11 Jul RESOLVING AIR CONDITIONING DILEMMAS ON SHABBAT: CONSIDERING ASSISTANCE FROM NON-JEWS

Hot summer days
often necessitate
the use of air
conditioning for
maintaining comfort.
However, adhering
to the principles of
Shabbat observance
can present challenges when it comes to
managing the operation of air conditioning
units. Issues such as forgetting to turn them on
or off, as well as sudden changes in weather,
can lead to discomfort and dilemmas. This
essay examines the question of whether it is
permissible to request a non-Jew to assist in
turning off the air conditioning on Shabbat,
addressing the considerations surrounding this
practice.
The Danger of Heat
The Shulchan Aruch(ס״ה רעו סימן (addresses
the permissibility of requesting a non-Jew to
heat a house on cold days. He writes that if the
weather reaches an extremely cold point, one
may seek assistance from a non-Jew to provide
heating, although heating the house involves
putting on fire which is a biblical prohibition.
The Or Letsion(רי עמוד ח״ב (commentary
specifies that this “very cold” condition refers
to freezing point temperatures. (The freezing
point refers to the temperature at which a

substance, typically water, transitions from a
liquid state to a solid state. In the case of water,
the freezing point is commonly defined as 0
degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. At
this temperature, water molecules slow down
and form a crystalline structure, resulting in
the solidification of water into ice.)
The Minchat Yitzchak(כג סימן ח״ג (presents
a compelling argument that extends the
previous logic. It suggests that just as one may
ask a non-Jew to heat the house on very cold
days, we can also learn that on hot days, one
may seek the assistance of a non-Jew to turn
on the air conditioning.
This interpretation finds support in the
which ,)מובא בתוס‘ ב״ב קמד,ב ד״ה חוץ)Yerushalmi
recounts a fascinating exchange between
Antoninus and Rebi. Antoninus requested a
blessing from Rebi before embarking on a
journey. Initially, Rebi blessed him not to feel
cold, but Antoninus, unimpressed, expressed
his ability to protect himself from the coldby
dressing warmly. Rebi then blessed him not to
feel hot, which Antoninus appreciated since
shielding oneself from extreme heat is more
challenging. This story teaches us the severity
of heat compared to cold, indicating that
seeking relief from excessive heat by asking a
non-Jew to turn on the air conditioning on hot
days is justifiable.

(אור לציון שם, אגר״מ יו״ד ח״ג סי‘ מז)poskim The
have indeed written that unless it is extremely
hot, one may not ask a non-Jew to turn on
the air conditioning solely for discomfort.
However, it is worth considering that the
times have changed since these rulings were
issued. The prevalence and necessity of air
conditioning today are significantly higher
than in the past. Our generation has become
reliant on air conditioning for comfort and
well-being, and the absence of it can lead
to various health issues such as dehydration
and heat stroke. These conditions occur more
frequently now because our bodies have
adapted to cooler environments, making
it more difficult to tolerate excessive heat.
Given these factors, it may be reasonable to
reevaluate the previous rulings in light of
the increased reliance on air conditioning for
maintaining a healthy and comfortable living
environment even if it’s not very hot.
Shvut De’Shvut
In the case of asking a non-Jew to perform
an action on Shabbat that is rabbinicaly
prohibited for Jews, the concept of shvut
d’shvut comes into play. Shvut d’shvut refers
to a situation where there are two levels of
rabbinic prohibition involved, which can be
perceived as less restrictive than a single level
of prohibition. Regarding the use of electricity
on Shabbat, there are varying opinions among

halachic authorities, with some considering it
a biblical prohibition and others viewing it as
a rabbinic prohibition. According to those who
regard it as a rabbinic prohibition, it may be
permissible to ask a non-Jew to turn on the air
conditioning if one is experiencing discomfort
due to the heat. This is because the existence
of two shvutim, or rabbinic prohibitions, may
lead to a more lenient ruling within the scope
of halachic interpretation.
Change of Weather
In situations where the air conditioning was
inadvertently left on during Shabbat, and the
day has become significantly cooler, causing
the indoor temperature to become unbearably
cold, it may be permissible to ask a non-Jew
to turn off the air conditioning. This allowance
stems from the concern mentioned previously
that prolonged exposure to extreme cold
temperatures can pose health risks. In such
cases, there is no obligation to vacate the
premises instead of requesting assistance from
a non-Jew. This principle applies similarly in
a synagogue setting, where congregants may
choose to leave due to discomfort caused by
the cold temperature.