Shabbat: R-S (Refrigerators, Secular Studies, Sunscreen)

Richard B. Aiken

REFRIGERATORS

Opening Refrigerator When Compressor Not On

On Shabbat, even though you may cause a compressor to turn on while you are using it or soon afterward, you may:

Open the door to a refrigerator or freezer.

Use a water cooler.

NOTE: This also applies to water fountains such as in schools and synagogues.

Opening Refrigerator with Light or LED

On Shabbat, do not open a refrigerator door that has LEDs that illuminate when the door is opened.  If you forgot to turn off the refrigerator light or if LEDs light up when you open the refrigerator door, consult a rabbi about what to do.

ROOM SENSORS

Preventing Motion Detector from Lighting Up

If a motion detector will light up when you move, you must cover the detector before Shabbat or turn off the device.

Walking into Room with Motion Detector

Do not walk into a room on Shabbat that has a motion detector that causes LED lights or room lights to go on--unless you can enter the room without turning them on.

NOTE: If you enter a room and then find that there is a motion detector that will turn on a light or an LED, you should not move until someone else has entered the room and the light has turned on. You may then leave while the light is still on.

NOTE: Sometimes motion detector lights do not always go on, due to a defective detector or because you can walk slowly enough or out of the detector range.  If so, then it is not a “psik reisha” and you may walk past the detector, even if it sometimes does turn on the lights. However, you may not use the light that goes on unless there is enough ambient light from other sources that you can see without needing the triggered light.

EXAMPLES

If you can avoid triggering the LED by walking slowly, you may enter the room.

If you can open a door slowly without triggering the LED, and by letting the door swing closed the LED will light up, you may do so and then walk past the detector while the LED is on, but only if the door takes at least 2.5 seconds to close.

SECULAR STUDIES

Studying secular subjects is not in the spirit of Shabbat but it is not prohibited.

SOAP

Hard Soap

You may not use hard soap on Shabbat.

Soap Bubbles

Causing soap bubbles from lather on Shabbat is not a problem.

SUNSCREEN

To use a fluid on skin on Shabbat, even sunscreen that may be needed to protect damaged skin, it must flow without lumps and not be more viscous than honey at room temperature. Therefore, apply sunscreen only if fluid (but not a cream or thick liquid).

NOTE: You may dilute sunscreen before Shabbat with water or alcohol, but some sunscreens do not become more fluid even with added water or alcohol.

NOTE: On Shabbat, you may use oil for pleasure, such as for massage, but not for refu'a/healing purposes, such as to heal chapped skin.

Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.