Ask The Rabbi...
Issue #36
1 October 1994
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This issue is dedicated in the memory of Mr. Bernard Harris O.B.M.
17 Elul 5754
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This edition contains:
1.  Jogging and Shabbos
2.  Anger and the Torah

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Michael Sultan from Vermont wrote:

>I am in the habit of regular jogging...every other day.  My jogging 
>frequently ends up on a Saturday morning.  I am interested to know whether 
>jogging, or exercise for that matter conflicts with the spirit of Shabbat.  
>The jogging is done solely for health purposes and often involves quiet 
>reflection in pleasant surroundings.  Thank you for providing this 
>forum...Shalom. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear  Michael,

Generally speaking, running on Shabbat is forbidden unless you are running 
to do a mitzvah or for pleasure.  The first thing that we need to clarify 
in your case is whether running is pleasurable for you, or is it 
unpleasant, but you are doing it because you know that it`s good for you.  
If it is unpleasant,  then it would be forbidden because of the Rabbinical 
prohibition against non-essential health care on Shabbat.  If it is, in 
fact, enjoyable,  then it would appear to be permitted.  Rabbi  Neuwirth in 
"Shmirath Shabbath Kehilchatha" writes that he heard from Rabbi Shlomo 
Zalman Auerbach, shlita, that if the person enjoys the exercise it is 
permitted for him to do it on Shabbat.

There are other halachic considerations that are not being taken into 
account.  For example, you could not carry a stop-watch or a water bottle 
during your run.  Of course, you can't wear those shoes that light-up each 
time you take a step!  When you return, there would be problems taking a 
shower in a normal fashion.  It would  probably be greatly preferred if you 
could arrange your jogging schedule for Friday afternoon and/or Saturday 
night.

A  friend of mine told me of a novel twist to an old Jewish saying.  He was 
once walking  to Shul on Shabbat when he found himself overtaken by a 
middle aged, Jewish jogger.  The jogger was sweating profusely and clearly 
tired out, and as he passed my friend he turned and said, "Oy, its shver 
tzu zein a Yid!" (Woe, its hard to be a Jew!). 

Sources:
o  Shulchan Aruch - Orach Chaim, 301:1-2.
o  Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan - Mishneh Brura 301:7.
o  Rabbi Yehoshua Neuwirth - Shmirath Shabbath Kehilchatha 
   (Hebrew edition) - 16:39 note 99. 

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Mrs Alexis S. Berman wrote:

>Dear Rabbi,
>
>I would like to know where in the Torah it discusses the topic of anger.  
>
>Thank you very much.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Mrs. Berman,

Anger is considered one of the most destructive traits.  Yaakov Avinu 
(Jacob) strongly admonishes his children Shimon and Levi "Accursed is their 
rage for it is intense, and their wrath for it is harsh..."  Shlomo 
Hamelech (King Solomon)  warns "Anger resides in the bosom of fools."  The 
Midrash criticizes Moshe for becoming angry:  "Rabbi Eliezer states: in 
three instances (Moshe) came to be angry and thus came to err:  Upon being 
angry at Elazar and Itamar the sons of Aharon; after being angry with  the 
commanding soldiers who returned from battle with Midian; and upon being 
angry at the Children of Israel when they demanded water."

It is puzzling that "anger" is so destructive and is nevertheless not the 
subject of a direct commandment.  There is no mitzvah "Thou shalt not be 
angry."  Rav Chaim Vital in his classic work "Sha'arei Kedusha" addresses 
this question, and answers it with a very profound concept.  Before we ever 
get to the point of performing mitzvot there is a need to develop our basic 
character.  The traits that comprise our character  determine  the way in 
which we fulfill the mitzvot.  We must spend our energy in perfecting these 
aspects of ourselves -- once these are properly developed we can perform 
the mitzvot with relative ease.  

Conclusion:  Overcoming anger is a foundation for the proper fulfillment of 
the entire Torah, and is therefore not counted as a separate mitzvah.  

Sources:
o  Bereishit, 49:7.
o  Kohelet, 7:9.
o  Sifri - Matot.
o  Rabbi Chaim Vital - Sha'arei Kedusha, part 1, gate 2.

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