Building on Shabbat is a Torah prohibition. One that is battery-operated, when turned on, is considered to be "built" as a completed appliance. An appliance that is connected to a wall socket is considered "built" into the house. Some say that turning on the appliance, which means completing the electric circuit, is akin to building. There are various reasons offered for this. 9 The operation of these electrical appliances is forbidden on Shabbat.Īlthough the halachic authorities concur that electricity per se is not considered fire (though some say that if completing the circuit will emit sparks, it is considered "igniting" 10), it is nevertheless universally agreed upon that one may not operate electrical appliances on Shabbat. Some examples are electric fans, clocks, or CD players. It is also forbidden to operate appliances that require electricity even though they do not involve any specific type of melachah. Operating a printer would involve the melachah of koteiv ("writing").Running the hot water tap is forbidden on Shabbat as this causes cold water to enter the hot water tank, and this water is in turn heated by the hot water that is already in the tank.Turning off a light bulb is considered mechabeh ("extinguishing"). It is therefore forbidden to turn on or adjust the temperature of these appliances. Stoves and microwave ovens involve the melachah of cooking/baking.Some say that turning on the appliance is akin to buildingThere are many appliances whose use is forbidden irrespective of the fact that they are powered by electricity, simply because they perform functions that are forbidden on Shabbat. Opening a refrigerator or car door if this causes a light to go on.Turning on a light switch (since the light bulb gives out both light and heat, it is halachically considered "fire" 6).Driving a car (which involves combustion).In addition to actually kindling a fire, the prohibition against "igniting" also includes: The Sages of the Talmud 5 derive additional shades of meaning from this verse. Some say 3 that the Torah spells out this prohibition because kindling a fire is necessary for cooking and food preparation, and the Torah wishes to specify that even these types of work – which are permissible on holidays 4 – are forbidden on Shabbat. There are varying opinions as to why the Torah singles this prohibition out. 1 This is the prohibition of igniting a fire: "You shall not ignite a fire in any of your dwelling places on the day of Shabbat." 2 Although there are thus many activities that are forbidden on Shabbat by Torah law, the Torah explicitly states only one of them. Our Sages explain that melachah refers to the activities which were necessary for construction of the Tabernacle, 39 types of work in all. On Shabbat, melachah, "work," is prohibited.
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