Ask The Rabbi...
August 20, 1994 Issue #31

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This issue is dedicated in the memory of Roslyn Seltzer-Leventhal

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This edition contains:
1.  Putting animals "to sleep."
2.  Assorted Shabbat questions.

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Richard from Mt. Vernon, NY, wrote:

>As a "follow-up" to your answer about Euthanasia, is it Halachically 
>permitted to put animals "to sleep"?

* * * * * * * *

Dear Richard,

The prohibition against causing pain to animals is a serious one, and is 
treated as such by Jewish Law, which not only forbids man from causing pain 
to animals, but also bids him to help relieve the pain of animals.

I spoke to Dr. Kaufman, a Jerusalem veterinarian, to find out what putting 
animals to sleep involves, and under what circumstances the procedure is 
done.  She told me that, in general, she would do this only for animals 
that had been in an accident and the ensuing treatment would be too costly, 
or for pets dying and in pain. 

Though, when Dr. Kaufman was working at the Tufts University Animal Clinic, 
a woman wanted her dog "put down" for an unusual reason:  She had just 
redecorated her house, and her "lovey, lovey, koochie koo" no longer 
matched the decor!  Even though Dr. Kaufman suggested giving the dog up for 
adoption, the lady refused, stating that if she couldn't have her "lovey, 
lovey" then no one could!" 

The general method for putting an animal to sleep is to give it 
Phenobarbital, an anesthetic.  Once the animal is unconscious, it is given 
an overdose.  The method for putting many animals to sleep at one time is 
to gas them with Carbon Dioxide, an anesthetic that eventually stops their 
breathing.  In short, every effort is made to make the process painless.  

I asked Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita, about the ruling in this 
case, and he told me that it would be Halachically permissible to put an 
animal to sleep since it is a painless procedure.  However, there is a 
Kabbalistic tradition, he notes, that forbids the ending of any life.

Rabbi Aryeh Levin tells a story about a walk he once took with Rabbi Kook.  
While they were walking, Reb Aryeh "absent-mindedly" pulled a leaf from a 
tree.  Rabbi Kook stopped and asked him why he did that.  "Why I did what?" 
responded Reb Aryeh.  Reb Aryeh relates that Rav Kook illustrated to him 
how one should be very careful about life, even the life of a leaf.    

Sources:
 Shemot, 23:5.
 Talmud - Tractate Shabbat 128b.
 Shulchan Aruch - Choshen Mishpat, 272:9.

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Michael Steinberg from Syracuse wrote:

>Are magnets "muktza" on Shabbos?

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Dear Michael,

Normal magnets are not muktza on Shabbat.  Of course, they may used only 
for activities permitted on Shabbat.

Source:
"The Halachos of Muktza" - Rabbi P. Bodner, Lakewood, page 23.

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Ira Rosen from Rutgers asked:

>May one use a tap on Shabbat that has a water filter attached to it, given 
>that it separates certain items from the water?  The filter is permanently 
>attached.  Does it make a difference if the filter must be turned on?
>Thank you for your time.

* * * * * * * *

Dear Ira,

It is permitted to use on Shabbat the filters you have described as long as 
the water is potable even without the use of the filter -- and the filter 
is there "just to be extra safe."  I assume that is the case where you 
live.  In terms of "turning it on," as long as you did not need to throw an 
electrical switch, it would be permitted to "redirect" the water to the 
filter from the spigot.

Source:
Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth - Shemirath Shabbath 3:56.

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Elias in the Old City of Jerusalem wrote:

>Dear Rabbi,
>
>I run a Shabbos playgroup for children.  Occasionally, one of them will 
>cause a disruption, and I want to eject the child from the group.  Is this 
>"borer" (the prohibition against "forbidden selecting")?

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Dear Elias,

"Borer" is only an issue if there is a mixture of two or more components.  
If the children are not heaped up in a pile or the like, the prohibition of  
borer does not apply.  If they are in a pile, then either scatter them 
first, or pull the offender out from the pile for immediate "use."  BTW, 
was this question serious?

Source:
Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth - Shemirath Shabbath 3:1-3.

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