Ask The Rabbi 
15 July 1995
Issue #72
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This edition contains:
1.  Roller-Blades
2.  Cholent Follow-Up
3.  Answer to Last Week's Riddle
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Jack Nadelman from Jack.Nadelman@telematics.com wrote:

>The nearest Orthodox service to me is about two and a quarter miles and I 
>live in S. Florida where there are only two seasons:  summer and tourist.  
>Well, it's summer now and between the heat and the humidity (it is both) 
>it feels like a sauna when I walk to shul.  Anyways.  Why not 
>Rollerblades?  Can I Roller-blade my way to services on Shabbat?

* * * * * * * * *

Dear Jack,

First, there's the prohibition of carrying from a public domain to a 
private domain on Shabbat.  When you get to the synagogue, I imagine that 
you would take off your rollerblades.  Taking them off outside and carrying 
them inside is forbidden (as you wrote in your follow-up message that there 
is no "Eruv" where you live).  To avoid this prohibition you would need to 
wait until you are inside the building to remove the skates.  When leaving 
you would put on the skates inside, and only then go out.

But there is another consideration:  Our Sages prohibited going outside 
wearing certain articles of clothing that you are likely to remove.  For 
example, certain types of jewelry you might take off to show to friends.  
Or shoes that are too big for your feet.  This prohibition is intended to 
prevent you from taking off the article of clothing or jewelry and 
accidentally carrying it in the Reshut HaRabim (public domain).

Would this prohibition include rollerblades? After all, rollerblades are 
typically removed at the door and carried inside -- for instance, when 
there are steps to climb, or if there is carpeting inside.

I posed this question to Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita.  Rabbi 
Scheinberg said that we do not find this prohibition extending beyond those 
things mentioned in the Talmud.  Therefore, it would not apply to 
rollerblades.

There is another consideration, however:  "K'vod Shabbat" -- Honoring the 
Shabbat.  We honor Shabbat by wearing our nicest clothing, eating delicious 
food, singing beautiful Shabbat songs and prayers.  The way we speak on 
Shabbat, e.g., not talking about business or weekday matters -- and even 
the way we walk -- is part of "K'vod Shabbat."  Rabbi Scheinberg said 
unequivocally that skating is a "zilzul," meaning that it is out of line 
with the honor due to Shabbat.

In other words, your dreams of becoming a Quick-Tzaddik are simply that:  
Quixotic.  Or, as they say in Yiddish, "S'kate nisht*."

* "Don't skate," a play on the Yiddish phrase "S'gate Nisht" meaning, "It 
doesn't go...it's improper."

Sources:
o  Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 301:1,7; O.C. 303.

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Last Week's Cholent

In "Ask the Rabbi" #70 we suggested that the word "Cholent" comes from the 
French "Chaud-Lent" meaning "Hot-Slow."  R. Naftali Falk from England 
shared with us another interpretation:  The word Cholent comes from the 
Hebrew "Sh'lahn," meaning "That it stayed over-night."  This refers to the 
fact that Cholent stays on the fire overnight.  Thanks R. Naftali!!

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Answer to last week's Yiddle Riddle:

Question: "I'm too young to be Parve."  Who am I?

Answer:  I am an undeveloped chicken egg.  According to Rabbinic law, 
chicken is considered "meat" and cannot be cooked or eaten with milk.  An 
undeveloped egg inside a chicken is considered part of the chicken.  Later, 
when the egg develops, it is considered a separate entity, even though it 
is still inside the chicken -- and is Parve, meaning that it can be cooked 
with either milk or meat.

Source: 
o  Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah 87:5.
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