Playing Ball On Shabbat and Yom Tov by R Saul J. Berman

Nishma would like to acknowledge the contributions of both Rabbis Berman and Dratch for this piece.

R Berman:

From earliest times the Jewish people apparently had great difficulty in utilizing the holy time of shabbat in a manner consistent with God's purposes for that day. The fact that Ezra introduced a special reading of the Torah for shabbat afternoon (1), and that various traditions of homiletical teachings being focused on shabbat afternoon emerged (2), are themselves indications of the struggle. The unfortunately common practice of taking long naps on shabbat is just one further indication that many people are totally baffled by the question of how to use time in a spiritually uplifting fashion.

The issue of the propriety of playing ball on shabbat and yom tov, is both important in and of itself as a halakhic question, and is vital as a barometer of the general relationship of our community to the use of spiritual time.

Here is the link:
http://www.edah.org/backend/coldfusion/search/document.cfm?title=Playing+Ball+On+Shabbat+And+Yom+Tov&hyperlink=Playing_Ball_On_Shabbat.html&type=JournalArticle&category=Contemporary+Jewish+and+Halakhic+Issues&authortitle=Rabbi&firstname=Saul+J.&lastname=Berman&pubsource=The+Edah+Journal+Volume+1%3A1&authorid=169&pdfattachment=berman.pdf


Kol Tuv,
RRW