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Electricity on Shabbat: Difference between revisions
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* Practical Laws of [[Shabbat]] (Rabbi Rafael Soae, p. 335) quotes Kedushat HaShabbat (Rabbi Moshe Harari p. 79) who says that if there’s no other bathroom available other than one which has toilets that automatically flush when one moves away, one may use the toilet because of Kavod HaBriyot. | * Practical Laws of [[Shabbat]] (Rabbi Rafael Soae, p. 335) quotes Kedushat HaShabbat (Rabbi Moshe Harari p. 79) who says that if there’s no other bathroom available other than one which has toilets that automatically flush when one moves away, one may use the toilet because of Kavod HaBriyot. | ||
* Rabbi Yisrael Belsky in Shulchan HaLevi 7:7 permits using this type of bathroom if there is no other bathroom available, but if there’s another option, he forbids using the electrical toilet. Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz ([http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/761805/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Using_Automatic_Bathrooms_on_Shabbos “Using Automatic Bathrooms on Shabbos”]) quotes Rav Belsky as saying that kavod habriyot would not be a leniency in order to wash one’s hands with an automatic sink. </ref> | * Rabbi Yisrael Belsky in Shulchan HaLevi 7:7 permits using this type of bathroom if there is no other bathroom available, but if there’s another option, he forbids using the electrical toilet. Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz ([http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/761805/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Using_Automatic_Bathrooms_on_Shabbos “Using Automatic Bathrooms on Shabbos”]) quotes Rav Belsky as saying that kavod habriyot would not be a leniency in order to wash one’s hands with an automatic sink. </ref> | ||
==Setting | ==Setting Timers before Shabbat== | ||
# It is permitted before [[Shabbat]] to set a timer for lights or other electric appliances to go on or off on [[Shabbat]].<ref>Sh"t Maharam Shik 157, Chazon Ish 38:2, Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 13:26, Menuchat Ahava 24:30, Sh"t Yabia Omer 3:17 </ref> | # It is permitted before [[Shabbat]] to set a timer for lights or other electric appliances to go on or off on [[Shabbat]].<ref>Sh"t Maharam Shik 157, Chazon Ish 38:2, Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 13:26, Menuchat Ahava 24:30, Sh"t Yabia Omer 3:17 </ref> | ||
# One may set an alarm clock before [[Shabbat]] even though it will make noise on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>The [[Shabbos]] Home (Rabbi Simcha Cohen, vol 2, pg 537) and Sh"t Maharshag YD 1:7(2) permit. However, Sh"t Igrot Moshe 4:70(4) only permits if it is not heard outside his personal room. See Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 28:29 (and 28:30 in new edition) who permits before [[Shabbat]] for mitzvah purposes setting a mechanical alarm clock that involves removing a pin (see there). </ref> See [[Making music on Shabbat]]. | # One may set an alarm clock before [[Shabbat]] even though it will make noise on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>The [[Shabbos]] Home (Rabbi Simcha Cohen, vol 2, pg 537) and Sh"t Maharshag YD 1:7(2) permit. However, Sh"t Igrot Moshe 4:70(4) only permits if it is not heard outside his personal room. See Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 28:29 (and 28:30 in new edition) who permits before [[Shabbat]] for mitzvah purposes setting a mechanical alarm clock that involves removing a pin (see there). </ref> See [[Making music on Shabbat]]. | ||
# Some forbid leaving a digital photo frame which presents a slideshow of pictures set from before [[Shabbat]] to continue during [[Shabbat]]. <ref>[http://www.ou.org/webcast_kosher Rav Hershel Schachter] (OU Kosher Webcast, 2011, min 16-8) </ref> | # Some forbid leaving a digital photo frame which presents a slideshow of pictures set from before [[Shabbat]] to continue during [[Shabbat]]. <ref>[http://www.ou.org/webcast_kosher Rav Hershel Schachter] (OU Kosher Webcast, 2011, min 16-8) </ref> | ||
# It is forbidden to set a timer before [[shabbat]] to automatically operate a dishwasher on [[shabbat]]. <ref> Menuchat Ahava 1.24.31 </ref> | # It is forbidden to set a timer before [[shabbat]] to automatically operate a dishwasher on [[shabbat]]. <ref> Menuchat Ahava 1.24.31 </ref> | ||
==Sending | ==Sending Email on Friday== | ||
# Strictly speaking it is permissible to send an email on Friday afternoon from America to Israel when it is already [[Shabbat]] in Israel or on Saturday night from New York to California where it still is [[Shabbat]] but it's praiseworthy to avoid it. <ref> [http://www.ou.org/webcast_kosher Rav Hershel Schachter] (OU Kosher Webcast, 2011, min 9-13) ruled that strictly speaking it's permissible but it's praiseworthy to avoid it. </ref>However, one may not send it to a non-observant Jew who may look at it on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Practical Laws of [[Shabbat]] (Rabbi Rafael Soae, vol 1, pg 170-1) writes that it's permissible unless one is sending the email to a non-observant Jew who may look at it on [[Shabbat]] in which case it's forbidden because one will be encouraging violation of [[Shabbat]]. </ref> | # Strictly speaking it is permissible to send an email on Friday afternoon from America to Israel when it is already [[Shabbat]] in Israel or on Saturday night from New York to California where it still is [[Shabbat]] but it's praiseworthy to avoid it. <ref> [http://www.ou.org/webcast_kosher Rav Hershel Schachter] (OU Kosher Webcast, 2011, min 9-13) ruled that strictly speaking it's permissible but it's praiseworthy to avoid it. </ref>However, one may not send it to a non-observant Jew who may look at it on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Practical Laws of [[Shabbat]] (Rabbi Rafael Soae, vol 1, pg 170-1) writes that it's permissible unless one is sending the email to a non-observant Jew who may look at it on [[Shabbat]] in which case it's forbidden because one will be encouraging violation of [[Shabbat]]. </ref> | ||
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<font color=red>''This piece is in the process of being written until the details about the app are fully explained.''</font> Also, see [[Talk:Electricity_on_Shabbat| discussion page]]. | <font color=red>''This piece is in the process of being written until the details about the app are fully explained.''</font> Also, see [[Talk:Electricity_on_Shabbat| discussion page]]. | ||
* ''Rabbinic Approval'': Firstly, let us point out that they don't present any rabbinic approbations.<ref> As of 10/3/14 the [http://www.shabbosapp.com/ Shabbat App site] does not have any rabbinic approvals.</ref> Saying it is muter before actually getting any approval is a big chutzpa to Orthodox Judaism which takes the rabbinic opinions very seriously. The rebellious elder who is unfit to legislate isn't considered "zaken mamreh" since he has no credibility, yet his audacity and disrespect to the rabbis is greater than the person who is fit to legislate and rebels.<ref>See [http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/213379/women-in-tefillin-rav-hershel-shachter-slams-rabbis-permitting-women-to-wear-tefillin.html Rabbi Hershel Schachter's letter] regarding women wearing Tefillin</ref> | * ''Rabbinic Approval'': Firstly, let us point out that they don't present any rabbinic approbations.<ref> As of 10/3/14 the [http://www.shabbosapp.com/ Shabbat App site] does not have any rabbinic approvals.</ref> Saying it is muter before actually getting any approval is a big chutzpa to Orthodox Judaism which takes the rabbinic opinions very seriously. The rebellious elder who is unfit to legislate isn't considered "zaken mamreh" since he has no credibility, yet his audacity and disrespect to the rabbis is greater than the person who is fit to legislate and rebels.<ref>See [http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/213379/women-in-tefillin-rav-hershel-shachter-slams-rabbis-permitting-women-to-wear-tefillin.html Rabbi Hershel Schachter's letter] regarding women wearing Tefillin</ref> | ||
* ''Melacha Occuring on its own'': Based on the Rambam's commentary on Gemara Shabbat, there is an argument to forbid setting up a process on Friday which will cause a melacha to initiate on Shabbat itself. This is relevant to [[#Setting Timers before Shabbat]] and also to [[#Sending Email on Friday]]. | |||
* ''Grama'': The grama is completely illusionary - immediately upon touching it sends signals to the phone and randomly it'll decide to respond, that's not grama at all. Internally, the software receivers of the signals and programming callbacks are triggered when a button is pressed or a finger hits the screen. Immediately, those signals and processes go into motion even though you might not see any visible result. Also, the entire idea of grama being a delay is very questionable. Rav Soloveitchik<ref>cited by Rav Schachter in Bikvei HaTzoan Siman 7</ref> holds that grama is only when something is completely disconnected physically and temporally from the initial action. However, if a delayed result is the product of a series of a chain reaction or a process, that is all considered your original action. Accordingly, this would be forbidden. | * ''Grama'': The grama is completely illusionary - immediately upon touching it sends signals to the phone and randomly it'll decide to respond, that's not grama at all. Internally, the software receivers of the signals and programming callbacks are triggered when a button is pressed or a finger hits the screen. Immediately, those signals and processes go into motion even though you might not see any visible result. Also, the entire idea of grama being a delay is very questionable. Rav Soloveitchik<ref>cited by Rav Schachter in Bikvei HaTzoan Siman 7</ref> holds that grama is only when something is completely disconnected physically and temporally from the initial action. However, if a delayed result is the product of a series of a chain reaction or a process, that is all considered your original action. Accordingly, this would be forbidden. | ||
* ''Eino Kayama'': The non-permanence is not a solution at all. 1) it is still asur m'derabbanan.<ref>Mishna (Shabbat 104b), Rambam (Shabbat 11:15), S"A 340:4</ref> 2) It is not temporary - anything which lasts as long as you need it to last even if it is erased afterwards isn't temporary. 3) The quality of the writing is permanent. Even though when you write it you know that you'll erase it soon or you set up a system which will erase it soon, the writing in it of itself is permanent if not erased afterwards. | * ''Eino Kayama'': The non-permanence is not a solution at all. 1) it is still asur m'derabbanan.<ref>Mishna (Shabbat 104b), Rambam (Shabbat 11:15), S"A 340:4</ref> 2) It is not temporary - anything which lasts as long as you need it to last even if it is erased afterwards isn't temporary. 3) The quality of the writing is permanent. Even though when you write it you know that you'll erase it soon or you set up a system which will erase it soon, the writing in it of itself is permanent if not erased afterwards. | ||
* ''Zilzul Shabbat'': The Gemara Sanhedrin 46a describes a case in which the supreme court in Yerushalayim condemned a person who rode a horse on Shabbat. Even though technically, riding a horse on Shabbat is only a rabbinic prohibition, it is considered a serious infraction upon the sanctity of Shabbat.<ref>Rambam (Sanhedrin 24:4) codifies this.</ref> According to Rav Moshe | * ''Zilzul Shabbat'': The Gemara Sanhedrin 46a describes a case in which the supreme court in Yerushalayim condemned a person who rode a horse on Shabbat. Even though technically, riding a horse on Shabbat is only a rabbinic prohibition, it is considered a serious infraction upon the sanctity of Shabbat.<ref>Rambam (Sanhedrin 24:4) codifies this.</ref> According to Rav Moshe and many gedolim this would be considered zilzul Shabbat.<ref>Igrot Moshe OC 4:60</ref> The burden of proof is upon the one trying to deviate from the standard practice to show that this isn't zilzul.<ref>Mishna (Bava Kama 76a)</ref> | ||
* Bottom line - a person should not use this app on Shabbat (see footnote for details).<ref>[http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/international/new-shabbos-app-creates-uproar-orthodox-circles The Jewish Week] cites Rabbi Moshe Elefant (from the OU) as considering the Shabbos App to be "very distasteful and not permissible on Shabbos.” </ref> If someone wants to become non-Orthodox (and keep half shabbos) they're don't need to ask anyone's permission or pervert halacha to do so, but please don't pretend that it is actually orthodox. <ref>Rav Hershel Schachter (shiur on yutorah 10/3/14) merely mentioned the Shabbos App as a "chiddush" of our generation in a joking manner. He didn't go into any detail as he explained the he didn't know of its details.</ref> | * Bottom line - a person should not use this app on Shabbat (see footnote for details).<ref>[http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/international/new-shabbos-app-creates-uproar-orthodox-circles The Jewish Week] cites Rabbi Moshe Elefant (from the OU) as considering the Shabbos App to be "very distasteful and not permissible on Shabbos.” </ref> If someone wants to become non-Orthodox (and keep half shabbos) they're don't need to ask anyone's permission or pervert halacha to do so, but please don't pretend that it is actually orthodox. <ref>Rav Hershel Schachter (shiur on yutorah 10/3/14) merely mentioned the Shabbos App as a "chiddush" of our generation in a joking manner. He didn't go into any detail as he explained the he didn't know of its details.</ref> | ||
==Credits== | ==Credits== | ||
# Special thanks to Rabbi Ari Enkin author of the [[Amot]] Shel Halacha series for his contribution to this article. If you would like to purchase his books please [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html click here]. | # Special thanks to Rabbi Ari Enkin author of the [[Amot]] Shel Halacha series for his contribution to this article. If you would like to purchase his books please [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html click here]. | ||
# A few halachot on this page are derived from the | # A few halachot on this page are derived from the Halachipedia Article [http://halachipedia.com/articles/25.pdf Issue 25 - Electronics on Shabbat]. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Shabbat]] | [[Category:Shabbat]] | ||
