Q&A: Swimming on the Sabbath and Weekday-Type Activity
Swimming on the Sabbath and Weekday-Type Activity
Question
Rabbi, I just learned in Peninei Halakha that in principle it is permitted to swim on the Sabbath in a pool enclosed by a wall, in cold water, but he still forbids it because it is a weekday-type activity — “because this is one of the common leisure activities of weekdays.” My question is a general one about this rule, because it sounds like a chicken-and-egg issue: if you forbid swimming on the Sabbath, then obviously it will represent weekdays in your eyes, but if you permit it, maybe that would change and it would not look so weekday-like. Can the Rabbi explain a bit about the idea behind this rule?
Answer
An excellent question, one that has bothered me quite a bit as well. Weekday-type activity is something that depends on accepted habits and circumstances, and in particular it is self-reinforcing. I do not have a good criterion for it. It seems that it is determined by what the halakhic decisor thinks is appropriate to do on the Sabbath, without clear criteria.
It is only permitted to swim naked, because it is forbidden to get a garment wet.