Q&A: An Electrical Device on the Sabbath
An Electrical Device on the Sabbath
Question
Have a good week, Rabbi,
Is an electrical device that is turned off and unplugged on the Sabbath considered muktzeh? And if so, what type of muktzeh is it?
In addition, if there is an outlet connected to a Sabbath timer, and at a certain point on the Sabbath it is in the off position, is it permitted to plug an electrical device into it so that it will turn on later?
Best regards,
Answer
Several halakhic decisors wrote that this is a utensil whose primary function is for a prohibited use, since operating it is done through an act that is prohibited. But in my opinion, a fan for example is not muktzeh, because although operating it is prohibited, its use is permitted—you are allowed to benefit from the air on the Sabbath. By contrast, a computer is a utensil whose primary function is for a prohibited use, because using it also involves a prohibition.
Regarding plugging it into a Sabbath timer: if it is muktzeh, then it is forbidden because of the laws of muktzeh. Without that, this would be indirect causation, and the accepted halakhic ruling is that indirect causation on the Sabbath is forbidden (there is a contradiction between different Talmudic passages on this). In a case of need, there is room to permit it.