K A S H R U T . C O M_©

January 10, 2025 from Matzav.com:

"As a powerful winter storm swept across Israel, widespread power outages struck many communities on Friday afternoon and Friday night, creating significant halachic questions with the onset of Shabbos.

"One such incident occurred in central Petach Tikva, where repeated electricity failures left residents uncertain whether they would be permitted to benefit from power restored during Shabbos by the Israel Electric Corporation. Numerous residents turned to the city’s mara d’asra, the prominent posek Rav Bentzion Hakohein Kook, seeking guidance.

"Just minutes before candle lighting, Rav Kook published a detailed halachic ruling addressing the permissibility of using electricity that is restored on Shabbos, even when the repair work is carried out by Jewish workers.

"In his written psak, Rav Kook explained that in today’s reality, repairing electrical outages involves an element of pikuach nefesh. He noted that in nearly every neighborhood there are individuals whose lives depend on electrically powered medical devices, such as oxygen machines and similar equipment. Rav Kook testified that he personally knew of multiple cases in which power outages — on both weekdays and Shabbos — posed immediate danger to life, and recalled a tragic instance in his own neighborhood in which a patient connected to an oxygen machine passed away as a result of a power failure.

"Since it is impossible for the electric company to repair the system only for those in medical danger, and the restoration necessarily benefits the entire grid, Rav Kook ruled that it is permitted to benefit from the electricity once power is restored. He emphasized that this does not fall under the prohibition of benefiting from melachah done on Shabbos, and is comparable to classic cases discussed in Shulchan Aruch where an action performed for the sake of a dangerously ill person may also benefit others.

"Addressing concerns related to food preparation, Rav Kook ruled that pots may remain on the stove even if they cooled during the outage, and that the food — including soup — does not become prohibited. Since the electric company’s work is focused on the central power system and not on the individual pot or flame, and the food was fully cooked before Shabbos, there is no issue of bishul or initial placement on the fire on Shabbos.

"Regarding a hot plate that shut off due to the outage, Rav Kook ruled that it is permissible to transfer a pot to another hot plate via a non-Jew. If done by a Jew, he cited the position of his rebbi, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, that this is permitted only under two conditions: first, that the original hot plate is still somewhat warm, enough that it could heat food; and second, that the neighboring hot plate is covered or reduced in heat, such as with thick aluminum foil, multiple layers of thin foil, or an inverted pan — adjustments that may be made on Shabbos. He noted that some authorities are lenient even without these conditions.

"Rav Kook concluded his ruling with a heartfelt tefillah that the tranquility of Shabbos not be disturbed, and expressed hope that in the future all Jews will merit the use of electricity produced without any desecration of Shabbos."