1. Over the next few weeks, we will summarize many of the halachot pertaining to one who is ill on Shabbat, including in which cases one may take medicine, when one may ask a non-Jew to violate Shabbat on one’s behalf, and when even a Jew may violate Shabbat to assist the one who is ill. We will begin with an introduction and brief overview of the different categories of illness and then discuss the less serious cases and move toward the more serious cases, concluding with cases where a life is in danger.

2. With respect to illness on Shabbat, it is generally divided up into a number of different cases, each governed by somewhat different halachic guidelines.

a. Meichush – Minor illness who can still function normally

b. Choleh She’ein bo Sakanah – One who is ill but is confined to bed or cannot function normally due to her illness

c. Tza’ar – One who is in pain due to a wound or the like but is not technically ill

d. Sakanat Ever – One whose limb is in danger of being cut off or rendered inoperable

e. Choleh Sheyesh bo Sakanah – One whose illness places her life in danger

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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.