Questions tagged [electricity]
The electricity tag has no usage guidance.
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Using electric scooters to get to synagogue on Shabbat
There is a principle in Halacha known as Kavod Habriyot, which essentially means rabbinic prohibitions can generally be violated for human dignity. My question is, if somebody has a hard time walking ...
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Electricity on Yom Tov [closed]
What’s the difference between Yom Tov and Shabbat with respect to electricity?
Are they not mostly the same with regard to Halacha, and why do they allow it on Yom Tov, and not Shabbat; same rules ...
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Clap-activated lights on Shabbat
Does the community know if clap-activated lights on Shabbat is permitted? I understand that speech activation is generally prohibited due to a Halacha brought down in Talmud Bava Metzia 90b-91a where ...
anon
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Triggering motion sensors on Shabbat
I thought it was forbidden to walk in front of a motion sensor on Shabbat But I read that Rabbi Shmuel Wosner allows it, because your intention is not to trigger the sensor [Shevet Halevi 9:69]. Is ...
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Can I open my fridge on Shabbos? [duplicate]
When my fridge is off opening it causes it to turn on (after I close the door). When my fridge is on opening it causes it to turn off (while the door is open).
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Have electric cars been suggested for those who respond to emergencies on Shabbos?
In a nutshell – and I know this is complicated – the Mishna says that some rabbinic prohibitions were lifted to make life easier on emergency responders after they've provided their assistance on ...
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Bishul Akum with Electricity
Someone mentioned to me that the opinion of Rav Benzion Abba Shaul ZTL was that there is no Bishul Akum with regards to any form of electric cooking such as ovens. Can anyone confirm if this is true?
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Why aren't Shabbat Lamps muktzeh?
I have been trying to research why kosher lamps / Shabbat lamps are not considered muktzeh. I've read the rabbinic approval that comes with the lamp, as well as any teshuvot I can find on the topic; ...
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Leaving a phone perpetually on on the Sabbath
I have never been sufficiently religious to understand everything on this site without help from friends or family, but a question was asked by a non-Jewish friend that I was unable to answer, so I'm ...
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Probabilistic artificial intelligence on Shabbat
I have coded machine learning algorithms and have seen a number of posts about artificial intelligence such as Alexa or a system that monitors movement to turn on ventilation in rooms that are entered....
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Microphones on Shabbat
What is the Halacha re LISTENING to someone speaking in a microphone on Shabbat.
For example if I walk into a room and someone is lecturing/speaking on a microphone an I permitted to listen
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Source for electricity in the times of the Talmud?
Many years ago I was told a story about an Amorah (Talmudic sage) who had an electric lamp, and when discovered said something along the lines of, the world isn't ready for this yet.
I'm looking for ...
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Shutting lights off during Chol Ha'moed, to save electricity
Preface
During Shabbat, Orthodox Jewish practice is to avoid turning lights on or off. Perhaps turning lights on or off is a form of melacha. On Chol Ha'moed, melacha is sometimes, but not always, ...
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Source that Power generators on Shabbos override Shlom Bayt (in Israel)
Power generators are very popular with Haredim in Israel that traditionally don't rely on Isral Electric Company's electricity on Shabbos.
On Rosh Hashana, the power generator of a famous Yeshiva in ...
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Why is turning on a faucet not considered molid or boneh?
As has been discussed in many questions on this site, halachic authorities generally agree that the use of electricity is prohibited on Shabbat, but some differ in their analysis of why. (There is ...
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Is it permitted to turn off a time switch on Shabbos?
On a time switch (timer), there are generally two options: one which will ignore the time switch and let the current flow, and one which activates the timer.
In the case where the switch is on the ...
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Shabbat: Electric Apartment Door in Doorman Building
Let us say a person lives in an apartment building where the apartment doors (door to the apartment itself) are fitted with electronic locks. The building has a 24-hour "concierge" doorman (non-...
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Dimmer Lights on Yom Tov
On Yom Tov, we are allowed to adjust fire (i.e. change the strength of the stove) so long as we do not completely turn the stove on or off.
Therefore, if a room’s lighting has a dimmer switch, would ...
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Asking a non-Jew to turn off a light on Shabbat
If I would like to turn off a light on Shabbat can I ask a non-Jew to turn off the light since it's a shvut deshvut?
(ie- electricity is a derabanan and amira lnochri is also shvut)
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Use of an automatic toilet on Shabbos?
Can one use on Shabbos an automatic toilet with an electric sensor that triggers the flushing mechanism when you are done? For example in a hotel lobby, or a public building. Assume there is no other ...
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Can a "brain controlled" prosthetic be used on Shabbat?
New prosthetics are controlled by brain waves which seem to make the prosthetic an extension of the body in an "organic" way, in that we control all of our own limbs through the same brain waves and ...
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Difference between Halperin and Tzomet switches?
I am reading about the various so-called Grama and other Shabbat switches developed in Israel for use in hospitals and security situations.
It seems that there was one solution created by Rabbi ...
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Tweeting on Shabbat: d'oraita or d'rabbanan violation?
There was a dangerous situation in my community on Shabbat and I knew (from the amount my house phone was ringing and my cell phone was buzzing) that people I knew across the world would be concerned ...
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Reason for a Chanukah Minhag
Are there any authorities who suggest that the reason for the Minhag for women to avoid Melacha (creative work) while the Chanukah candles are lit is because we are worried they may come to use the ...
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Conductivity of living things and Shabbat
If electricity is banned on shabbat, how does a person deal with the problem of the body being a conductor? When I hold a person's hands, it creates a circuit. If I let go of their hands then I have ...
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Using modern electronic devices (refrigerators, air conditioners, digital water meters) on Shabbat
The Mishmereth Hashabbath institute in Israel has published a booklet which claims that using many modern electronic devices (refrigerators, air conditioners, digital water meters) are highly ...
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Being in a photo on Shabbos
If someone is taking a picture on Shabbos on their phone or a digital camera - must one try not to be in the picture; does he violate anything if he specifically “photo bombs” the pic on Shabbat?
Does ...
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Light switch on Shabbat - no bulb, unplugging an extension cord
Muktza aside - Is it permissible on Shabbat to turn off a light switch if the light bulb burned out; Is there any issue in removing the current from the circuit 10, 15, 20 ft back?
The same I would ...
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On Shabbos, may someone turn off a switch of an electric-eye controlled light while the light is off?
If a room or an area has an electric eye which causes a light to turn on when someone passes by, and the light is off, may someone turn off the light-switch on Shabbos so that people can walk by ...
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Who is worried about affecting a refrigerator's thermostat on shabbat?
When one opens a refrigerator door, there are two classes of effects:
Immediate result - e.g. light going on, or in newer models a fan might start.
This class of effects can normally be fairly ...
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Can one disconnect an emergency lamp from power on shabbat?
This is an emergency torch. It is plugged on power and, in case the electricity stops, turns itself on automatically and runs on batteries for hours
If power falls on shabbat, can one
disconnect ...
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Temperature controlled urn on Shabbat
What issues may be at play when adjusting the temperature of an urn on Shabbat, e.g. from 200° F to 80° F, specifically on an urn pictured below*? (Assuming the water is already pre-boiled before ...
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Sewer pump usage on Shabbat
There are sewer tanks where, when full, an electric sewer pump automatically turns on.
Is it a problem to pour water down the drain (washing hands, flushing the toilet) into such a sewer system?
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Is a Digital Clock muktzeh on Shabbos?
This question occurred to me over Shabbos, when my clock fell over. What Muktzeh category does a digital alarm clock fall into? If it has a backup battery, does that change anything?
Additionally, if ...
user9643
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Adjusting Potentiometer on Yom Tov (eg. oven temperature)
Can someone point me in the direction of some Halachic sources to research the subject of potentiometers on Yom Tov?
In the case of an oven, I had the understanding that as long as the fire was on ...
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Amazon's Alexa & Shabbos [duplicate]
Does anyone know of a definitive credible source about voice activated devices on Shabbat?
Alexa has made life so much easier as my elderly mother can just use her voice to contact us. We have made ...
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Air purifier with LED sensor on Shabbat
Would one be allowed to use an air purifier with an LED smell indicator sensor on Shabbat if bringing in odors near the purifier with outside food or other odorous things could or most surely would ...
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What are the various views about electricity on Shabbos [duplicate]
This question discusses specifically R' Moshe's views on using electricity on Shabbos. What are some of the other major views out there (R' Shlomo Zalman, Tzitz Eliezer, etc.)?
Believe it or not, ...
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Why isn't walking through a metal detector allowed on Shabbat because of pikuach nefesh?
I saw a few weeks ago that there are no security checks at the Kotel for religiously dressed Jews on Shabbat. This is to avoid having to walk through a metal detector, apparently.
My question is, why ...
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Is a Highwire Eruv allowed?
Where can I found the discussion regarding the permissibility of using the hotwire/highwire (the electric wire which is all the way at the top of the utility pole) as part of the Eruv? Thanks
The ...
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Audio Recording on Shabbat/Yom Tov
Would there be a problem with leaving a recorder on from before Shabbat or Yom Tov, and thereby recording a lecture given on Shabbat itself? There is a wealth of literature on the subject of Melacha ...
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Not using Electricity as a Minhag
This answer asserts that R' Auerbach held that not using electricity on Shabbat is a minhag. However, assuming that this ruling dates to the 1930s (which is what I have heard in the past), everyday ...
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Netilas Yadayim with automatic sinks
It seems there is precedent to allow for netilas yadayim when you don't have a cup, by turning the sink on and off for each rivi'is per hand. By employing this method you satisfy the requirement of ...
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Use induction on Yom Tov
May one use an induction stove-top on Yom Tov?
I assume there's a fundamental difference if the pot is already on the stove before Yom Tov, and food is just poured inside; this should be permitted. ...
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Adjusting timers on Shabbat
Can one adjust a socket timer (picture below) on Shabbat to keep one's hotplate or lamp on for longer, etc?
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Electronic card readers to enter buildings on Shabbat?
As a student, I've noticed that practically all of the dormitories in my university require residents to tap their student cards to a sensor before they are allowed to enter their building. (Moreover, ...
user8555
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Kosher switch and Grama according to R. Belsky's letter
Yeshiva World News published a letter from Rabbi Belsky saying that the Kosher Switch accomplishes nothing and is simply a regular melacha.
My question is basically the same as this commentor. Is ...
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using static guard on Shabbos
Would there be any reason why one would not be able to apply static guard to clothing on Shabbos? Would it make any difference if the clothing is currently being worn or not?
Two points:
1- I ...
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Did any classic rabbinic sources discuss static electricity?
Not much more to add here, I've just always wondered if static electricity was discussed in any Chazzal or Rishonim. Someone from those times must've gotten a good zap and I'm wondering what they had ...
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Smart thermostat on Shabbos - what to do?
I read an article recently regarding a person who went to a hotel and realized after Shabbos began that all the rooms were controlled by smart thermostats. A smart thermostat detects when one is in ...
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