By Rabbi Yosef Braun, Member of the Badatz of Crown Heights:
There are poskim who suggest that playing with fake money on Shabbos in games such as Monopoly, is inappropriate, even for children.
(Grown men should obviously not use their Shabbos for such pastimes. Playing games, are of course, absolutely discouraged, as their time should be spent learning Torah.)
This is despite the fact that, strictly speaking, the money is not considered real money, and therefore the selling and buying involved are not considered transactions.
It is not clear whether the fake money is muktzeh (an object that may not be moved or handled on Shabbos).
However, if the fake money ‘earned” in camps, or other programs can be used to “purchase” prizes—it is certainly not considered fake money at all, as it is a valid currency in that particular camp, mishnayos b’al peh, or Mesibas Shabbos program.
Therefore, not only may it not be used to “buy” anything, but that fake money is definitely muktzeh.
Camps and programs should use other means to keep track of the participants’ learning, attendance, and good behavior, such as a ledger where paper clips are used to keep track of how many mishnayos each child has mastered.
I’m glad were dealing with the real issues here.
Fake money is permitted on Shabbos. Scrip is forbidden, precisely because it is REAL money. These vouchers are real money, albeit only in the context of camp. Once camp is over and they can no longer be spent, they are no longer money, just like banknotes from countries that no longer exist.
There is no issur klall uklall for children, specially if it is used toward a didactic method to bring the children to a contest in Halachah for example. Harav Moshe Feinstein zal is matir, the Rav zal is Matir, Rav Wozner zal is matir, and our Rav Rav Dworkin is Matir. So, who are his mekorot to be Osser completely??? Many of these short ‘Teshuvot’ are misleading and sometimes against the Halachah, ask a Rav Moreh Horaha bePoel. This is not a “stuVeyzen playground’
In Kuntres Eitz Chaim or Avoido the Rebbe Rashab says that Sabbes should be Kulo laHashem. And speaks very strongly againg taking walks etc. Are we chasidim or what?
It is easy to just say things in the name of previous Rabbonim and state ‘facts’ without bringing any proof of evidence.
I fully agree with comment #6
Someone who learns all week is suppose to take some time off on Shabbos to relax , however someone who does not learn all week is suppose to use Shabbos for learning.
Perhaps the article should be reposted in the comments. Commenters might read it then.
When giving a halachac opinion it is important to realize the consequences of your action. By saying flat out that it is assur to do you are also saying that anyone that is doing it which is all camps and day camps so every child that is in a camp that is open on Shabbos is being mechalel Shabbos. What you are doing is taking your opinion that has many holes in it since many Rabbonim have allowed it and you are saying that the community that you represent is going against the Torah. It is easy to say no,… Read more »
If you read the weekly Halacha booklet that this came from it’s loaded with sources
To #6 +1
To # 5 please read the article, it doesn’t say monopoly is assur.
Rabbi Braun, you can’t seriously be saying that men should only learn and never play games with their children. playing with one’s children (besides of course also learning with them as much as possible but it is limited when they are five or seven or nine yrs old) is THE BIGGEST MITZVAH, it is actively raising one’s children.
#6
I think what Yosef Mokeir is getting at is that whether for recreation or used in lieu of a an actual monetary transaction on shabbos, what is the Halacha based on! If anything the headline is attention grabbing not the content. So can we please know upon what this psak is based?
# 6
I READ THE HEADLINE, WHERE IS THE M’KOR FOR THIS PSAK!
Your exchanging it for a prize, these fake money are also exchanged for a prize.
The issue is here is not playing monopoly, that is a separate shaila. The issue here is that fake money when used to purchase something of value, becomes quasi currency, it has a buying power and halachically is equivalent to actual money.
There have been rabbonim in the community for decades. Why was their opinion not sought?
You must respect Rabbonim and not write in such an aggressive manner because first of all #6 and second of all who are you anyways
Whatever non money looking token one uses, it would still be considered as currency for THAT camp or THAT program. Paperclips that purchase prizes would be legal tender for THAT activity.
FYI – This is from Rabbi Braun’s (Friday’s) Daily one Min Halacha. Every week, that weeks Halachos are released in a publication called “One Min Halacha – The Week in Review” you can get it by sending an email to halacha2go@gmail.com
This practice has been going on in camps for over 50 years now and this was dealt with by Rabbonim including Reb Zalman Shimon Dvorkin who spent many summers in CGI Parksville and this was used then as well, this practice was also used in CGI Montreal when Rabbi Schwei was the camp Rabbi for about 10 years and it was approved by all these Rabbis, so my pick goes to follow camp tradition according to all these great Rabbis as opposed to the newcomers who like to find what we all do wrong and show us how we all… Read more »
#2 See Tesuva from Alter Rebbe Siman 2 (printed in back of Chelek Hay & vov)
#1 See Shulchan Aruch Siman 322 Sa’if 6 (and Mefarshim) it is missing in the Alter Rebbe Shulchan Aruch which is why a lot of Lubavitchers are ignorant of this but raffles on Shabbos are FORBIDDEN!
Then we can get to secondary issues like this.
Too many times I see boys (carrying) retrieving a ball from the street on shabbos. Let’s set our priorities straight.
Do not comment based on only reading the headline. Read the piece.
I’m a father with children and can’t imagine what can be more in the spirit of Shabbos than spending time playing games with my kids. I sit and learn all week long, I think Shabbos is the best time to play.
Yasher koach to the unsung hero behind Rav Braun shlita’s wonderful shiurim! Our special friend is the one who tirelessly writes up and edits so beautifully each and every shiur and prepares them for professional publication. We are so proud of you and give them out to all our students. Your work is in 770, the Rebbe’s Shul, and many other Shuls, every week! Please subscribe at Halacha2Go.com, by e-mail and WhatsApp. The Rebbe strongly encouraged the learning of Halacha le’maasei.
A raffle ticket is diffrent.
your NOT buying anything thing with it.
SHMIRAS SHABBOS KILCHOSOH DISCUSSES PLAYING MONOPOLY ON SHABBOS AND THAT IT IS PERMISSABLE ALTHOUGH LIKE ANY OTHER PAPER MONEY RELATED GAMES, IT IS NOT IN THE SPIRIT OF SHABBOS. ARE WE THEREFORE TALKING ABOUT THE SPIRIT OF SHABBOS THAT IT IS NOT PERMISSABLE, AND IF NOT, CAN WE SEE THE MOKOR FOR THIS PSAK.
Good to know! I guess that also means raffle tickets are muktza???