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From: davids@utcs.UUCP (David Schwartz)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: Hilchot Shabat
Message-ID: <359@utcs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Jan-85 16:52:42 EST
Article-I.D.: utcs.359
Posted: Wed Jan 16 16:52:42 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 16:59:50 EST
References: <605@spuxll.UUCP>, <44500007@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: University of Toronto - General Purpose UNIX
Lines: 21

>According to the book "Shmirat Shabat K'hilchata" (first edition, 12:16)
>"in case of need" it is permissible to turn the switch on (and certainly off)
>while the timer is off; to avoid "muktzeh" one should switch it unnaturally.
>[This book is highly regarded, but, of course, there are some who disagree.]


    That sounds like a big chiddush to me.  Keep in mind that the first edition
did not receive Rav Moshe Feinstein's haskamah because it contained kulahs that
he did not agree with.  Also, when used in hilchot shabbat, the term "in case of
need" usually refers to a very important need, and the consequent kulah should
almost certainly be relied upon only in exceptional circumstances.

    To me it would seem that turning the light switch on with the timer off
would probably be considered an indirect act, or an act performed in an unusual
way, and thus would be prohibited rabbinically.

    All of the above is my own opinion and thus should not be relied upon.
-- 
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University of Toronto Computing Services	       David Schwartz
{cbosgd,decvax,harpo,ihnp4,utcsrgv,{allegra,linus}!utzoo}!utcs!davids