HALACHA OF THE WEEK: SHABBAT SHIRA
There is a custom on this Shabbat, Shabbat Shira, to place food outside for the birds to eat. This custom is to commemorate the Midrash, which states that during the Exodus, when crossing the Sea, the Jews fed the birds, and these birds joined in Israel’s song of praise to G-d.
However, the Magen Avraham [324:7] writes that this custom violates the halacha since we cannot field wild animals on Shabbat. This approach is followed by most of the halachic commentaries, including the Elyah Rabbah, the Machatzit Hashekel, the Shulchan Aruch Harav, and the Mishnah Berurah [324 note 31].
Nevertheless, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef wrote [Chazon Ovadia-Shabbat, Volume 3, page 24 and Volume 4, page 270] that many of the great authorities question the words of the Magen Avraham. Since this is a time-honored custom, one may feed the birds on Shabbat Shira. This too is the approach of the Tosefet Shabbat and the Aruch HaShulchan [324:3]
Nevertheless, the Shmirat Shabbat Kehilchata (27:21) ruled that one should follow the approach of the Magen Avraham and the Mishnah Berurah. But, he suggests a way of fulfilling the custom without creating any halachic problem. His advice is to shake out the tablecloth after the meal in a place where the birds can eat the crumbs.
He bases this on the ruling of the Eishel Avraham of Butchatch [324:11 s.v. Gam], who rules that, when throwing or discarding food, there is no requirement to make sure that one does not throw it in front of animals. As he explained, the only prohibition is doing extra work on behalf of animals that otherwise will be able to fend for themselves easily. Shaking out the tablecloth is not an unnecessary Shabbat activity.
Finally, Rav Eliezer Waldenberg wrote that feeding birds on Shabbat Shirah had an old, venerated history. He noted that he remembers it practiced in the households of many gedolei Yisroel, without anyone questioning whether one may Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer, Vol. XIV, #28].
DVAR TORAH
In describing the miracle of the manna, G-d promises the Jewish people: "Behold I shall rain down for you food from heaven, let each person pick each day's portion on its day, so that I can test them, whether they will follow My Torah or not." [Shemot 16:4].
All the commentaries were bothered by the obvious question, what kind of test is it to have everything you need given to you by G-d?
Rashi suggested that what G-d was referring to the test of fulfilling the commands associated with the manna (e.g. how much could be collected and when it was collected).
But the Maggid from Mezeritch once said that the answer is found in a flaw of human nature. For if one looks at people as they have troubles or sickness - then everyone is religious. They all come to shul. Their prayer is more intense, their performance of mitzvot increases, their tzedaka is more frequent. That's human nature for when one is in trouble.
But, when everything is good, when things are going wonderfully? To even remember G-d in times of good is a test in and of itself. This is what the story of the manna was all about.
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM, Wednesday 8:15p
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat, 45 minutes before mincha
