[Avodah] Recent timers on Shabbat and Yom Tov posting on Hirrhurim

[Micha Berger]

On Sun, Oct 10, 2010 at 12:04:00AM +0100, Chana Luntz wrote:
:            I wondered whether anybody was able to explain a bit better ... R'
: fully explained in a book by RHS which I don't have access to). R'
: Michael Broyde wrote:
:> The second position, that of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik and others,
:> states that the critical factor is whether the additional force needed
:> to finish the action is present at the time of human activity. Winnowing
:> in the wind is prohibited only when the wind is blowing at the time the
:> wheat is thrown into the wind; the barrel case is permitted since one
:> is placing the barrels away from the fire. Placing the barrels actually
:> in the fire would be prohibited.

: I don't really understand this. Or at least, I can understand a
: distinction if it is not clear that the fire is going to reach the barrels
: (eg there was no wind, so it might not spread that far). But if there
: was a wind that was pushing the fire along, how is this any different?
...

You seem to prefer an explanation that speaks to the reliability of the
other causes of the event.

Just judging from this bit, though, it sounds like RYBS is focusing on
which cause is chronologically last. Thus, if you throw it up in the
air and then the wind starts blowing, the "culpability" falls more to
the wind than to you. ("Culpability" in quotes because wind obviously
bears no guilt in violating Shabbos.)

Similarly, it depends on which step was the last that went into combining
the barrels and the fire.

Not necessary or sufficient cause, but final cause.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             The trick is learning to be passionate in one's
micha at aishdas.org        ideals, but compassionate to one's peers.
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