Question:
In my parents house, they have a bathroom light pull switch. Someone by mistake pulled the string to turn off the light on Shabbos and remembered before he let go that it was Shabbos. A guest there told him to put the cord between his teeth and then he can let go as it is a shvus Deshus bmokom Tzorech Godol.
Is this correct – I was under the impression that electrisity was forbidden min Hatorah – not miderabanan?
Answer:
There is controversy about the issue of using electricity on Shabbos. According to Chazon Ish (O:CH 50-9) electricity is d’orayso, because it is completing a circuit, however according to R’ S. Z. Auerbach (Minchas Shlomo 1-101) and others it is d’rabonon.
Best wishes
