Gamers keeping Shabbat

[Highmoon]

Hello. I was curious to know how many Jewish gamers are out there who do keep Shabbat (in an Orthodox manner, to specify)? How have you rearranged your gaming calendar? Has this affected your gaming at all? Yes/No, how? What about conventions (which usually run during the weekends, with the bulk of events on Saturday during the daytime, when Shabbat is in effect)?

Just curious, really. While not the only Jewish gamer in the area, I am the only one who keeps Shabbat in an Orhtodox manner (basically being at the synagogue all day Sat), which means I end up missing a great number of games run during the weekends (RPGA game days, local cons, store-run game days, etc.). I am also considering going to Gen Con, and that will present a whole new set of circumstances I must deal with.
Don't get me wrong, I like keeping Shabbat the way I do. I am just wondering if I am the only one in this situation (doubtful, but one never knows) and to see how others handle it.

Thanks.

Edit--PS: It occured to me that members of some Christian denominations (Seventh Day Adventists come to mind) may have a similar situation. Please feel free to comment as well.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

I'm not Jewish, I'm Christian, but I applaud you highly for keeping your priorities in order. Shalom, my friend!

 

[Highmoon]

Thanks.

Still looking for opinions from others...

 

[Highmoon]

bump

 

[Neowolf]

Though I'm not in your situation, it's good to hear that you're keeping your priorities in the proper order. D&D is a great game and hobby, but at the end of the day, it's just that: a game. Your spiritual obligations are much more important, I think.

FYI, I don't follow any organized religion, though I'm not agnostic.

 

[Alzrius]

Being a Conservative, not Orthodox, Jew, I don't have the same problem, but here's my take on it.

During the sundown on Friday to the sundown on Saturday that is Shabbat, you're not supposed to do anything that is considered work (and supposed to be at your synagogue all day, but again, being Conservative, that never came up for me). The question that many Rabbis have debated is "what constitutes work?"

On the subject of gaming, one must ask if that would be considered work. Rolling dice, writing down stats, moving the miniatures, etc.? I personally say no, since work is meant to actually accomplish something for benefit, but gaming is done just for fun. The related aspects (driving to get there, etc) are probably beyond the scope of this topic.

On the question of staying in the synagogue all day, well, my family just usually goes for about a half day, usually around 8 AM and then returning around 1 or 2 PM. If there are weekend conventions going on, especially out of town ones, and you want to attend, your options are limited if you wish to keep Shabbat in the Orthodox manner. You could go to a local synagogue, assuming you can find one ahead of time, but you'll still miss out on everything going on during that time. There really isn't a lot of room to work with there.

Your best bet is probably to consult with your local Rabbi. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

 

[Highmoon]

Being a Conservative, not Orthodox, Jew, I don't have the same problem, but here's my take on it.

Thanks for replying.

During the sundown on Friday to the sundown on Saturday that is Shabbat, you're not supposed to do anything that is considered work (and supposed to be at your synagogue all day, but again, being Conservative, that never came up for me). The question that many Rabbis have debated is "what constitutes work?"
On the subject of gaming, one must ask if that would be considered work. Rolling dice, writing down stats, moving the miniatures, etc.? I personally say no, since work is meant to actually accomplish something for benefit, but gaming is done just for fun. The related aspects (driving to get there, etc) are probably beyond the scope of this topic.

Agreed. Besides, I'm having to deal with this already in some of my classes, so let's leave the topic for the classroom.

On the question of staying in the synagogue all day, well, my family just usually goes for about a half day, usually around 8 AM and then returning around 1 or 2 PM.

Well, technically, so do I. I usually stay cause we have classes in the afternoon, and by the time afternoon prayers are done it's time for havdalah anyway. But I have also just gone back home after morning prayers. Even so, I would still wait for havdalah before doing anything else of a secular nature, and in the summer months (when most gaming events happen) that means 8 or 9 pm.

If there are weekend conventions going on, especially out of town ones, and you want to attend, your options are limited if you wish to keep Shabbat in the Orthodox manner. You could go to a local synagogue, assuming you can find one ahead of time, but you'll still miss out on everything going on during that time. There really isn't a lot of room to work with there.

I've already started to look around in Indy and found a Sephardic Orthodox one not far from the convention center, so there are ways around it (eating kosher, however, I fear will be another matter altogether... have you seen convention center food???). Like I said before, I don't mind at all keeping Shabbat the way I do, nor am I complaining that I am missing games; it is a fact and I am okay with it. I have my ideas on what to do, even some of them involve bending or breaking in small ways aspects of Shabbat (especially in an out-of-town event), but I'll deal with those when I come to them. I know most Jewish gamers are either Conservative or Reform, and that they do not have these same problems due to the particular ways in which these traditions practice Judaism. I guess I just want to know if I'll be the only one to show up at Gen Con with a kippah (or yamakah).

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

On the contrary, thanks a lot for your post.

So do they have kosher sushi restaurants in Japan???

 

[heirodule]

Fascinating

I'm a Christain (not adventists: Presbyterian) and have kept a Sunday "sabbath" imperfectly from childhood.

If my only issue was avoiding "work" I'd have an easier time justifying gaming on Sundays, but my tradition is that "worldy employments or recreactions should also be avoided".

So I just play friday nights/saturdays. It means i sometimes miss final rounds of tournamaents. But then I just recall Chariots of Fire and everything is OK.

I just got Settlers of Canaan (biblical Catan boardgame variant) so maybe now I'll have an excuse to do some Sunday gaming.

heirodule weblog

 

[Bagel Golem]

Re: Fascinating

I'm a Christain (not adventists: Presbyterian) and have kept a Sunday "sabbath" imperfectly from childhood.

If my only issue was avoiding "work" I'd have an easier time justifying gaming on Sundays, but my tradition is that "worldy employments or recreactions should also be avoided".

So I just play friday nights/saturdays. It means i sometimes miss final rounds of tournamaents. But then I just recall Chariots of Fire and everything is OK.

I just got Settlers of Canaan (biblical Catan boardgame variant) so maybe now I'll have an excuse to do some Sunday gaming.

heirodule weblog

I'm an Orthodox Jew. I'm not a theologian, but I believe the rules about what you can and cannot do on Shabbat are very much more complicated in Judaism than in Presbyterianism. In the Jewish Orthodox tradition, for example, you can play tennis on Shabbat on a court with an artificial surface such as clay, but not on grass or an artificial grass surface. You can't keep score. You can't carry your tennis equipment to/from the court or get someone else to do it for you unless the court happens to be in an eruv - a specially designated zone. You can't play at all on Shabbat if you're a professional tennis player/coach or if you're likely to become one. You can't play if you or anyone else has to pay to use the court, though you could pay in advance before Shabbat begins. etc. etc.

You can't really play D&D on Shabbat: you can't use dice, keep score such as how many hit points you have, or write anything down. You could play an entirely rolepaying based game with no dice rolling, writing etc but it probably wouldn't be as much fun. You could move pieces on a gaming table, but you're not allowed to own miniatures at any time, not just on Shabbat. Cardboard Heroes are fine, but miniatures such as Reapers are forbidden.

I'm not a rabbi, but I'm pretty sure I'm right about all this.

Bagel Golem

 

[MEG Hal]

I am reform so I have no comments but interesting thread.
Well, ok one.

What are your stats bagel golem?

And I wanna see a pic.