Q&A: Electricity on the Sabbath
Electricity on the Sabbath
Question
Hello Rabbi. I wanted to know: according to the Chazon Ish's view that the prohibition is because of building (putting the thing into its proper functional state), why is it forbidden to use an object that was already operating from before the Sabbath?
For example—a telephone, an air conditioner, and the like.
I am speaking about a case where, for the sake of discussion, there is no increase in current.
If we say that the prohibition is because of creating something new, kindling, and the like, then of course there is no question.
But if the entire prohibition is only because of building, why should it be forbidden?
(As far as I recall, the Chazon Ish also prohibits even increasing the current, even though building would not seem relevant there.)
Answer
Whoever holds that the prohibition is because of building does not thereby rule out the other possible sources for the prohibition.
Discussion on Answer
I don't remember.
As far as I recall, something unusual happened here: it was intuitively obvious to all the various halakhic decisors that turning on a light bulb (for example) on the Sabbath is prohibited, and only afterward was it clarified what exactly the prohibition was.
Isn't there some tension here with the traditional halakhic model through the generations, in which we know that a certain action falls within the category (if we are talking about the laws of the Sabbath) of primary labors or derivative labors, and therefore we prohibit it, rather than first looking for a reason to prohibit something?
Thank you very much.
Is there any explicit reference to this in his writings?