Thoughts from Leo: Solar Panel Installation

What a great photo to remind us of Deuteronomy 22:8: “When you build a new house [with a flat roof], you shall make a parapet [sometimes,”railing”] for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.”

In a 2017 discussion of this passage in regard to new construction and renovation at Jewish Theological Seminary in NYC, Rabbi Danny Nevins (https://rabbinevins.com/2017/08/31/ki-tetze-5777-parapets-and-public-safety/) notes the relationship of the passage to other aspects of public safety and to workplace safety as well, summarizing: “As is their habit, the sages of Israel take this single verse both deep and wide.”  Rabbi Nevins adds: “Construction safety is therefore an ancient concern of Jewish law.”  He notes the Deuteronomy passage (as have others) as the forerunner of our OSHA and other rules to enhance worker safety.

Rabbi Nevins notes as well that New York City has a “parapet rule” for buildings over 22 feet tall and with flat or gently sloping roofs, calling for “a parapet, railing, fence, or combination thereof, not less than 42 inches (1067 mm) in height.”  I’ll close with Rabbi Nevins’ comment: “This 42 inch standard seems a bit higher than ten handbreadths [the rabbinic standard for parapet height], which are between 2-4”.  On the other hand, New York does not stipulate a blessing to be recited upon completion of the parapet, whereas Rambam provides us with a text: ‘Blessed is God…Who has commands [sic] us to put up a parapet.’”

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