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Is it assur to lift weights on shabbos. Please state a clear source and reason. ty
If you’re looking for a clear-cut p’sak halacha (as opposed to our collective opinion), then why not just ask a rav?
The Wolf
Why not ask a Rav? You’ll get a clear answer without shtusim, and you’ll have a reliable answer.
I get the feeling that when someone asks this type of question, they might be embarrassed to go to their Rov about the specific question, and they hope that someone here might already know the answer. There are rabbonim in my experience who would make a face when asked that which they believe to be shtus (not saying I think the question was shtus, I actually think it’s a good one).
I have no idea if it is permitted or not, but it seems to me to be uvda d’chol. The lifting of it is probably not an issue, because in reshus hayachid or with an eruv, you can pick such things up. But I was taught that you may technically halachically i.e., carry a couch up and down the stairs all day Shabbos, but moving heavy furniture is an uvda d’chol, and on that basis should not be done.
I wish my weight on Shabbos would get lifted…oh sorry that probably fell under “shtusim”
But there is a concept of not doing exercise on shabbos, I don’t see why lifting weights would be allowed unless it is being done not for exercise.
I’ve also heard something about it being assur to build muscles on Shabbos since it’s boneh. Not sure how reliable that is and I can’t remember the source.
“There are rabbonim in my experience who would make a face when asked”
and that’s why the phone was invented
I saw this on “Ask the Rabbi”:
Question:
I have read 2 archive articles about exercise (one specifically about exercise on Shabbat).
I am trying to improve my well being through exercise. This includes both fat loss and muscle growth through lifting weights (barbell and machine weight). The trainer I deal with prescribes specific days to lift versus take off in order to promote the best results (e.g. Upper body one day, lower body the next, followed by a day off, etc.).
Would such exercise be prohibited on Shabbat? It might include about 1-1.5 hours lifting weight.
Answer:
Weight lifting is good but not for Shabbat. It has two main problems.
One, it is a week-day activity (Uvdin Dechol)
Second is the issue of prohibited medical procedures on Shabbat and exercising is included. (Shulchan Aruch OC 328; 42)
Try to talk to your trainer how to compensate for you missing Shabbat, maybe Motzaei Shabbat is a good time.
Additional answers of Rabbi Elchanan Lewis
I’ve also heard something about it being assur to build muscles on Shabbos since it’s boneh. Not sure how reliable that is and I can’t remember the source.
I don’t believe that to be correct. By the same token you shouldn’t be allowed to do anything, since any muscle movement that involves resistence (such as walking, or lifting a book) builds muscles. Likewise, you shouldn’t be able to eat since your body breaks down (“soser”) the molecules of the food.
The Wolf
“I’ve also heard something about it being assur to build muscles on Shabbos since it’s boneh”
well then walking would be out as you work your leg muscles 🙂
From what I’ve seen by searching online, it may permitted provided that you are doing so for enjoyment and you don’t get sweaty.
CYLOR
if ur a serious “modern” weight lifter you know u should take every other few days off, just rotate one of your two days a week to align with shabbos. is strenuous streatching alright on shabbos?
“assur to build muscles on Shabbos since it’s boneh”
..not Boneh because it’s not permanent. If it’s for health issues, then it might be assur for that reason. And normal activities, like walking, is not a concern.
“ciao” ???
I think we have been collectively insulted.
sniff.
One genuine Talmid Chacham who is a posaik knows more than the entire YWNCR put together……… that is how good they are. Embarrased?? No need. the real ones will NEVER make you feel uncomfortable with any question. Still Embarrassed?? Ain Habayshan Lomaid! Still embarrassed?? use the phone……
Hatzlacha. Please post the answer when you get it!
One genuine Talmid Chacham who is a posaik knows more than the entire YWNCR put together……… that is how good they are. Embarrased?? No need. the real ones will NEVER make you feel uncomfortable with any question. Still Embarrassed?? Ain Habayshan Lomaid! Still embarrassed?? use the phone……
Hatzlacha. Please post the answer when you get it!
yes, i assumed that the knowledge of the tens if not hundreds of people who visit this forum every day would be far greater then the knowledge of a single individual.
this reminds me of the joke:
a guy wanted to know how long the king’s nose was, so he asked everyone in the town, how long they thought the king’s nose was. then he took an average of all these estimates to determine the size of the king’s nose. it so happened that this king never went outside, so the people in the town had never seen him or his nose. However, the guy figured that an estimate from a lot of people would provide a better answer than just asking the king’s son, who has seen his father, the king, but is only a single individual.
What’s wrong with “ciao?” Doesn’t that mean something like, “Bye,” or “See ya,” in Italian?
1)”And what you said about uvdah dchol, can you explain to me what makes it uvdah dchol? I mean, if lifting weights is indeed mutar on shabbos, then why is it any more uvdah dchol than uvdah dshabbos? “
2)”Anyway, even though i strongly suspect that it is mutar meikar didinah, I may still refrain from doing it for the simple reason that it doesn’t feel ‘shabbosdik’.”
Uvda d’chol is a halachic way of saying “not Shabbosdik.”
shabbos is about menucha…rest…all that lovely jazz…lifting weights is not. now you may be right that technically its not assur, but then again neither is leaving your TV on for shabbos. so if you really want to lift weights youre gonna do it anyway so stop wasting time asking people on teh CR for justification.
the only possible reason i can think of is if you require some kind of physical therapy which includes a daily regiment of weight lifting. besides, why the heck can you not just wait until motzaei shabbos?
“it may permitted provided that you are doing so for enjoyment and you don’t get sweaty”
Getting sweaty is PERMITTED on Shabat. Otherwise we’d never be able to walk to shul on hot summer days.
From: http://judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_shabbatexercise.htm
Question
I would like to know if it is permitted to run on Shabbat. By this I mean run instead of walk, not as a sport. If one has to cover a long distance can one run part of it? It is physically exerting I know, but it is not work.
Answer
While there are certain restrictions on Shabbat activity, there is a special mitzvah called “Oneg Shabbat” — which means a person should do what is enjoyable on Shabbat!
Actually, if a person is exercising for enjoyment, it is permitted to exercise on Shabbat. One should he careful, however, not to push himself too much, because to get sweaty and overexerted goes against the spirit of rest and serenity that Shabbat is designed to provide. (see “Code of Jewish Law” O.C. 301:2)
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com
The second post on this thread got it exactly right: if you want the right answer, ask a rav. If want to be a yenta, you came to the right place.
I’ve also heard something about it being assur to build muscles on Shabbos since it’s boneh. Not sure how reliable that is and I can’t remember the source.
Except it’s probably soser cos exercising destroys muscles which are rebuilt at rest
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