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May one run a program or script (or other machine) that will remain inactive (except for a timer, of course) that waits until a certain time on Shabbos/Yom Tov and then performs a function that would not be possible on a weekday? Would there be a difference if it could be done on any day, but it just happens to be Shabbos? If yes, could one then benefit from that operation on Shabbos, e.g. a coffee-maker?

I read this response (update: the link is dead, but the suggestion was to write a script to visit SE on Shabbos in order to earn the enthusiast and fanatic badges) and while I think that that suggestion may be dishonest, it is an interesting question.

In summary then, there are several questions:

  • May one leave a device, mechanical or computerized, running on Shabbos. (This is asked in another question (below), but the answer doesn't bring any contemporary sources)
  • What if one benefits from said device on Shabbos itself? (Lights, coffee, TV?)
  • What if the function performed can only be performed on Shabbos specifically? (Fanatic badge)
  • Is Maaras Ayin* the only concern?

Please include (contemporary) sources where applicable.

Related: Computer working on Shabbos

*Maaras Ayin is the concern that others will think you are doing/have done something that actually is forbidden, but they will think that because you have done it, it must be alright. In this case, people will think that I have visted the site on Shabbbos (which is forbidden), and will conclude that visiting the site on Shabbos isn't forbidden at all, "after all", they'll say, "HodofHod did it!".

Update: While YDK's answer is very good, I'd like to see someone even more contemporary than R' Moshe address this question, especially regarding computers, which could be different than timers. Also, R' Moshe's teshuva doesn't cover a case where there is no benefit/interaction with the device until after Shabbos.

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@IsaacMoses Did you read the edit history? Terrible. – HodofHod♦ Sep 28 '11 at 16:11
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Oh, I see that the tone came from a snarky and persistent editor. I still think that the underlying question is pretty silly, as it concerns a meaningless electronic bauble, but I apologize for my previous comment, whose harshness shouldn't have been directed at him. I'm disappointed that they locked the question in its snarky, rather than original, form. – Isaac Moses♦ Sep 28 '11 at 16:15
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Agreed on all points, but look on the bright side: it led to a great Judaism.se question! – HodofHod♦ Sep 28 '11 at 16:21
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Another bright side: this answer. – Isaac Moses♦ Sep 28 '11 at 16:22
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Yep, a good answer, that. When we graduate, can we make a custom badge? "Seventh Day Rest" or something like that? To be earned by those that visit the site only 6 days a week, consistently. Just kidding. ;-) – HodofHod♦ Sep 28 '11 at 16:27
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2 Answers

up vote 6 down vote

You can use an electric timer to turn your lights on and off, where manipulating the lights directly would not be permitted. A computer seems like just a specialized case of this, so long as you are not interacting with the computer on Shabbat/Yom Tov.

As @tom smith notes in a comment, if the effect of your programmed computer use would lead people to think you had done, rather than programmed, the action on Shabbat/Yom Tov, that's problematic. Using a computer to control your coffee maker is one thing; using it to post to J.SE is another. :-)

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Do you suppose that can be extended to things that can only be done on Shabbos, e.g. that badge? – HodofHod♦ Sep 28 '11 at 17:19
It would be worthwhile to include a source for the timer for lights, since a) I believe that there are both past and contemporary authorities who disagree with this view, and b) if I recall correctly, this permission may (at least according to some) be specifically for particular quality-of-life elements such as lighting and heating. – Isaac Moses♦ Sep 28 '11 at 17:21
@IsaacMoses, interesting -- since "everybody" I know does it, it hadn't occurred to me that it was controversial. Thank you. – Monica Cellio Sep 28 '11 at 17:42
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@IsaacMoses ASAIR, R Moshe says that lighting is unique because everyone knows of the concept of a timer. In other cases there could be problems of Maaras Ayin. – Shmuel Brin Sep 28 '11 at 17:49
@HodofHod That badge can be earned without violating the shabbos, and still doing it manually if your timezone is such that your day, and the stackexchange day don't overlap by at least an hour or two. This would not work for yomtov though. – Ariel yesterday
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up vote 5 down vote
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Rav Moshe Feinstein (O.C. IV 60) strongly disagreed with the use of timers. His strongest definite reason is that

  • its usage is a disgrace to shabbos, since through their use one can run a business and circumvent shabbos. This is a Torah violation of "honoring shabbos". (Contrast this with placing a pot on the stove right before shabbos, where that is the final action.)

Other reasons to not permit timers is that the sages certainly would have forbid its use

  • because of its ability to circumvent shabbos

  • because it is effectively similar (and worse) than requesting a non-jew to perform the act

Since historically there had been those who permitted lighting lamps through a non-jew, Rav Moshe allowed timers on lights as a continuation of that tradition.

Accordingly,

Lights: Yes

Coffee: No

TV: No, plus it makes noise, so it would be forbidden under a type of "maris ayin"

Other devices: This teshuva doesn't cover devices that were actually started before shabbos, don't make noise and don't really do anything on shabbos. For example, if one runs his computer over shabbos, but it's not really doing anything, that is certainly different than setting it to go on on shabbos. Setting updates would be a good question.

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+1, Thanks for your answer. While I try to decipher that teshuvah, maybe you could explain a couple things. Would the leniency on lights apply to heating/cooling as well? Does this teshuva refer only to things that are actually benefited from on Shabbos as opposed to things which one would benefit from after Shabbos? – HodofHod♦ Oct 24 '11 at 1:24
Although R' Moshe doesn't mention heating and cooling, I would assume he would be more lenient than lights since amira l'akum, his main comparison to forbid timers, is widely accepted by heating and cooling. I don't know of any distinction based on the timing of the benefit. – YDK Oct 24 '11 at 4:32
So, I suppose the concern of disgracing Shabbos would apply even if one doesn't benefit from, or even see, it on Shabbos? – HodofHod♦ Oct 28 '11 at 20:44
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