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Top Document: soc.culture.jewish FAQ: Observance, Marriage, Women in Judaism (4/12) Previous Document: Question 7.14: Why is there a prohibition on travel on Shabbat? Next Document: Question 8.1: What role do women play in Judaism? See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Answer:
A camera may not be used on Shabbat or holidays. Creating the
photographic image would raise problems with two of the 39 categories
of melechah prohibited on Shabbat: coloring/dying, and
writing/drawing. Additionally, most cameras use electronics, which
heat up filaments and a flashbulb (cooking or kindling), motors spark
internally (kindling), closing a circuit is completing it (a "final
hammer blow", as the concept is called in the Talmud). Lastly, posing
for the picture intentionally raises the issues of coloring or
drawing. So, if the picture is for your benefit you can't
intentionally walk into the field in front of the lens.
Anything a Jew can't do for himself, he can't ask a non-Jew to do for
him; however, he can enjoy it if a non-Jew did it for him without his
asking. There are exceptions, such as for communal need (such as the
synagogue janitor), or to prevent massive loss. How does this apply to
taking a picture? Consider a security camera. One doesn't gain by
having your own picture taken in such a case, and such pictures serve
to prevent massive loss. After all, the camera doesn't protect you
from yourself. Thus, walking by an apartment building's security
camera is permissable (in nearly all contemporary Orthoodox opinions).
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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