Chess
The game of Chess, which seems to have originated in India in the 6th Century, has commanded a respectful place for itself within Rabbinic literature.[1] It is likely due to the game's emphasis on mental skill and concentration that it won the admiration of Torah scholars. There exists a number of apocryphal texts which record that King Solomon had an obsession with chess.[2]
Chess is also mentioned in the Talmud.[3] In a discussion concerning the various responsibilities which a woman has towards her husband, it is noted that a woman who has servants at her disposal may delegate some of these responsibilities to be discharged by them. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel, however, argues that even a woman who has servants who take care of her chores is still bound to some sort of routine as "idleness leads to sin." In response to Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel's concern that idleness leads to sin, it is suggested that a woman who does delegate her chores to her servants should at least occupy herself "playing a certain game which includes the use of cubed pieces" to keep busy. Rashi explains that this is referring to the game of chess.
The Sefer Chassidim actually recommends playing chess.[4] In fact, the noted commentator of the Torah, Ibn Ezra, wrote a poem about his love for chess which also serves as a handbook of the rules of the game. It is also recorded that there was a rabbi who used to play chess with the pope: "Rabbi Simeon is a great master of chess; but the pope mates him."[5]
The Rambam, however, was very opposed to chess. He was even of the opinion that those who play chess for money are unfit to serve as a witnesses in a Jewish court.[6] The philosopher Kalonymus ben Kalonymus also opposed playing chess even if no gambling is involved. Similarly, a number of authorities, including Rabbi Elijah Kohen of Smyrna, make specific mention of chess and criticize it as a waste of precious study time.[7]
Rabbi Aharon Sason of Constantinople urged people to avoid playing chess on Shabbat.[8] Rabbi Elijah de Vidas completely forbade playing chess on Shabbat though he allowed children under fourteen to learn the game on the grounds that it sharpened their minds.[9] The rabbis of Spain not only sanctioned chess, but they did so to the exclusion of all other games.[10]
It is reported that after the great fire of 1711 in Frankfurt-am-Main, the Jewish community passed a decree which was in place for the following 14 years forbidding anyone from playing chess, with the exception of those who are ill. In contrast, there was a noted German Jewish custom to have a special chess set for Shabbat use whose pieces were made of silver.[11] In fact, the Rema in Shulchan Aruch specifically allows chess to be played on Shabbat.[12] Rabbi Gabriel Puntrimoli is on record saying that playing chess is an enjoyable pastime worthy of engaging in on Shabbat.[13]
[1] Most of the halachic sources cited in this article were taken from the Jewish Encyclopedia article on Chess: http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=437&letter=C
[2] See for example: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E04EEDB123DE533A25756C1A9659C94649FD7CF&oref=slogin
[3] Ketubot 61b
[4] Sefer Chassidim 400
[5] http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=437&letter=C
[6] Rambam Mishna Sanhedrin 2:3, Rambam Eidut 10:4
[7] Shevet Mussar #42
[8] Responsum #180
[9] Shevet Mussar 42
[10] Ben Chananya p.601, 650
[11] Shiltei Gibborim;Eruvin 127b
[12] Rema O.C. 338:5
[13] Pachad Yitzchak