Otis Singleton
The use of electricity on Shabbat is a widely debated topic among Jewish scholars. Orthodox Jewish authorities categorically prohibit the use of electrical devices on Shabbat, while some argue that it is not forbidden. The Torah bans physical creative labor on Shabbat, and rabbis have interpreted this to include 39 categories of work, one of which may include electrical use. Some scholars argue that using electricity is akin to kindling a flame, while others suggest it violates the prohibition on completion or leads to increased fuel consumption. The Conservative movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards states that while refraining from electricity is pious, it is not mandatory, and there are workarounds, such as using timers, Shabbat elevators, and special electrical outlets. The debate also extends to specific appliances, such as refrigerators, with some arguing that opening the door and triggering the light is prohibited, while others disagree. Ultimately, the use of electricity on Shabbat remains a complex and multifaceted issue within the Jewish community, with varying interpretations and practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Orthodox Jewish authorities' view | Prohibit the operation of electrical devices on Shabbat |
| Other traditionally observant Jews' view | Do not use lights or electrical appliances on Shabbat |
| Exception | No prohibition on using a light that was turned on before Shabbat |
| The Torah's view | Bans the performance of physical creative labor on Shabbat (melachah in Hebrew) |
| Number of categories of work | 39 |
| Most common argument | Electricity usage amounts to kindling a flame |
| Violates | Biblical prohibition on lighting a fire on Shabbat |
| Rabbi Daniel Nevins' view | Usage of most modern consumer electronic devices should be banned because they generate data, which violates the rabbinic ban on writing |
| Workarounds | Using timers, Shabbat elevators, Sabbath electrical outlets, etc. |
| Rabbi Auerbach's view | No prohibition to use electricity on Shabbat unless the electricity causes a prohibited act like cooking or starting a flame |
| Rabbi Oyerbach's view | No prohibition against using certain electric devices on Shabbat |
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What You'll Learn
- Orthodox Jews prohibit electricity use, but some disagree on its source
- Using electricity is akin to kindling a flame, thus violating Shabbat
- Some say electricity use is not forbidden, but the spirit of Shabbat is disrupted
- Workarounds like timers, Shabbat elevators, and special electrical outlets are used
- There are differing opinions on the use of microphones, refrigerators, and washing machines
Orthodox Jews prohibit electricity use, but some disagree on its source
Orthodox Jewish authorities categorically prohibit the use of electrical devices on Shabbat. Orthodox and other traditionally observant Jews therefore do not use lights or electrical appliances during this time. However, there is no prohibition on using a light that was turned on before Shabbat began. While this prohibition is universally practised in the Orthodox community, there is no agreement on its source.
The Torah bans physical creative labour on Shabbat (melachah in Hebrew), which rabbis have broken down into 39 categories of work. Over the years, rabbis have advanced various theories as to which of those categories covers electrical use. The most common argument is that electricity usage amounts to kindling a flame, and therefore violates the biblical prohibition on lighting a fire on Shabbat. However, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach disagrees with this, arguing that using most electrical appliances is prohibited mainly due to Jewish communities' popular traditions (minhagim) of maximizing the spirit of Shabbat, rather than for technical halakhic reasons.
Another argument is that using electricity violates the prohibition on completion ("makeh b'famish"). Others have suggested that the problem is that it leads to increased fuel consumption at power stations or that heating a metal transistor amounts to cooking. However, these rationales are not universally accepted, and some have suggested that the reason for banning electricity is merely tradition.
Rabbi Daniel Nevins, in a responsa approved by the Conservative movement’s Committee on Jewish Law and Standards in 2012, advanced the theory that the usage of most modern consumer electronic devices should be banned because they generate data, which violates the rabbinic ban on writing. However, even in Orthodox communities, the ban on electricity does not prevent people from using electrical devices that were turned on prior to Shabbat, such as electric lights, fans, refrigerators, and warming plates for food.
Various workarounds have been found to enable a wider usage of devices on Shabbat. For example, hotels catering to religious clients often have a "Shabbat elevator" that stops on every floor, allowing the Sabbath observant to avoid climbing stairs without pushing any buttons. Many observant homes also use timers to turn lights on and off, and the Zomet Institute in Israel has developed a Sabbath electrical outlet that operates through indirect action.
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Using electricity is akin to kindling a flame, thus violating Shabbat
The use of electricity on Shabbat is a contentious issue among observant Jews. While some rabbis argue that there is no prohibition against using electricity, Orthodox Jewish authorities categorically prohibit the operation of electrical devices on Shabbat. This prohibition extends to lights and electrical appliances, with some rabbis arguing that using electricity is akin to kindling a flame and thus violates Shabbat.
The Torah bans physical creative labor on Shabbat, or melachah in Hebrew, which rabbis have broken down into 39 categories of work. Over the years, rabbis have proposed various theories on how the use of electricity falls into one of these categories. One of the most common arguments is that using electricity is like lighting a fire, which is prohibited on Shabbat. This argument holds that electricity and fire are similar in that they both involve the generation of light and heat through a current, whether of electrons or ions.
Another argument against the use of electricity on Shabbat is that it violates the prohibition on completion, or "makeh b’famish". Some rabbis have also suggested that using electricity leads to increased fuel consumption at power stations, or that heating a metal transistor is equivalent to cooking. However, these rationales have been disputed, and there is no universal consensus on the reason for banning electricity use.
Despite the disagreements on the rationale, many observant Jews consider refraining from using electricity as one of the core practices that distinguishes Shabbat from the rest of the week. This commitment to tradition can lead to life-threatening situations, as some Orthodox Jews refrain from making phone calls during emergencies on Shabbat. Additionally, observant doctors may experience challenges in providing timely care as they are unable to use electrical devices directly.
To navigate these challenges, workarounds have been developed to enable the indirect use of electrical devices on Shabbat. For example, observant Jews may use timers to automate the operation of lights and appliances. Hotels catering to religious clients may offer "Shabbat elevators" that stop on every floor, eliminating the need to push buttons. While these solutions aim to respect the spirit of Shabbat while accommodating essential needs, they also highlight the ongoing debate and evolving nature of interpretations surrounding the use of electricity on this day of rest and reflection.
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Some say electricity use is not forbidden, but the spirit of Shabbat is disrupted
The use of electricity on Shabbat is a contentious issue among Jewish communities. While Orthodox Jewish authorities categorically prohibit the operation of electrical devices on Shabbat, there are differing opinions on whether electricity use is forbidden or not. Some argue that electricity use is not inherently forbidden, but rather the spirit of Shabbat is disrupted by certain electrical devices.
Rabbi Daniel Nevins, in a responsa approved by the Conservative movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards in 2012, asserted that the use of most modern consumer electronic devices should be banned because they generate data, violating the rabbinic ban on writing. However, he explicitly permitted the use of lights, fans, electronic key cards, electric motors for the elderly, elevators, and other devices that do not disrupt the atmosphere of Shabbat.
Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach also argued that the use of most electrical appliances is prohibited primarily due to Jewish communities' popular traditions (minhagim) of maximising the spirit of Shabbat, rather than for technical halakhic reasons. He believed that the issue with closing an electrical circuit was introducing a new feature into the wire, which is a rabbinic concern, rather than a biblical prohibition.
The Zomet Institute in Israel has developed a Sabbath electrical outlet that operates through indirect action, allowing observant Jews to use electricity for essential needs without disrupting the spirit of Shabbat. Additionally, hotels catering to religious clients often offer "Shabbat elevators" that stop on every floor, enabling observant Jews to avoid climbing stairs without directly operating an electrical machine.
While there is no universal agreement on the source of the prohibition, the Torah bans physical creative labour on Shabbat, which rabbis have interpreted in various ways. Some argue that electricity use falls under this ban, while others believe it disrupts the atmosphere of rest and worship that Shabbat intends to cultivate. Ultimately, the decision to use electricity or not during Shabbat is a personal one, with some Jews choosing to be stringent in their observance to avoid any potential disruption to the spirit of the day.
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Workarounds like timers, Shabbat elevators, and special electrical outlets are used
While the use of electricity on Shabbat is prohibited by Orthodox Jewish authorities, there are several workarounds that enable observant Jews to use electrical devices. These include timers, Shabbat elevators, and special electrical outlets.
Timers are often used to turn lights and other electrical appliances on and off during Shabbat. This is allowed as long as the timer is not adjusted during Shabbat. For example, removing a peg from a timer is permitted, but reinserting it to turn off the current at a desired time is not.
Hotels that cater to religious clients often have Shabbat elevators, which are programmed to stop on every floor. This allows observant Jews to avoid climbing stairs without having to push any buttons and operate an electrical machine.
The Zomet Institute in Israel has developed a special electrical outlet that operates through indirect action and can be used for essential needs during Shabbat.
While these workarounds allow for the use of some electrical devices, there are still many restrictions on what is permissible during Shabbat. For example, observant Jews will typically not leave a radio or television playing, as this is considered inconsistent with the spirit of the day, even if it was turned on before Shabbat.
Additionally, there are debates among rabbinic authorities about the specific applications of the prohibition on electricity. For example, some argue that turning on a light switch is prohibited because it involves "igniting" a flame, while others disagree. There is also disagreement about whether opening a refrigerator door on Shabbat is prohibited if it causes the motor to turn on.
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There are differing opinions on the use of microphones, refrigerators, and washing machines
The use of electrical devices on Shabbat is prohibited by Orthodox Jewish authorities. However, there are differing opinions on the use of certain electrical devices, such as microphones, refrigerators, and washing machines.
Some authorities forbid the use of microphones during Shabbat, even when care is taken in their positioning and setup. However, there are exceptions made in certain cases, such as when a microphone is needed for medical or accessibility reasons.
Refrigerators can be a source of disagreement among Jewish scholars. In 2008, nine Haredi poskim signed a pronouncement stating that adjusting the temperature on a refrigerator during Yom Tov was forbidden. However, Rabbi Moshe Heinemann held a minority opinion, stating that it was permissible. Shabbat-mode refrigerators are designed to comply with Jewish law by disabling lights and other electrical activity when the door is opened.
The use of washing machines on Shabbat is not clearly forbidden, and there may be room for leniency in certain cases. For example, if the washing machine is in a location where the noise will not carry or if it does not require manual turning off, some may consider it acceptable. However, the act of opening the lid and removing the laundry may be considered a violation of Shabbat.
While the use of electricity on Shabbat is prohibited by Orthodox Jews, there is no agreement on its source. Some argue that it amounts to kindling a flame, while others suggest it violates the prohibition on completion or increases fuel consumption. Rabbi Daniel Nevins offers a novel theory, stating that modern electronic devices should be banned because they generate data, which violates the rabbinic ban on writing.
Overall, while there are differing opinions on the use of microphones, refrigerators, and washing machines during Shabbat, the Orthodox community generally prohibits the use of electrical devices, with some exceptions made for essential needs or when the device was turned on before Shabbat.
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Frequently asked questions
Orthodox Jewish authorities prohibit the use of electricity on the Jewish Sabbath. The Torah bans performing any physical creative labor on Shabbat, which rabbis have broken down into 39 categories of work. Over the years, rabbis have advanced various theories as to which of those categories covers electrical use. One common argument is that electricity usage amounts to kindling a flame, violating the biblical prohibition on lighting a fire on the Sabbath.
According to Orthodox authorities, prohibited electrical activities on Shabbat include operating electrical appliances, using a microwave, turning on a light, and driving a modern automobile. Some rabbinic authorities also prohibit the use of microphones during Shabbat.
Yes, there are some exceptions and workarounds. Electrical devices that were turned on before the Sabbath, such as lights, fans, refrigerators, and warming plates, can remain on. Hotels catering to religious clients may offer "Shabbat elevators" that stop on every floor, allowing observant Jews to avoid pushing buttons. Observant Jews can also use timers to turn lights on and off and may ask a Gentile to open a refrigerator door.
