Jump to content

Shabbos App

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Zwolfp (talk | contribs) at 13:23, 6 October 2014. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Shabbos App Logo featuring a "Shin" for The Sabbath
File:Special Shabbos App Keypad.png
Special Shabbos App Keypad
File:Shabbos App Options Screen.png
Prototype options screen

The Shabbos App is a proposed Android app that will enable Orthodox Jews, and all Jewish Sabbath-observers, to use a smartphone on the Jewish Sabbath. The app is highly controversial[1][2][3] in Jewish Orthodox circles. The current position of the established Orthodox community is that using a smartphone on the Sabbath is prohibited by Halakha (Jewish religious law), a view disputed by The Shabbos App team who say they are relying on the view of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910–95).

Current halachic problems of using a smartphone on the Sabbath

Using a smartphone on the Sabbath may violate one of several rabbinic prohibitions as follows: (Many disagree with the following points as these points are not consistent with halacha, making almost everything permissible)

  • Muktzah: A typical smartphone has no permissible use on Shabbos and therefore is mukzah
  • General Use: There is a principle of "mimtzo chefso v’dabru davar". This mean that how one acts on Shabbos needs to be distinctively different that how one acts during the rest of the week.
  • Writing: Text that one types and erases remains on the phone's hard drive and is theoretically permanent – this is a potential problem of writing/erasing[4][5] according to some opinions.
  • Sounds: Sounds are made when one notifies or is notified of new messages, etc. This is a potential problem of making noise[6] which is prohibited. The sounds can be turned off in settings.
  • Screen: Turning the screen on and off is similar (according to some opinions) to turning a non-incandescent lamp on and off. This can be a potential prohibition of making a fire (ma'avir) as all the pixels of the screen together can generate heat, and this would be assur according to some Poiskim.
  • Charging: When one plugs a wall charger into or out of the phone, according to one opinion of Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz (1878–1953) known as the (Chazon Ish) one is building and breaking a circuit and in violation of the prohibition of building and destroying.[7] and [8] This ruling of the Chazon Ish is disputed by many rabbis, including Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910–95). Charging should not be an issue if one charges their device prior to beginning shabbat.

Proposed solutions to the halachic problems resolved by the Shabbos App

The Shabbos App team says that the app addresses the potential halachic problems that can occur when using a smartphone on the Sabbath as follows:

  • Muktzah: With the Shabbos App installed the phone and activated becomes usable on Shabbos and therefore is not considered mukzah
  • General Use: When the Shabbos App is activated, the screen is flipped upside down and locked in that mode, so that a user would hold need to hold the phone in the opposite manner that it is held during the weekdays. This is a very distinctive difference in how the phone is used - as (a) on a regular weekday nobody would hold the phone upside down (b) the telephone is awkward to use as the speaker is on the bottom and microphone on the top so holding the phone in this manner is definitely shinuy. Additionally, and just as importantly, this is combined with a keypad that operates completely different than the regular keypad.
  • Battery: Similar to a Sabbath elevator, Similar to a Shabbos elevator, the Shabbos App forces a consistent load on the battery - which is sufficient to cause the battery to heat up, and therefore any usage by the user would not cause the battery to heat up, preventing the potential of ma'avir.
  • Writing: The Shabbos App features a unique keyboard that works differently from the keypad that a user would use all week. The keypad requires the user to press on a special activation button while typing. This is a shinuy in a few ways (a) the user can only type with one finger instead of the usual two, (b) the typing experience is completely different experience than during the week. Additionally, there are to two options for those who wish to satisfy one or both of these machmir Poiskim
  1. Delayed Typing option: Selecting this option this will cause a slight and random delay when typing, which is considered grama.
  2. Wipe Data option: Selecting this option will cause the app to reset all new data every hour. This will render any text typed not permanent.
  • Sounds: All sounds are disabled when the app is active. The user can choose to receive a vibration for new notifications, visual indicators, or both vibration and visual. The visual indicator on the information bar will display any new notifications.
  • Screen: The app forces the screen to stay on the entire time (a user can set the brightness prior to activating the app), which inhibits any problems of turning the screen on and off.
  • Charging: The phone will need to be charged more often than usual as the Shabbos App will place additional strain on the battery. To increase battery charge, there is an indicator on the information bar (that looks like a power plug) that will be green and red. When the green indicator light is on, you can plug your phone device in and out of a phone charger, as no charging action will occur until the indicator light turns red. Charging will only begin when the indicator light is red. To warn of an impending charging status change, the indicator light will blink red to alert the user not to plug the device in or out until the user can safely identify the charging status, when a solid green or red light will then appear. The indicator light will change to green for five minutes after every fifteen minutes, and continue to cycle in this method indefinitely.

Controversy

As of October 5, 2014, no Rabbinical authority had approved of the app.[9]

According to its creators, the Shabbos App resolves many of the problems related to using a smartphone on the Sabbath.[10] However, many rabbis find the app to be a desecration of the Sabbath and forbid it.[11][12] The developers of the app feel that they are doing good for people who are texting on Shabbos.[13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "App lets Jewish kids text on Sabbath – and stay in the fold". The Times of Israel. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "Sacred texts: App aims to solve SMS-during-Sabbath problem". Haaretz. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Shabbos App (Yes it is Real)". Finkorswim.com. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  4. ^ halachipedia.com: Kosaiv
  5. ^ halachipedia.com: Mochek
  6. ^ halachipedia.com: Making music on Shabbat
  7. ^ halachipedia.com: Boneh
  8. ^ halachipedia.com Sosair
  9. ^ "Smartphones on Shabbos? How app-alling!". http://www.israelnationalnews.com/. Retrieved October 5, 2014. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  10. ^ "Lose Your Shabbos Rest With Newly Created Smartphone Shabbos App – JP Updates". JP Updates. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  11. ^ vosizneias.com: New York Shabbos Texting App Stirs Controversy
  12. ^ halachipedia.com: The Shabbos App
  13. ^ "Sacred texts: App aims to solve SMS-during-Sabbath problem". Haaretz.com. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "The Shabbos App (Yes it is Real)". Finkorswim.com. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shabbos_App&oldid=628473472"