Using a hammock attached to a tree on Sabbos
Question
Is it permissible to use a hammock attached to a tree on Shabbos?
Answer
Dear …!
Using a hammock attached to a tree is forbidden on Shabbos. However, if the hammock is not attached to the tree, but rather to a peg driven into the tree, or even a loop around a branch of the tree, it is permissible to use it on Shabbos without a problem.
If the hammock causes the tree to shake or move, it is forbidden to use it at all.
However, even in the case that the hammock is attached to a peg or rope, which is attached to a tree, even though it is permitted to use the hammock, it is forbidden to hang it on Shabbos, as this is considered using the peg or loop attached to a tree, and using trees is forbidden on Shabbos.
If you wish to hang or to remove the hammock on Shabbos, you can drive a peg into a tree, put a rope around it, and then it would be permitted to attach the hammock to the rope and to remove it. Alternatively, you could attach a rope to a thick tree branch, then attach another rope to the first one, and then you’d be allowed to use the second loop on Shabbos.