On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 12:17:21 GMT, "Bob Musicant"
wrote:

(snip)
Orthodox Jews may not write on the Sabbath. There is no prohibition against
playing games on the Sabbath, but in the case of Reshevsky, playing chess
was the way he made a living, hence, work. I gather Gulko's interpretation
is different. Chess is a game, playing games on the Sabbath is OK, writing
never is.

When electrical devices were introduced in the 19th century, a board of
rabbis reached the conclusion that electricity was sufficiently similar to
fire that it could not be used on the Sabbath. Mechanical clocks are OK.

Bob


Interesting. I believe I've heard that some Christian denominations
do not play games on their Sabbath, and must have assumed that the
rationale for Reshevsky not playing on his Sabbath was the same.

"Bob Garrison" wrote in rec.games.chess.misc:


I don't know if it was intentional but many Christians are offended
when you refer to them a Xtians.

OT, but as non-native English speaker just interested: why is that so?
Isn't the X (greek chi) the sybol of Christ (Christos)?

--
CeeBee


Uxbridge: "By God, sir, I've lost my leg!"
Wellington: "By God, sir, so you have!"


Google CeeBee @ www.geocities.com/ceebee_2

"CeeBee" wrote in message
. 6.84...
"Bob Garrison" wrote in rec.games.chess.misc:


I don't know if it was intentional but many Christians are offended
when you refer to them a Xtians.

OT, but as non-native English speaker just interested: why is that so?
Isn't the X (greek chi) the sybol of Christ (Christos)?

Yes it is, however most people who use Xtians or Xmas are not aware of it.
They are simply removing "Christ".

Not chess - and I may be off base on this - but I seem to recall Sandy Koufax,
Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, skipped Saturday starts ?!

"GSANCHEZ" wrote in message
...

Not chess - and I may be off base on this - but I seem to recall Sandy
Koufax,
Hall of Fame baseball pitcher, skipped Saturday starts ?!

On Oct. 6, 1965, Sandy Koufax stepped out of baseball history into Jewish
history. In a story that has been recited from countless synagogue pulpits,
the legendary Los Angeles Dodger lefty opted to skip the first game of the
World Series because it coincided with Yom Kippur.
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/tobin103002.asp

"MP" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 01:53:37 GMT, "David"
wrote:


(snip)
2) I don't know if this specifically is the reason, but orthodox Judism
and
some highly conservative Xtian sects have prohibitions on doing work on
the
Sabbath. Writing might be interpretted as work.

David

That actually occurred to me, but in those cases, it is also usually
forbidden to play games on the Sabbath at all ( Reshevsky, for
example, used to have to reschedule games because of this) so keeping
score would be a moot point.

At times Sammy would have the score of a game kept for him. As best as I
could determine, if he was playing chess for *NO* money -- as for the
Manhattan Chess Club team on occasion -- he was able to play on the Sabbath,
but unable to write, writing being proscribed. Perhaps, however, someone
better versed in Judaism could explain this reasoning better than I.
--
Ian Burton
[Please Reply to Newsgroup]

"Ian Burton" wrote


At times Sammy would have the score of a game kept for him. As best as I
could determine, if he was playing chess for *NO* money -- as for the
Manhattan Chess Club team on occasion -- he was able to play on the
Sabbath,
but unable to write, writing being proscribed. Perhaps, however, someone
better versed in Judaism could explain this reasoning better than I.
--
Ian Burton


It's a peculiar God that forbids you to work, but says it's OK to have
someone else work for you.

Ted

Ted wrote:
"Ian Burton" wrote


it is the ten commandments which are listed in the book of exodus and
other places that instruct jews to keep their sabbath holy-- apart and
sacred from the weekly tasks.
since not all persons of all religions honor the sabbath on the same day
i do not see what bill of particulars is being violated when someone
else scores a game of chess. your irony is contrived.
most importantly, it is not what god 'forbids' it is more an issue of
how lovingly we embrace these rules to affirm our devotion. you do have
the choice to ignore them of course, but it is a shallow attack upon
anothers religion because you as an outsider find their behavior
inconsistent with specific regard to your perspective how you
might do it better of doing nothing at all


At times Sammy would have the score of a game kept for him. As best as I
could determine, if he was playing chess for *NO* money -- as for the
Manhattan Chess Club team on occasion -- he was able to play on the

Sabbath,

but unable to write, writing being proscribed. Perhaps, however, someone
better versed in Judaism could explain this reasoning better than I.
--
Ian Burton



It's a peculiar God that forbids you to work, but says it's OK to have
someone else work for you.

Ted

"Ted" wrote in message
i.nl...

"Ian Burton" wrote


At times Sammy would have the score of a game kept for him. As best as
I
could determine, if he was playing chess for *NO* money -- as for the
Manhattan Chess Club team on occasion -- he was able to play on the
Sabbath,
but unable to write, writing being proscribed. Perhaps, however,
someone
better versed in Judaism could explain this reasoning better than I.
--
Ian Burton


It's a peculiar God that forbids you to work, but says it's OK to have
someone else work for you.

Ted


It's a man made prohibition.

Ted wrote:

It's a peculiar God that forbids you to work, but says it's OK to have
someone else work for you.


All gods are somewhat peculiar. It's part of the job description.