More Interactivity
Shabbat, the day of rest for Jews all over the world, is a time to be cherished and shared with family – and board games are a great way to do that! But before you break out your favorite game, it’s important to know the restrictions that Shabbat imposes on gameplay.
So, can you play board games on Shabbat? It depends. As a general rule of thumb, writing or manipulating objects is prohibited on Shabbat. That means no score-keeping or movement pieces such as chess pawns or checkers are allowed. However, despite these constraints, there are still some great possibilities when it comes to board gaming during Shabbat!
Examples of permissible Shabbat activity include word puzzles, crosswords, mazes and shapes which don’t require writing or manipulating any materials. Other popular favorites include cards like UNO and its derivatives (as long as you skip the score-keeping part), nearly any cooperative role-playing game like Pandemic Legacy where players work together against the game itself rather than each other and quick thinking party games such as Bananagrams or Scattergories which involve no moving pieces or tallying of scores at all!
For those who have children in their home who are looking for something a bit more challenging during Shabbat rest than just plugging in their electronic devices and poisoning their minds with ADHD-inducing screens, simple logic puzzles are also an option. Think from “20 Questions” sort of challenges ” questions in which one brain works towards providing clues for another until the solution can be found without the need for exchange of paper materials or manipulations – right where you sit! These types of puzzles perfectly fill out what would otherwise be seen as dead space between festivities within a household come Saturday night… two brains challenging each other while sitting contentedly near a warm crackling fire surrounded by family – shared via sound alone!
More Visuals
Yes, you can play board games on Shabbat. Board games are a great way to bring community together and create an enjoyable pastime for families on the holy day. Though games are generally forbidden on Shabbat, there are some exceptions like dreidel and Hava Nagila which involve no writing or money related activity. Furthermore, some traditional Jewish activities such as Seuda Shelishit where three courses of food are consumed with a discussion held between each course is a form of board game that many Jews enjoy playing on Shabbat. Playing traditional Jewish board games such as these is both permissible and encouraged, providing a creative new way to deepen one’s relationship to Shabbat observance in an inspiring manner.
Additional Resources
Yes, board games can be played on Shabbat. According to Jewish law, there are some restrictions on activities that are permissible on the Sabbath. In general, any type of entertainment or leisure activity that does not involve some kind of labor or direct violation of a mitzvah is allowed on the Sabbath. Since board games do not directly involve labor or mitzvah violations, they are allowed as an engaging entertaining activity to enjoy with family and friends during Sabbath celebrations.
In addition to traditional board games such as Monopoly and Chess, there have been new modern adaptations created for specific use on Shabbat in order to comply with halachic guidelines; these so-called “Shabbat Games” introduce more interactive elements than traditional table top versions while still maintaining compliance with Jewish law.
Additional Reading:
1. Chabad: Board Games on Shabbot – https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/860092/jewish/Board-Games-on-Shabbat.htm
2. My Jewish Learning – Can You Play Board Games on Shabbat? – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/board-games-on-shabbat
3. Israellycool Blog: Family Fun On Shabbos? Why Not Play A Shikuma Golem Then?! – https://www.israellycool.com/2016/08/05/family-fun-on-shabbos-why-not-play-a-shikuma-golemgame then
Creative Challenges
While it is generally prohibited to do any type of physical work on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), there are some rabbis who permit certain board games such as chess and checkers. However, this does come with many restrictions and opinions on how these activities should be performed. Some require learning the games before Shabbat to ensure that no rule is broken which could constitute a violation of the fourth commandment which prohibits laborious activity. Additionally, certain rules for board games that could involve writing or erasing should be considered when playing on Shabbat.
For example, pose the following challenge: In what ways could you modify the rules of a traditional board game (like Monopoly or Chess) to make it more “Shabbat Friendly?” What modifications would you have to make to prevent breaking any religious laws while still having a good game night?
Encourage Discussions
The observance of Shabbat (Sabbath) is important in Jewish religious law and culture, and there is a prohibition against “creating” on the Sabbath – including playing games of chance. But are all board games prohibited on Shabbat? Is there an allowance for certain kinds of boards games?
To answer these questions, it’s important to look to the principles underlying the Shabbat observance. In short, the aim is to set aside a day each week for rest, contemplation, and personal growth. Anything that works contrary to these goals–such as gambling–is deemed unacceptable on Shabbat.
Conversely, activities that enable people to reflect or bond are typically permitted. So what about board games? While some traditional board games have been used as gambling devices, there are many that don’t involve money or luck–such as Scrabble or Words with Friends–which use strategy and knowledge instead. Such non-cash related board games can be played together with family members or friends during Shabbat without causing any offence.
What do you think? Do you have experience playing board games during Shabbat, either growing up or today? Are there any other activities you would consider allowable on Shabbat? Do you believe gambling is acceptable at any time in Judiasm? How does the concept of enjoying leisure-time kindship play into your views on the matter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.
I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.
