Question:
On Shabbos, may one use a swing or hammock that is attached to a tree?
Answer:
There are a few potential issues with using a swing or hammock attached to a tree on Shabbos. zalmaDepending on how it is installed, there may be certain ways to use a hammock or swing that is attached to a tree without violating the laws of Shabbos, however, this is dependant on how the swing/ hammock is installed and attached to the tree.
According to halacha, it is forbidden for one to climb, hang from or use a tree or its branches on Shabbos. The reason for this is that doing so may cause one to detach fruits, leaves or branches, which would transgress one of the 39 forbidden activities on Shabbos. This law applies to all trees and branches that are more than three tefachim (approximately 9.5 inches) off the ground and is regardless of whether the tree actually has any fruits, leaves or branches. One is, however, permitted to simply touch the tree, as long as the tree doesn’t shake from him doing so. One concept that we need to look at is tzidadei ilan, literally translated as “the sides of the tree.” Just as one may not use the tree itself, one may not use anything that is attached to or touching the tree which is referred to as tzidadei ilan. One may, however, make use of items that are not directly supported by a tree, but supported by another item that is being supported by the tree. This is known as tzidei tzidadei ilan, “the side of the sides of the tree.”
Practically, this means that one may not hang a hat or jacket on Shabbos on a hook that is attached to the tree, since that is considered making use of “the sides of the tree.” However, if one hung a basket (before Shabbos) on a hook that is attached to the tree, then he is permitted to now place something else into the basket on Shabbos. Now we can understand better the question of using a swing or hammock on Shabbos and what the issue of using one on Shabbos might be. If the swing or hammock is connected directly to the tree, then it may not be used on Shabbos. This applies even if the swing has a hook, chain or rope that supports the swing, and only the chain or rope is directly attached to the tree. The rope is not defined as “the sides of the tree,” which would make the actual swing seat “the side of the sides of the tree” because, in this case, since the entire swing (e.g., the seat together with the chain) is considered one unit, the entire swing is considered merely “the sides of the tree” and therefore may not be used on Shabbos. If, however, one affixes a hook, nail or pole to the tree and then attaches the rope or chain of the swing or hammock to the rope, then one would be permitted to use it, as this is considered “the side of the sides of the tree”—provided that no part of the tree will shake while using the swing or hammock and obviously as long as no branches or leaves will be pulled out from the swinging.
Although using the swing on Shabbos is permitted, one would not be allowed to hang up the swing on Shabbos, as that would be considered making use of the hook or pole itself (e.g., merely “the sides of the tree”), which is problematic on Shabbos and may also violate other prohibitions as well. So as long as the swing or hammock is indirectly attached to the tree before Shabbos and using it doesn’t cause any part of the tree to shake or break off, it is permitted to make use of it on Shabbos. |