#19: Departing on a Cruise Three Days Before Shabbat (Part 1)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski

In the next few posts, we will discuss restrictions involving Shabbat that begin a few days in advance.

  1. One may not set out on a cruise or sea voyage within three days before Shabbat (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 248:1). This means that one may not depart anytime from Wednesday through Friday afternoon, though some understand the three days to begin from Thursday and include Shabbat (Vilna Gaon).
  2. Multiple reasons are given for this rule, the main one being that one may become sea-sick over the first few days of the trip and ruin one’s enjoyment of Shabbat (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 248:2). In the next posting, we will discuss whether this rule applies today.  

To sign up for the daily halacha via WhatsApp or email, click here.

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.