By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com For those who do not wish to read this entire review – it is an extraordinary work. Go out and buy it now.  For those who wish to read the review, continue. In contemporary times, this 596 page work (with an additional 57 page index) by Rabbi Doniel Neustadt is perhaps the most practical sefer on Hilchos Shabbos that is available today.  Rabbi Neustadt has a remarkable track record for writing halacha in a clear and cogent manner.  He also writes in an organized and interesting manner. The work is comprehensive – with 124 chapters perfectly organized so that the reader can easily look up the halacha.  Rav Neustadt cites rulings from the full gamut of Poskim. PLEASE HELP A WONDERFUL BAALEI TESHUVAH COUPLE GET MARRIED! https://thechesedfund.com/zechornilah/weddingoftwobaaleiteshuva Rabbi Neustadt has organized the halachos in the book based on Shabbos times. Anything that could be categorized by when the halachos apply – he placed in Book One.  All other halachos he placed in Book Two.  It is a simple method of organization – but it is brilliant. Rabbi Neustadt’s footnotes are also precisely written – and are attuned to the subtleties and nuances of the Acharonim under discussion. This is something relatively rare in an English Sefer.  This author would like to suggest that the remarkable precision is on account of the fact that Rabbi Neustadt brings more to the table.  Rav Neustadt was the author and guiding force behind the contemporary application sections of the Ohr Olam sections of their Mishna Brurah Project– which for Hilchos Shabbos alone comprise eight volumes in total.  One of the goals of the Ohr Olam project is to make the Mishna Brurah fully available to the English speaking audience – replete with a fully unfolded and thorough understanding of the view of the Mishna Brurah. The Sefer is filled with practical applications. Can automated bill payment be implemented – even though it will eventually be performed on Shabbos day (p. 370)? Rabbi Neustadt rules it is permitted. A Chazzan repeats words in a bracha to make for a more pleasing tune (in his opinion). Does one answer Amain? Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l is quoted as ruling that one does not. Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l is quoted as ruling that one does – if it doesn’t change the meaning of the bracha. Both, of course, hold that it is forbidden for the Chazzan to do so.  But who knew of Rav Shlomo Zalman’s view? You are gluten-free. What do you do about Shabbos morning Kiddush? See page 269. Need to use Fed-Ex over Shabbos? The Chofetz Chaim in his Biur Halacha rejects Amirah l’amira, asking a gentile to ask a gentile (307:2 “V’Afilu”, but Rabbi Neustadt gives us the specific parameters of when and how we can rely on Amira l’amira. He cites Rav Falk’s sefer on other acharonim that justify it.  Years ago, this reviewer received the same psak from Rav Scheinberg zt”l.  Rabbi Neustadt’s exposition in his footnotes (page 28) on the subject is the most thorough treatment of the issue one can obtain in English. Want to know about what to do for a lightbulb left on in a refrigerator over Shabbos? Turn to page 144 in this remarkable Sefer.  It is interesting to note […]

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