Climbed a Tree in Violation on Shabbat
This question and answer were automatically translated using our trained AI and have not yet been reviewed by a qualified rabbi. Please treat this translation with caution.
go to original →
Question
Rabbi, I have a question: one of our friends climbed a tree on Shabbat, and we told him it was forbidden. So he started to come down, and there was a debate whether he must come down or, on the contrary, he is forbidden and must stay there until the end of Shabbat. Additionally, he accidentally broke a branch while coming down. What was he really supposed to do?
Answer
Shalom Rav, in this case, since the friend did not know that it is forbidden to climb a tree on Shabbat, the sages permitted him to come down from the tree, even if he needs to use the branches and the tree to descend. Also, if he can descend without breaking branches, but sometimes they break, and he does not intend to break branches while descending, there is no prohibition [defined halachically as unintended and not a 'psik reisha'].
Source
Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, Siman 336, סעיף 1).