Use of Electricity on Shabbos

Question

On Shabbat is an otherwise Torah observant Jewish man who FOR HEALTH REASONS is confined to the home –and therefore cannot go to the synagogue for the Shabbos minyon, –is he permitted to use the computer / internet to observe and listen to a Torah reading?

Is it better to NOT use electricity at all and NOT hear the Torah reading, or is it better to at least be able to hear and see a Torah reading albeit from a distance (using computer and internet technology) even though electricity is being used on, during and throughout the Shabbos? Or is it completely prohibited to use electricity on the Shabbos even to hear and see the torah reading, EVEN WHEN the machine is turned on before Shabbos starts? Thank You

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    Making direct use of electricity is forbidden on Shabbos. That means that a person who is confined to his house for health reasons (or any other reasons), cannot use his computer even if it is to watch a Shabbos service or to listen to the Torah Reading. However dismal such a Shabbos may sound, it is the only correct option, and, hopefully, it will lead to a closeness with Hashem due to the fact that there will be no other distractions on Shabbos. In effect, it will be just him and Hashem together for twenty-five blissful hours.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team