Electricity
Years ago when refrigerators became a standard home appliance, the question of using refrigerators on Shabbos was posed to many prominent poskim.
The problem originates with the general use of electricity on Shabbos. Is it permitted? Is it d’oraysa or d’rabanan? Some viewed electricity as an issur d’oraysa– a biblical prohibition[1], but most determined that the issur was d’rabanan. (This has implications in certain situations- even if using electricity is d’rabanan, causing the defrost to activate would be a d’oraysa as will be shown).
Today, the issur of using electricity has been established throughout the Jewish world and using any form of electricity today is unequivocally considered Chilul Shabbos. Read More