Can one use the ice of an automatic ice maker on Shabbos? Should one turn off the machine?
Answer:
There is no problem in using the ice that the machine makes automatically on Shabbos. However, one must ensure that taking ice out of the machine won’t activate the machine to make more ice. If it would it would be forbidden to remove ice from the machine on Shabbos.
Sources: Authorities dispute whether or not ice may be made manually on Shabbos (by placing water in the freezer). However, if the ice is made automatically, all would agree that the ice is permitted for use. See Chelkas Yaakov, Orach Chaim no. 128-9; Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah, chap, 10, note 9; Mishnah Berurah 318:107.
