Shabbat

Dear Rabbi, What is the reason for lighting Shabbat candles? I saw a Jewish neighbor light for last Shabbat and was both inspired and curious about why and what she was doing. Maybe I could ask her but I would like to hear the answers from a Rabbi. Thanks!

Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. If one fasted on Shabbos, and he wants to fast on Sunday because he unlawfully fasted on Shabbos, does he have to be m'kabel the fast on Shabbos itself for the fast on Sunday to count toward his obligation to fast for fasting on Shabbos? If he didn't accept the additional fast on Shabbos itself, and he fasted on Sunday, would that fast still count for him to be yotzei his obligation to fast for fasting on Shabbos? And if not, in a situation like this year where the day after Sunday and the whole week he is not allowed to fast because of Chanukah, is he patur from the additional fast altogether? Thanks a lot.

Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. The infant's high chair has a removable tray that snaps in and can be removed. Can this be done on Shabbos? thanks a lot.

Suppose one has to receive a call from a physician on Shabbat in a situation that is pikuach nefesh. While awaiting the call, their phone rings, but they don’t know who is calling. They pick up the phone, thinking it might be the doctor, but it turns out to be someone else. In this situation, is one required to simply hang up without explaining themselves? Or do you spend a few moments on the phone during Shabbat explaining to the caller that you cannot talk because you are waiting for a call from the doctor?

I was a guest at the home of a religious family this past Shabbat, and they served the tastiest delicacy into which I’ve ever sunk my teeth. It had an intoxicating aroma and looked like a molasses-colored potpourri. I believe they called it “Jolt.” What is the significance of this tasty tradition?

I just got rechargeable hearing aids that are good for 19 hours. My question is twofold: Can you wear hearing aids on Shabbat? Can you take the hearing aids out of the charger to put them on on Shabbat

Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. It’s brought down as halacha that one is forbidden to carry a child who is holding muktzeh that has some value in his hand on Shabbos. The reason given is that carrying the child might lead to actually picking up the muktzeh item itself. Why should this be a concern, though, since moving the muktzeh itself is only a gezeira and we don’t make gezeiros on gezeiros? Are there any poskim who argue for this very reason and permit one to carry the child? Thanks.

i'd like to give my friends a gift of cloves in a small travel jar for havdalah when they are away from home, but i'm wondering about the jar for the besamim spices... Since you don't injest them does it matter if the vessels are toiveled in a mikvah or not? Also, what if i dip the dried cloves in organic clove oil to make sure the scent lasts longer- is there anything problematic there?