# Should my aunt have sent an e-mail on Shabbat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 15, 2002, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108 "2002-07-15T20:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/21 "2002-07-16T16:01:20Z")
**Squeels** , dude, we’re talking about Judaism, which has no tradition of _purdah_. And even in Islam, not every country requires its women to be fully veiled. Egypt, from what I understand, does not require it, and Egypt is the home of the most authoritative Islamic scholars at Al Azhar University in Cairo. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/22 "2002-07-16T18:15:07Z")
May I ask a TMI question? Please don’t think I mean this in a gross way, and I hope I don’t offend anyone, but is sex allowed? (I know in the old strict Catholic tradition-after sundown on Saturdays, you weren’t allowed to eat or indulge in anything until after Mass the next morning-otherwise, you couldn’t accept communion. Now you’re just not supposed to eat anything an hour before-but even that gets broken). ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/23 "2002-07-16T19:22:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*May I ask a TMI question? Please don’t think I mean this in a gross way, and I hope I don’t offend anyone, but is sex allowed? > > \*\* Yes, not only is sex allowed, it is encouraged on Friday night. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![sdimbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sdimbert/32/20204_2.png) [@sdimbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdimbert)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/24 "2002-07-16T19:22:48Z")
Yes. As a matter of fact, I believe it’s encouraged, even more so than during the rest of the week. ;j ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/25 "2002-07-16T20:50:04Z")
Yes, but what if you concieve a baby on Shabbat? Doesn’t that violate the “no creative activity” guideline? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/26 "2002-07-17T02:16:37Z")
No. The rules of what constitutes work is derived from the service in the Tabernacle. The Talmud finds that there are 39 broad catagories of work that were done in the Tabernacle. It is these that are prohibitted on Shabbos. Since conceiving babies is not one of them, it’s not forbidden. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/27 "2002-07-17T02:23:24Z")
Idiotic question. I know it’s permissible to have a brit milah on Shabbos. Is it permissible for the moyle to travel (assuming a considerable distance; ours is coming from Houston) on Shabbos, or does he have to travel on Friday afternoon? Robin ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/28 "2002-07-17T02:39:41Z")
> [@](#): > > I know it’s permissible to have a brit milah on Shabbos. Is it permissible for the moyle to travel (assuming a considerable distance; ours is coming from Houston) on Shabbos, or does he have to travel on Friday afternoon? He has to do his traveling before Shabbos. Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/29 "2002-07-17T02:49:03Z")
And, by the way, Mazel Tov! Chaim Mattis Keller ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/30 "2002-07-17T03:42:15Z")
Oh, I see! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/31 "2002-07-17T03:43:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MsRobyn \* > \*\*Idiotic question. > > I know it’s permissible to have a brit milah on Shabbos. > \*\* Minor nitpick: You can have a _bris_ on Shabbos, but only if it’s the eigth day. If the _bris_ is delayed for whatever reason, you can’t do it on Shabbos. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/32 "2002-07-17T04:54:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > \*\* > > Minor nitpick: You can have a _bris_ on Shabbos, but only if it’s the eigth day. If the _bris_ is delayed for whatever reason, you can’t do it on Shabbos. > > Zev Steinhardt \*\* That I knew. The moyle sent a rather lengthy e-mail on the subject. It was quite fascinating, actually. He did instruct me to contact him when it’s time either by e-mail or by his answering service, so he could check the message at his leisure. And thanks! Robin ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/33 "2002-07-17T15:12:47Z")
IIRC, observant Jews won’t ride buses or trains on Shabbos any more than they would drive themselves. But isn’t there (correct me if I’m wrong) an exception for activity or “work” done by non-Jews so long as they were going to do it anyway; that is, they aren’t doing the “work” FOR the Jewish person? The buses and trains are definitely going to run whether or not any particular person uses them, so shouldn’t it be okay to use them? ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/34 "2002-07-17T15:27:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by John Bredin \* > \*\*IIRC, observant Jews won’t ride buses or trains on Shabbos any more than they would drive themselves. But isn’t there (correct me if I’m wrong) an exception for activity or “work” done by non-Jews so long as they were going to do it anyway; that is, they aren’t doing the “work” FOR the Jewish person? The buses and trains are definitely going to run whether or not any particular person uses them, so shouldn’t it be okay to use them? \*\* With regard to buses, it could be problematic since the Jews’ weight is causing extra gasoline to be burned. With regard to a train (and I’m assuming that the electrical current on the train is the same regardless of the number of passengers – if I’m wrong, please disregard) then it might be permissible to ride on such a train. However, I am not a _posek_ (decisor of Jewish law) and I would strongly advise you to contact your rabbi before doing so. In any event, there are other problems with such transportation, including the handling of money, carrying the money in a public domain, depositing the fare where that will cause electricity to be used (in NYC, all fareboxes use electricity) and, if you travel far enough, travelling outside the _techum Shabbos_ (the 2000 cubit boundary around your home city). There may yet be others, but those are the only ones that I can think of off the top of my head. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/35 "2002-07-17T16:00:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > With regard to buses, it could be problematic since the Jews’ weight is causing extra gasoline to be burned. Not so certain - see _Igros Moshe_ WRT a husband accompanying his wife to the hospital. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/36 "2002-07-17T16:17:17Z")
> [@](#): > > With regard to a train (and I’m assuming that the electrical current on the train is the same regardless of the number of passengers – if I’m wrong, please disregard) then it might be permissible to ride on such a train. However, I am not a posek (decisor of Jewish law) and I would strongly advise you to contact your rabbi before doing so. The train will definitely uses more electricity if there is more weight to move. It will not be much more but it will be more. As an aside the new oven that I have has some settings for Shabbos. The best that I can figure out is that this setting keeps the oven on at a certain temperature for a few days without a person having to fiddle with the oven. I asked what it was for on the SDMB and the consensus was that it was meant to be similar to cooking with banked coals from a fire that was started earlier. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/37 "2002-07-17T16:20:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by IzzyR \* > \*\*Not so certain - see _Igros Moshe_ WRT a husband accompanying his wife to the hospital. \*\* Be happy to. Don’t suppose you have a cite (I’d hate to have page through all his responsa in _Orach Chaim_…). In any event, I was under the impression (and I certainly could be wrong…) that the husband was permitted to go along (I did so on a Yom Tov) to help and calm his wife in what is, potentially, a life-threatening situation. I had just assumed the gasoline-burning to be irrelevant to the issue. Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/38 "2002-07-17T16:46:20Z")
**Gobear:** > [@](#): > > Sq_w_eels, dude, we’re talking about Judaism, which has no tradition of purdah. And even in Islam, not every country requires its women to be fully veiled. But aren’t we talking about what God expects people to do? I see Muslim women keeping their heads covered here in the US because they believe that God will be angry with them if they don’t. Nobody believes that God has different rules for different groups of people. They can’t all be right but the _can_ all be wrong. What is an objective observer to conclude upon reviewing all the contradictions–and all the fastidiousness–of the various religions? ---
**Author:** ![IzzyR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/2acd7d/32.png) [@IzzyR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IzzyR)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/39 "2002-07-17T16:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > Don’t suppose you have a cite Not here in the office. But I’ll look it up and send you an e-mail - likely after _Tisha B’Av_ ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2002, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108/40 "2002-07-17T17:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sqweels \* > \*\ ***Gobear:** > > But aren’t we talking about what God expects people to do? I see Muslim women keeping their heads covered here in the US because they believe that God will be angry with them if they don’t. \*\* Pardon me, but what does this have to do with the OP? If you want to bash religion in general, then fine, but this has nothing to do with the OP. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Nobody believes that God has different rules for different groups of people. \*\* Actually, you’re wrong here. Jews believe that there are different rules for Jews and non-Jews. In short, Jews are required to keep the 613 commandments, whereas non-Jews are only required to keep seven. > [@](#): > > \*\* > They can’t all be right but the _can_ all be wrong. What is an objective observer to conclude upon reviewing all the contradictions–and all the fastidiousness–of the various religions? \*\* Again, what does this have to do with the OP? The OP asked about one specific question in one religion. What does this, (or your earlier vauge remark) have anything to do here? Zev Steinhardt [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-my-aunt-have-sent-an-e-mail-on-shabbat/119108.md?page=3)