Using An Electric Heating Blanket On Shabbat

Using An Electric Heating Blanket On Shabbat Day: Friday Date: January 31, 2014 Parshat: Terumah Source: Yalkut Yosef: 308 If one has a drawer, for example, that contains muktzeh and non muktzeh items making it permissible to open on Shabbat, he is allowed to take out the non muktzeh items even though that will cause the drawer to now become a basees only for muktzeh and therefore it itself will be muktzeh. This is not considered nullifying the drawer from it's permitted status on Shabbat since it is happening inadvertently when he takes out the non muktzeh items and he is not actively placing muktzeh items inside if it. One may use an electric heating blanket on Shabbat if it was plugged in and set before Shabbat. The blanket is not considered to be a basees. One may not adjust any settings though. Ideally one should either write "Shabbat" over the switch or cover it or do something abnormal to it so that if he goes to adjust something he will be reminded that it's Shabbat and he is not allowed to. A watch that has a backlight or has other functions is not muktzeh and may be used on Shabbat. Obviously, one may not use the light or any of the other functions during Shabbat. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org