Chapter 29
Laws Derived from Isaiah: Running, Walking, Commerce, Measuring, Reading, Speaking
WHAT ONE IS FORBIDDEN TO READ* ON SHABBATH AND YOM TOV
45.a. 1) There is a prohibition against reading even social correspondence on Shabbath or Yom Tov.
2) a) If, however, a letter in this category has reached one on Shabbath or Yom Tov, and one has not yet read it, one is allowed to read it silently (without moving one’s lips).
b) This is permitted because the letter may possibly contain information (of a noncommercial nature) which one needs to know that day.
45.b. One may not read business correspondence and, if one makes a point of looking after such correspondence, it is muktzeh. (See paragraph 44c above.)
45.c. One may read letters containing a discussion of Torah topics, even if they reached one before Shabbath or Yom Tov commenced.
45.d. See also Chapter 28, paragraph 4, and Chapter 31,paragraphs 21 and 22
46.a. 1) Strictly speaking, it is permissible to read about current events in a newspaper, although
2) it is forbidden to read such items as
a) business news,
b) advertisements containing offers of sale or purchase, or of employment, or
c) a cookery column.
46.b. The likelihood of one’s reading forbidden material is so great, however, that, in general, it is desirable not to read newspapers at all on Shabbath and Yom Tov
46.c. Nevertheless, there is nothing wrong with reading newspaper items which deal with Torah topics, so long as one is careful not to read commercial items or other forbidden material.
