Toys on Shabbat
Explore the halachic principles surrounding the use of toys on Shabbat. Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman and gain clarity on which games and play activities are permitted, restricted, or require special care. This series offers practical guidance for parents, educators, and anyone seeking a joyful and halachically mindful Shabbat environment.
Toys on Shabbat: Toys on Shabbat
Hello Everyone,
Every parent and grandparent knows that little children need to be entertained every now and then. And one way to entertain little children is to play with them and use a toy that makes noise. There is a not-to-be-taken-lightly question if toys that make noise may be used on Shabbat and today we will study this topic.
Toys on Shabbat: Toys on Shabbat
Hello Everyone,
Today we will learn about inflating balloons and other toys on Shabbat. The question is based on the prohibition of “building” on Shabbat. An uninflated (“flat”) balloon is obviously useless. So to inflate the balloon is “building” (or “making”- the translation is not that important). But inflated toys often are “uninflated” (if there is such a word) after their use and reinflated later. The Gemara does not talk about inflatable toys, but it does discuss pillows whose stuffing came out. The Gemara says that if the stuffing comes out of a pillow it can be put back. This is not considered to be an act of “building.” So the question discussed by Poskim is if air used to reinflate a toy is “new” air or “old” air. We will see this discussion today.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.