Uvda D'Chol Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

21 06, 2026

Uber or Bicycle on Shabbat: Visiting Baby and Wife in the NICU

June 21st, 2026|Amirah LeGoy, Choleh, Eiruv, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

A family has a premature baby in the NICU. Barukh Hashem (thank God), the baby is doing okay, but he needs to remain there until he gets bigger and stronger.

The parents have two other very young children at home, and they want to be with their children while also being present for their baby in the hospital. The mother is planning to go back and forth over Shavuot and Shabbat using pre-ordered Ubers. The father can either bike or take an Uber.

Is there a preference between biking and taking an Uber?

ANSWER

8 02, 2026

Charging Hearing Aids on Shabbat

February 8th, 2026|Choleh, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Technology, Technology, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

1 02, 2026

Managing Motion-sensor Lights in Hallways/stairwells on Shabbat

February 1st, 2026|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Shulchan Arukh, Technology, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

New York, NY

A young man told me that his building recently installed motion-sensor lights in the stairwell and hallways, and that it is impossible to avoid triggering them. He will verify, but we are fairly certain that they are LED lights. What should we advise in this situation, especially given that this is becoming increasingly common?

ANSWER

Yes, this is going to become a widespread issue, especially as NYC has already enacted a law requiring buildings to install energy-saving motion sensors in

25 07, 2024

Using a Vegetable Spiralizer on Shabbat

July 25th, 2024|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Technology, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

Israel

May one use a spiralizer on Shabbat, assuming one is making vegetable noodles that include the vegetable’s peel (e.g. zucchini zoodles)?

ANSWER

I can’t see why this wouldn’t be permissible; it just cuts something up. I imagine the question here is whether it is uvda di’chol, but that would not be a problem, since this is something that is done in the home context. As I wrote elsewhere

Rav Moshe (Igrot Moshe OH 4:74, Tochein 4) was asked whether an egg- or cheese-cutter should be forbidden on the basis of uvda di’chol. He first points out the irony that a labor-saving device would

20 02, 2023

Attending a March for Women’s Rights on Shabbat

February 20th, 2023|Orach Chayim, Shabbat, Uvda D'Chol|

QUESTION

Paris, France

There is an important march for women’s rights in Paris on Shabbat. Several members of my shul (all women) are asking whether they may go if they are not carrying anything (there is no eruv). I am wondering whether this is really the spirit of Shabbat. Do Jews usually march on Shabbat?

ANSWER

Shabbat 150a states,

9 02, 2023

Adjusting the Temperature on an Electric Countertop Burner on Yom Tov

February 9th, 2023|Electricity, Orach Chayim, Technology, Uvda D'Chol, Yom Tov|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

If I have an electric countertop burner that I put on a timer for yom tov, can I adjust the heat setting while the burner is on? Does it matter if I’m turning the heat up when the burner is already on or down when it’s already off (there’s a light that says if it’s currently heating or not)?

Do you have general guidelines on interacting with electronic devices on Shabbat/Yom Tov?

ANSWER

There are two issues here—havarah/mekhabeh (igniting/extinguishing), and use of electronics.

1. Regarding havarah/mekhabeh (igniting/extinguishing)
One

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