Question:
I were hearing aids in i want to know if I’m allowed to change battery in shabas or yom-tov in also how about making the volume lower or higher
Thanks
Answer:
Changing the battery is problematic, because it is like turning the hearing aid on and activating it on shabbos. However you may ask a gentile to do it for you. It is important to remember to check that the batteries are either fully charged or that new batteries be inserted o the hearing aid before shabbos.
Regarding changing the volume, is permitted according to many poskim. The reason being is that you are not making any new circuit by changing the volume
I am attaching a very practical Kuntres from Horav M. Shuchatowitz, a posek in Baltimore and an expert on these topics, Toras Hacheresh He can be reached at 443-802-8559
.
Sources:
Minchas Shlomo 1:9 p. 74 d”h v’al kol panim, Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa 34-28, Lev Avrohom 1:6:(132), Be’er Moshe 1-17.
I can’t see what’s written in the kuntres but might it not be the case that previous decisions that volume controls could be used were based on an assumption of use of a variable resistor (potentiometer) but today’s hearing aids might have electronic volume control buttons which work by means of closing a circuit, thereby raising a concern of boneh?
Please read the kuntris, which is now attached to the post ,and if you still have any questions, feel free to call him at the above number.
I am getting a set of hearing aids but these are rechargeable. This means that they are plugged into a recharger each evening. From all the reading I am doing it seems that I cannot wear them on Shabbos or at least not recharge them. I’ve been told that the charge lasts 30 hours.
Thank you for your input.
That is great, the only issue you wil have is on Yom Tov which lasts for about 50 hours. If you can have a gentile change them, that would solve the issue.
Leave a comment