Q. I have learned that the Ananei Kavod would launder and press the clothing of the Bnai Yisroel while on the desert, how could then they exit their tents and go to the Mishkan on Shabbath?
A. Rashi on the posuk (Devarim 8: 4) " Simloscho - Your clothing did not wear out upon you," quotes the Pesikta that teaches: "The clouds of honor would rub their clothes and clean them so that they looked freshly laundered."
Ohr Hatorah (Eikev p. 364) mentions that during their forty-year stay in the desert, the people did not change their clothing at all, even for Shabbos, since the ananei kavod would make them look like new constantly. It is possible that this did not occur during Shabbos, similar to the mon that did not descend on that day.(Both are mentioned in adjoining psukim).
On question 316 regarding drinking from Miriam’s well on Shabbos, in which a Midrash teaches that water did not constantly flow from the well, as it only came when people came close to it. If so should it not be prohibited on Shabbat as it would be similar to a motion detector
To what we answered: It is difficult to envision what would be the Biblically prohibited melocho involved when making the water flow. Even if there is one, Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a explained that anything that works by the powers of a miracle is not included in the prohibitions of Shabbos. (Horav Dovid Pam Shlit'a added that the effects of the Ananei Kavod may not be subject to going out of one's tent at all).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
