DVAR HALACHA 7

DVAR HALACHA 7

The Shulchan Aruch in siman reish nun beis teaches that it is permitted to begin a melacha on Erev Shabbos even though the melacha will continue into Shabbos.

Examples of this include lighting a fire before Shabbos that will continue burning on Shabbos, or soaking a dirty garment in water with detergent before Shabbos so that it continues to soak on Shabbos.

However, the use of a timer to cause a melacha to occur on Shabbos is discussed by the contemporary poskim. The Kovetz Halachos quotes Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky shlita as explaining that it is permitted to use a timer for a melacha that is commonly done with a timer even during the week. For this reason, it is permitted to set a timer before Shabbos to turn lights, heating, or air conditioning on or off. Since these are appliances that people regularly control with timers, activating the timer is considered like beginning the melacha before Shabbos and allowing it to continue into Shabbos, which is permitted.

However, if an appliance is not normally used with a timer, then using a timer for it on Shabbos is problematic. In such a case, it is not viewed as starting the melacha before Shabbos, but rather more similar to arranging for a melacha to be done on Shabbos itself.

Additionally, the poskim point out that a melacha which produces a noticeable noise should not be started before Shabbos if it will continue into Shabbos, because it appears as though melacha is actively being done on Shabbos.

An exception to this rule is when the result enhances kavod or oneg Shabbos, such as lights, heating, or air conditioning.

However, starting a washing machine or dryer right before Shabbos so that it runs during Shabbos is not considered kavod Shabbos, and since it generates noticeable noise, it should not be done.

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Reuven Eidlitz

Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, Monsey NY  

This dvar halacha is l’zchus refuah sheleima for Avraham ben Chaya Leah and Shmuel Avigdor ben Rivka b’soch sha’ar choley Yisroel