell them?[16] Somebody forgot to say retzei in benching; did he need to repeat the benching?[17] We needed to bring over two mattresses from a neighbor. We made an eiruv last Pesach — it’s just that new people have moved in downstairs and they weren’t included in the eiruv. Does that matter?[18]
By the time all the guests had gone I was really exhausted. But baruch Hashem for my wonderful husband. He’d secretly washed up all the dishes we need for tomorrow and was standing there with some beautiful jewelry with a note attached: ‘For the world champion baleboste” But could I accept it?[19]
19:20 Excellent.
16-18: Very good.
12-15: Good
5 – 11: A good start
0 – 4: Enjoy learning Hilchos Shabbos
Whatever mark you achieved, you will enjoy learning this sefer by yourself, with a friend or with your family. Test yourself when you have finished. You’ll see how much you have learnt. Hatzlacha!
[1] Chapter 45 Question 2 [2] Chapter 31 Question 2 and 4 [3] Chapter 33 Question 8 [4] Chapter 4 Question 6 [5] Chapter 5 Question 8 [6] Chapter 40 Question 9 [7] Chapter 13 Questions 4 and 5 (2 answers). [8] Chapter 12 Question 12 [9] Chapter 29 Question 7 [10] Chapter 22 Question 2 [11] Chapter 24 Question 7 [12] Chapter 21 Question 5 [13] Chapter 10 Question 1 [14] Chapter 45 Question 4 [15] Chapter 25 Question 7 [16] Chapter 19 Question 2 [17] Chapter 4 Question 10 [18] Chapter 46 Question 9 [19] Chapter 9 Question 2 and 4Have something to say? Write to Avraham Rivkas: CommentTorah@gmail.com