But, in all seriousness, I have a question for you all. I once wrote about this on my own blog, but I think it was before a lot of people were reading it so I'm going to ask again.
How do people feel about:*
1. Reading a novel for school on Shabbos? What if you enjoy it and it's something you would read on your own anyway?
2. Reading an article for school on Shabbos?
3. Studying on Shabbos? What about only for Judaic subjects?
Is it not a good idea because it's just not a very Shabbosy thing to do? Is it like preparing for after Shabbos? Are there other issues I'm just not thinking of?
*Look! I did a cool box thing!
I'm makpid not to study for school on shabbos, but I think its more of a procrastination technique then me actually be frum.
ReplyDeleteDitto to Ed. I'm so makpid, I would even be careful not to do this during the week.
ReplyDeleteI would even be careful not to do this during the week.
ReplyDeleteI like this chumrah.
LOL Ezzie!
ReplyDeleteWell, when you're as compulsive about homework as I am, it's not that easy to hold off on the studying over Shabbos -- especially when you have so much to do that you know as soon as Shabbos is over you'll have no peace and not have the luxury of spreading it out. But I deliberately don't study on Shabbos because it's preparing for the week, no matter how much I try to rationalize.
However, if it was an enjoyable novel that happened to be assigned, I'd probably read it.
And Judaic studies -- if it was literally studying, I'd probably say that's preparing also.
The box thing is cool. How is it done?
ReplyDeleteI never could have gotten through school without studying on Shabbos. When else do you have a solid block of quiet time like that?
Sometimes, it's better not to ask- just do what you gotta do.
SR - Blockquotes. :) (The little quotation mark thing when you make a post... select the text you want in the box. But each blog's look is different - you can change it in the HTML.)
ReplyDeleteAnd THAT is a line worthy of greater discussion.
Sometimes, it's better not to ask- just do what you gotta do.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...
I generally don't like that line of thinking, but I hear ya. I guess it depends how much you "have" to do something. I'd rather know if it's right or wrong to study on Shabbos and act accordingly, you know?
In Rabbi Bodner's Sefer "Halachos of Muktza" he has a whole chapter on reading material (chapter 9). In it he seems to assur fiction based on the shulchan Aruch and the Rema and gives more leeway to science. R Hershel Schachter once told me that History is mutar b/c it's a mitzva to study history. I'd reccomend consulting with your LOR.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I never studied for school on shabbos because it was my time not to feel guilty for not doing schoolwork. If the work was for Judaic classes, I did it because it was talmud torah and I usually enjoyed it. I have been meikel regarding reading novels and other secular material in the bathroom (although I probaly hsould look into that to see if it's ok)
Homework is The Devil and is to be avoided at every opportunity and at all costs...all arguments to the contrary are merely the work of your "conscience" and are to be ignored.
ReplyDelete...we now return you to your previously scheduled dilemma
Uvda D'chol is the term I would apply to all of the above.
ReplyDeleteIn my high school, we were only allowed to have Judaic studies midterms and finals on Mondays because we could study for those on Shabbos and not for the secular studies exams. Though I don't know if they actually asked a rav or just thought it seemed like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if they actually asked a rav or just thought it seemed like a good idea.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, the good old days of Judaism
EA - So...wait, he assurs reading fiction on Shabbos even if it's not for school?
ReplyDeleteG - Too true! Though I sometimes have a very loud conscience. :P
Patricia - Hmmm.
Eli7 - I actually think we had a similar thing going on in my high school, but I don't think it was a hard and fast rule. Each grade would have representatives from each class get together and make the final schedule for their grade and I think that's just how everyone preferred it based on most people's comfort level. I seem to remember nearly always having our Chumash midterm and final on a Monday. Though that's also because it was a fairly large and difficult test usually and it was nice to have the weekend to study for it.
PB - I don't think uvda dichol is the correct term for studying. Depending on what you are studying it might be preparing for a weekday or just not Oneg Shabbos (unless you enjoy it in which case it might be a mitzvah). Some people hold that if not studying is causing you a lot of pain then you can study because it would increase your Oneg Shabbos.
ReplyDeleteIf it is Judaic studies than it is certainly mutar and is even a mitzvah of Talmud Torah to study.
Yes, Rav Bodner does not seem to make a distinction beteween fiction for school or for pleasure. This was certainly a shock for me the first time I heard it, but he quotes the Rama who seems to say the same thing. Again, I'd ask your Local Orthodox Rabbi. Maybe there's a heter that I'm unaware of.
ReplyDelete