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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION
Siman של״ב · 4 Se'ifim
Not to deliver an animal (yiluda b'haymah) on Shabbos — to discover and understand
סימן של״ב
שֶׁלֹּא לְיַלֵּד הַבְּהֵמָה בְּשַׁבָּת
🌱 Introduction Level · Beginners
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First approach to Siman של״ב: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, smooth English translation, pedagogical explanations of the halachic concepts, modern practical cases and synthesis.
Topic: Not to deliver an animal birthing on Shabbos
Source: Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim Siman 332 (4 se'ifim)
Compiled by: Rav Yossef Chaim Samama
DAAT · daattorah.com
📑 Study plan
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the 4 se'ifim of the Mechaber
2. The general context: why this siman?
3. The key halachic concepts of this siman
4. Detail of the se'ifim — one by one
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
6. The Rema's position — Ashkenazi vs Sephardic differences
7. Modern practical cases
8. Practical synthesis
9. Comprehension questions
1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch
Siman של״ב contains 4 se'ifim of the Mechaber (Rabbi Yosef Karo) which codify the halachos relating to not delivering an animal birthing on Shabbos.
Se'if 1
שלא לילד הבהמה בשבת. ובו ד סעיפים:
אין מילדין את הבהמה בשבת:
Translation: one does not assist an animal birthing on Shabbos — meaning to pull the offspring out of the womb — because there is an excessive effort (tircha yeseira), and the welfare of an animal does not justify such trouble on Shabbos.
What this seif says:
- One does not deliver the animal on Shabbat.
Se'if 2
אין מפרכין לבהמה גלדי מכה ולא סכין אותה בשמן וה״מ בגמר מכה דליכא אלא משום תענוג אבל בתחלת מכה דאיכא צערא שרי:
Translation: one does not remove the scabs from an animal's wound nor anoint it with oil. And this when the wound is healing, where there is only comfort treatment; but at the start of the wound, when there is real suffering — it is permitted (because of tza'ar baalei chayim).
What this seif says:
- One does not rub off the scabs of a wound for the animal, nor anoint it with oil.
- And this of the wound's end, where there is only comfort; but at the wound's beginning, where there is suffering — it is permitted.
Se'if 3
אם אכלה כרשינין הרבה ומצטערת יכול להריצה בחצר כדי שתייגע ותתרפא:
Translation: if the animal ate too many vetches (karshinin) and is suffering, one may make it run in the courtyard so that it tires and heals (running is not a melachah, and it relieves its suffering).
What this seif says:
- If it has eaten much vetch and is in pain: he may run it about the courtyard, so that it tire and be cured.
Se'if 4
אם אחזה דם יכול להעמידה במים כדי שתצטנן ואם הוא ספק שאם לא יקיז לה דם תמות מותר לומר לעכו״ם להקיזה:
Translation: if the animal is gripped by blood congestion, one may place it in water to cool it; and if there is doubt that without bloodletting the animal will die, it is permitted to tell a non-Jew to bleed it (significant financial loss — amirah l'akum is then permitted).
Full text: these 4 se'ifim constitute the entire codification of the Mechaber on this subject.
What this seif says:
- If blood has seized it: he may stand it in water, so that it cool.
- And if there is a doubt that it will die unless bled — permitted to tell a non-Jew to bleed it.
2. The general context
What is this siman about?
Siman של״ב, very brief (4 se'ifim), deals with care for an animal on Shabbos. It echoes siman ש״ל (the woman giving birth): there, a human being giving birth; here, an animal. The contrast is deliberate — for the woman one transgresses all of Shabbos; for the animal, one does not even assist the birthing.
The logic of the siman: two principles meet — on one hand tza'ar baalei chayim (the duty to spare animals from suffering), on the other the prohibition of tircha yeseira (excessive effort) on Shabbos. The siman draws the line: we relieve real suffering, we do not exert excessive effort for mere comfort.
Place in Hilchos Shabbos
Siman של״ב directly follows siman ש״ל-של״א (woman giving birth, milah) and offers, by contrast, the exact measure of the animal's status on Shabbos.
3. The key halachic concepts
Three concepts structure the 4 se'ifim:
Key concepts of Siman של״ב:
- צער בעלי חיים — the duty to spare suffering from the animal: it permits the allowed treatments (running, cooling, treating a painful wound).
- טרחה יתרה — excessive effort: assisting the birthing, removing scabs for mere comfort — forbidden on Shabbos.
- אמירה לעכו״ם — telling a non-Jew: permitted in case of vital doubt for the animal (significant financial loss).
The master question: "is there real suffering?" — if yes, we act (by acts that are not melachah, or via a non-Jew in case of danger); if it's just comfort, we refrain, because excessive effort for an animal is not permitted on Shabbos.
4. Detail of the se'ifim
| Se'if | Topic | Halachah |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birthing | No assistance — excessive effort |
| 2 | Treating a wound | Comfort: forbidden; real suffering: permitted |
| 3 | Digestive distress (vetches) | Running the animal for relief: permitted |
| 4 | Congestion / danger | Cool in water; vital doubt → tell a non-Jew to bleed |
Reading method: for each se'if — (1) what is the animal's situation; (2) real suffering or mere comfort; (3) is the act a melachah; (4) conclusion: permitted / forbidden / via non-Jew.
5. The Mishnah Berurah — first entries
The Mishnah Berurah of Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (Chofetz Chaim) has 9 entries on this siman. Here are the first ones:
משנה ברורה (א) — (א) אין מילדין וכו' - פירוש למשוך הולד מן הרחם דאיכא טרחא יתירא ועיין באחרונים שהסכימו דאף לסעודה [היינו שאוחז הולד שלא יפול לארץ ונותן לו דד לתוך פיו] אסור בשבת וכן כל צרכי לידה המבואר בסימן תקכ״ג ע״ש:
משנה ברורה (ב) — (ב) מפרכסין - פי' להסיר את הגלד:
משנה ברורה (ג) — (ג) אותה - את המכה:
The Mishnah Berurah clarifies the meaning of "not assisting the birthing": pulling the offspring out of the womb — that is the prohibited excessive effort. And he adds, in the name of the Acharonim, that it is also forbidden to support the offspring as it falls or to put the udder in its mouth — in short, all the birthing needs, except danger.
For the full text of the 9 entries: Mishnah Berurah 332.
6. The Rema's position
The Rema does not add a gloss in this brief siman; the text is entirely that of the Mechaber.
Sefardim and Ashkenazim follow the same text here. For practice: Sefardim according to the Beis Yosef and later decisors; Ashkenazim according to the Mishnah Berurah; Chabad according to the Shulchan Aruch HaRav (siman של״ב). The distinction real suffering / mere comfort is common to all.
7. Modern practical cases
| Situation | Analysis |
|---|---|
| Cow, ewe or pet animal giving birth on Shabbos | We do not actively assist the birthing (excessive effort, se'if 1). In case of danger for the mother, see the vital doubt case. |
| Wounded animal in pain | Painful recent wound: we can relieve (se'if 2). Healing wound, mere comfort: refrain. |
| Animal in digestive distress | Walk / run it to relieve: permitted, it is not a melachah (se'if 3). |
| Animal in mortal danger | In case of vital doubt, one may ask a non-Jew for necessary care (se'if 4). Non-Jewish vet: to examine with a Rav. |
For halachah l'maaseh, consult your Rav — especially to distinguish suffering that justifies intervention from mere discomfort, and for recourse to a non-Jewish vet.
8. Practical synthesis
The Siman של״ב in 4 rules:
- We do not assist the birthing of an animal — excessive effort forbidden.
- Treating a wound: permitted if it really causes suffering; forbidden if it's mere comfort.
- Relieving suffering by an act that is not melachah (running, cooling in water): permitted.
- Mortal danger of the animal: one may tell a non-Jew to intervene.
9. Comprehension questions
Check your understanding:
- Why does one not assist an animal birthing on Shabbos (se'if 1)?
- What is the difference between the two principles in tension in this siman?
- Why is treating a wound "at the start" permitted and "at the end" forbidden (se'if 2)?
- Why may one run an animal suffering from indigestion (se'if 3)?
- In what case may one ask a non-Jew to bleed the animal (se'if 4)?
- What contrast does this siman establish with siman ש״ל (the woman giving birth)?
To go further
If you want to deepen this siman:
- 📚 Level 2 — Lamdan: for pilpul, the shitos of the Rishonim, foundational chakiros, and Acharonic nuances
- ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis: for quick review and memorization with mnemonics
- 📜 Level 4 — Daas HaRav: the shitah of the Alter Rebbe (Shulchan Aruch HaRav siman של״ב)