[Avodah] Why does cold trump hot

[harchinam]

What I learned [sorry, no source remembered; maybe someone else could
supply?] is something that makes much more sense. It is SEASONAL -- that is
to say, in the winter we are concerned for someone who is cold and in the
summer we are concerned for someone who is hot. If we want to open the
window for air in the winter [common in Israel] and keep the heat off, we
are concerned for someone who is cold. In the summer, when heat stroke or
other heat-related problems are a concern, if we want to be cheap and not
use air conditioning when it is very hot but there is someone who is very
hot, we must turn it on.

This is what we follow in our all-frum office as it is considered to be the
halacha [again, I have forgotten the quoted source for this] and it makes
the most sense, IMO.

*** Rena



On Fri, Sep 13, 2013 at 1:12 AM, JOSEPH MOSSERI
<joseph.mosseri at verizon.net>wrote:

> So many people say that if one person is cold the HALACHA is that you have
> to close the window, turn off the airconditioner , etc..
> Years ago I asked a rabbi and he said to me that in reality thee is no
> such specific halachah.
> I just went searching the web and I found a piece on this subject which is
> based upon Baba Batra 22b and S.A. Hoshen Mishpat 155:39.
>
> Sorry, But I just don't get it.
> Why the over concern for a person that is "cold"?
> What about someone like me who is usually hot and I have a difficult time
> breathing when the room is not cool?
>
> What about if we have a minyan on a day like today that is very humid and
> warm outside so we have the air-conditioner set on 68-70 degrees F as we do
> all summer.
> Everyone is wearing light comfortable clothing and even short sleeves and
> one person is cold, he is wearing a sweater and a jacket. He wants the air
> conditioner off and for us all to choke on the stagnant hot air just for
> his warmth.
> Why is that right or fair?
> What about ahare rabim lehatot?
> Or al tifrosh min hatzibbur?
> Can't these sayings be employed here?
>
> Please explain,
> Thank you,
> Joseph Mosseri
>
>
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