My ffb friend was explaining to me the Melachos of Shabbos, and we were discussing in depth what to do.
Anyway, she was giving examples of: 1) Opening cans/bottles, 2) Waiting for someone to make Kiddush for you at shul before you eat.
She said that these are "Zachor", but the melachos are "Shamor", and that as a BT, I should worry more about the Shamor. That I don't have to worry about the nitty gritty things, like whether I'm going to hold by the Rabbi who says I shouldn't open a can on Shabbos.
For any BTs on here, where are you holding? Are the 39 Melachos enough, or are you taking the extra step?
Shamor V'Zachor
Started by
much2learn
, Dec 22 2011 12:28 PM
5 replies to this topic
#2
jewgirl613
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Posted 15 January 2012 - 01:37 PM
So I never heard of this idea that some things are shamor and some are zachor. I was told that a Jew completely needs to keep Shabbos, which is told to us in the words shamor and zachor in the Torah. But personally, I know a lot of FFB that open bottles/cans on shabbos. It really depends on your family's minhag (which as a BT myself, my family doesnt have a minhag 
) so i am more lenient. I open cans/bottles. but maybe it is something that I will grow in in the future. Right now, the 39 melachos are hard enough for me to keep so I feel like I do not need to be as machmir on the minhagim. Good luck!
) so i am more lenient. I open cans/bottles. but maybe it is something that I will grow in in the future. Right now, the 39 melachos are hard enough for me to keep so I feel like I do not need to be as machmir on the minhagim. Good luck!
#3
ashtor613
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Posted 06 February 2012 - 09:08 AM
I’d say, ask your Rov about this.
I personally open cans with my teeth if i have to, but i try not to at all, may be best to opt for not doing so. If you feel being to Machmir in something will make you “burn out” then you should take it slow. Have a goal in mind, and realize, not everything has to be RIGHT NOW
About kiddush, well depends on your mesirus nefesh! If you really feel it is meaningful to first sanctify Shabbos, and then use food to uplift your Avoidas Hashem, you should wait, and if you can’t wait, try to make your own kiddush. I think it’s important to do things the best way, and realize that this is our service of Hashem.
Theres a nice Chassidic story of one Rebbe who spent half of his day literally, on Yom Tov, Davening. The saying is “Half the day for G-d, and half the day for us” meaning by some, “half the day for serving Hashem, davening and learning, and half the day to eat and enjoy for ourselves."
When this Rebbe finally got to the meal though, he said “I had already fulfilled half a day for me, now it’s time to serve Hashem."
What is the message?
He saw the act of eating as a service of Hashem. Something as a not completely spiritual being, he HAD to do! Davening however to him, was such an innate and natural part of him that he saw it as most do eating.
Am I saying we all have to think this way? Not at all! Am I saying you should even push one more chumra on yourselves? Definitely not, as long as you are keeping Halacha you have a heartfelt ok from me, but this is a great thing to keep in mind. I hope whatever you do, it is for the best in the best way! Kol Tuv with lots of love and goodness.
RebAsher
PS. Just to say it again, before you do anything, ask your Rabbi, someone you trust, and see if they feel good about you either taking on another thing or not.
I personally open cans with my teeth if i have to, but i try not to at all, may be best to opt for not doing so. If you feel being to Machmir in something will make you “burn out” then you should take it slow. Have a goal in mind, and realize, not everything has to be RIGHT NOW
About kiddush, well depends on your mesirus nefesh! If you really feel it is meaningful to first sanctify Shabbos, and then use food to uplift your Avoidas Hashem, you should wait, and if you can’t wait, try to make your own kiddush. I think it’s important to do things the best way, and realize that this is our service of Hashem.
Theres a nice Chassidic story of one Rebbe who spent half of his day literally, on Yom Tov, Davening. The saying is “Half the day for G-d, and half the day for us” meaning by some, “half the day for serving Hashem, davening and learning, and half the day to eat and enjoy for ourselves."
When this Rebbe finally got to the meal though, he said “I had already fulfilled half a day for me, now it’s time to serve Hashem."
What is the message?
He saw the act of eating as a service of Hashem. Something as a not completely spiritual being, he HAD to do! Davening however to him, was such an innate and natural part of him that he saw it as most do eating.
Am I saying we all have to think this way? Not at all! Am I saying you should even push one more chumra on yourselves? Definitely not, as long as you are keeping Halacha you have a heartfelt ok from me, but this is a great thing to keep in mind. I hope whatever you do, it is for the best in the best way! Kol Tuv with lots of love and goodness.
RebAsher
PS. Just to say it again, before you do anything, ask your Rabbi, someone you trust, and see if they feel good about you either taking on another thing or not.
#4
Rabbi Shapiro
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Posted 06 February 2012 - 10:15 PM
How long are you frum?My ffb friend was explaining to me the Melachos of Shabbos, and we were discussing in depth what to do.
Anyway, she was giving examples of: 1) Opening cans/bottles, 2) Waiting for someone to make Kiddush for you at shul before you eat.
She said that these are "Zachor", but the melachos are "Shamor", and that as a BT, I should worry more about the Shamor. That I don't have to worry about the nitty gritty things, like whether I'm going to hold by the Rabbi who says I shouldn't open a can on Shabbos.
For any BTs on here, where are you holding? Are the 39 Melachos enough, or are you taking the extra step?
Whether you are allowed to open bottles or not is a dispute among Rabbonim. However, the dispute is whether it is prohibited as a Melachah or permitted totally. Meaning, it is a Shomor issue, not a Zochor issue. Making Kiddush altogether
http://www.institute...tion.asp?ID=216
#6
much2learn
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Posted 10 February 2012 - 01:09 PM
How long are you frum?
Whether you are allowed to pen bottles or not is a dispute among Rabbonim. However, the dispute is whether it is prohibited as a Melachah or permitted totally. Meaning, it is a Shomor issue, not a Zochor issue. Making Kiddush altogether
http://www.institute...tion.asp?ID=216
Great reference. Didn't realize the difference in argumenst among the Rabbonim
I wouldn't say I'm 100% frum
I started by turning my cell phone off in November, and since then, have been doing a little more and more each day/week/month
