HALACHA OF THE WEEK:Playing Ball on Shabbat The West Rogers Park Eruv is nearly thirty years old, and in those years has contributed not only to “oneg Shabbat” of many - allowing families with young children to venture out of doors on Shabbat - but also has contributed to the stability of our community.
Nevertheless, it is important to remember that our eruv was established to enhance the Shabbat, and not G-d forbid diminish it. Therefore, when it was established the rabbis of the community wrote the following guidelines regarding ball playing on Shabbat:
“The Talmud Yerushalmi relates that the city of Tur Shimon was destroyed because of ball playing on Shabbos. Poskim strictly prohibit ball playing by adults (people past the age of Bar or Bas Mitzvah). This includes tennis, golf, baseball, basketball, football and other similar sports... For very young children, however, the halacha is more lenient. In one's own backyard, away from public view, a young child is permitted to throw a ball in a simple fashion. Under no conditions may children play ball in the street or in a park. This would certainly diminish the Kedushas Shabbos in our community.”
Of course, from a purely halachic perspective, a statement such as this may seem somewhat strict. After all, while the Shulchan Aruch [Orach Chaim 308:45] forbids playing ball on Shabbat or Yom Tov, the Rema, and later the Shulchan Aruch HaRav [308:83] and the Aruch HaShulchan [308:70 and 518:8] are all lenient.
Yet, the Magen Avraham [518 note 4] and the Taz [518 note 2] rule that this leniency only applies to children under the age of bar mitzvah, and the Mishna Berura concurs [518 note 9]. Furthermore, the Mishna Berura notes [308 note 158], that even when ball playing is permitted, one cannot play with a ball on outdoor surfaces (grass or dirt), and Shmirat Shabbat K’hilchata [16:1,6] extends this to include asphalt or concrete surfaces (such as a basketball or tennis courts) [16:6].
So, is ball playing permitted or forbidden?
The answer is - it’s complicated. But under certain circumstances it is permitted. Therefore, one should not condemn others who play ball on Shabbat. And yet, there is no question that ball playing is not in the “spirit of Shabbat”. As Shmirat Shabbat K’hilchata writes in his introduction to the laws of games on Shabbat - “Shabbat is a ‘beloved day’, given to us as an ‘oneg,’ a source of spiritual joy reminiscent of the World to Come and the reward for someone who celebrates Shabbat in such a way is a boundless portion in Olam HaBah.”
DVAR TORAH Every morning, the very first words recited when entering a synagogue are from this week's parasha - "Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov." As the Gemara notes (Sanhedrin 105b), these words were said by Bilaam in an attempt to curse the Jews, but that G-d transformed into a blessing.
But still, they were said by an evil man! It is for this reason that Rabbi Shlomo Luria - the Maharshal - wrote, "When I come to synagogue I begin with the verse "But as for me, in the abundance of Thy lovingkindness…" (Psalms 5:8) and skip the first verse "How goodly are thy tents" (Numbers 24:5) because Balaam said it [first] and he said it as a curse (Shut Maharshal 64).
Nevertheless, these words are said and included in our siddurim. Why?
Rabbi Norman Lamm, זצ״ל once suggested that the reason is because "Mah Tovu" describes an aspect of the essential personality trait of the Jew - the ability to wring a blessing out of a curse.
Therefore, we say "Mah Tovu" not despite the fact that it was intended to harm us, but because of that very fact. Because it is a core Jewish trait to discover the good within the evil, the opportunity within the catastrophe, to squeeze holiness out of profanity. From the evil intentions of Bilaam (that we should be denied places to daven and places to study), we mold the blessing of "Mah Tovu" – just as we enter into those very halls of worship.
Concluded Rabbi Lamm, ultimately, we recite "Mah Tovu" to remember that the goal of prayer is not to change G-d but to change ourselves.
Receive a daily 3 Minute Halacha directly to your whatsapp. Click here to enroll
MAZAL TOV * to Carol Silverman on the bar mitzvah in Israel of her grandson, Ezra, son of Jason and Shaina Silverman. * to Hamutal and Seth Appel on the bat mitzvah of their daughter Orli. * to Daphna and Avi Zisook on the birth of a son. Mazal tov to grandparents, Rabbi Kenny and Shelley Zisook, and Rivkah and Joseph Rosen. To help with meals for the Zisooks, click here REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Etai Rimel – Etai Yaakov ben Tzipporah, who is recovering in rehab. * to Gitelle Rapoport who is recuperating from surgery. * to Emily Morris who is recuperating from surgery.
DEDICATION The dedication for Dr. Leonard I. Kranzler z’l, will take place 11:30 am Sunday June 20, 2021 at Waldheim Cemetery gate 74 (on the south side of the street.)
KIDDUSH SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush or to donate to the Kiddush Fund please click here. EARLY MINYAN KIDDUSH is sponsored by Rabbi Larry and Elizabeth Feder and Reuben Feder in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of their mother Molly Feder z’l and by Larry and Sharon Chambers in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Larry’s father Seymour Zundel Chambers z’l. Kiddush Fund Donation: Larry and Sheryl Merzel in honor of high school graduate Tzadok Merzel and grammar school graduate Meir Merzel, both of Toronto and by Shery Merzel in honor of Larry’s special birthday.
BIRTHDAYS Chanan Bell (6/19) Mrs. Davina Bresler (6/20) Mordechai Levi (6/20) Dovi Silverman (6/20) Jak Karesh (6/21) Mr. Elon Kohn (6/22) Mr. Arthur Aberman (6/23) Noam Goldberg (6/23) Mr. Michael Perl (6/25) Mrs. Raanana Stein (6/25)
ANNIVERSARIES Michael and Tracy Aberman (6/19) Rabbi Yehuda and Chani Isenberg (6/20) David and Margo Strahlberg (6/23)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park 2800 W. North Shore Ave • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
