Q&A: Refrigerator on the Sabbath
Refrigerator on the Sabbath
Question
Honorable Rabbi, hello,
Is it permitted to open refrigerators on the Sabbath?
I know that Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ruled that this is indirect causation and permitted it, but nowadays there are all kinds of Sabbath devices.
Does the Rabbi know whether there is any difference today from the way things were before that would require being stringent, and if so, what is it?
Thank you.
Answer
Simply speaking, it would seem that this should be forbidden (even indirect causation is not permitted ab initio). It is preferable to use Sabbath devices. I do not see any difference between then and now.
Discussion on Answer
This is for actual practice, not theoretical.
You can rely on those who permit it. Do you specifically want permission from me?
You can set a Sabbath timer so that every hour and a half it turns on for half an hour or something like that, and open it when it is disconnected.
I’m in a house that doesn’t have that. What can I do?