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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2000 13:03:24 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: RE: Some comments on Electricity

Two comments on the electricity discussion.

1) Rick Turkel brings the melacha of "completing an object"(Lit. the
finishing hammar blows).  However we must recall the law that eg while
it is prohibited to finish installation of a door in a house on shabbath
by closing the door (since that makes that house habitable),
nevertheless, it is completely permissable to open and close both doors
and windows on shabbath(even though when I eg open a window in the
winter I make the house unhabitable and therefore closing the window is
putting the finishing touches on the house and making it habitable).

The reason for this is that opening and closing windows and doors on
Shabbath is considered USAGE not CONSTRUCTION.

In a similar manner opening and closing circuits on Shabbath is
considered USAGE and is therefore not a violation of COMPLETING THE
OBJECT.

2) Let us not forget throughout this dialogue Rabbi Broydes' point in an
article he wrote in the Journal of Comtemporary Halachah, that EVEN if
there is no foundation for prohibiting electricity nevertheless since
Gedolim have already prohibited it it is established as "the way of
Israel" and we should continue abstaining (I guess until enough Gedolim
undo the former Psaks)

Russell Jay Hendel; phd AsA
Dept of Math; Towson Univ
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.RashiYomi.Com/