Quote:
Originally Posted by crich70
What is the rational eschwartz? I can understand that turning a light switch on or off is akin to starting/extinguishing a fire, but Kindle ereaders don't have an on/off switch. Just curious.
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And well you might ask, because the laws of melacha (work) on Shabbos are complex.
There are the 39 actions that were used in the building of the Tabernacle, which forms the core of what can and cannot be done on Shabbos.
These are the "Av" melachos, the "parent" or header of a category. Then there are the "Toldos", are not specifically mentioned in the Scripture but nevertheless considered to be the same type of action. And the Rabbis have frbidden some things as a safeguard because they look too similar to Biblical prohibitions and might cause confusion. And some things, while not strictly forbidden, are strongly discouraged because they aren't in the spirit of the day.
Here, electricity is considered a form of fire, and using electronic devices is Biblically prohibited. Which is to say, we can still reap the benefit of lights and heating/AC and suchlike, but we cannot change their state.
Random fun fact: brushing your teeth is a prohibition as well? Why such an innocuous thing? Because of... #29, m'macheik, or"smoothing". An Av melacha, wih its origins in scraping hides of leftover hair after the tannning. Its Toldah is m'marei'ach, or smearing.
(Mouthwash is okay. It is a liquid. Just as long as it isn't too
thick...
)