Planting a tent peg into the ground constitutes an act of Boneh - Building. <br>Conceptually, Binyan can be defined as the act of affixing something to the structure of the ground. Pitching a tent into the earth. Putting up beams to build a house. (This is only part of the concept of binyan, which could be more broadly defined as the merging of several single items into a whole. I'm still working on a better phrasing.) <br>
<br>An act of physical violence to the ground is not necessary. Just as harvesting may be accomplished by lifting a potted plant (with a hole a the bottom of the plant) from the ground, Building may be accomplished by rooting something to the ground, even when done without force. Hence, plugging an appliance to the wall is in fact connecting it to the entire infrastructure of the Electrical Power-Grid and buildings that make it up. Binyan.<br>
<br>By the way, this also justifies the halachic view that plug-in appliances do not ned to be toiveled. Since they operate only when they are mechubar l'karka - plugged in, they lose the status of Kli and shed any Tevila requirement.<br>
<br>That would be my way of justifying the Chazon Ish's view, although many disagree with it, including R Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. <br><br>I safely assume that even barring the boneh concern, other objections would be found, as they have been by other poskim who reject the Binyan argument. <br>
<br>I look forward to any disagreements with my explanation or choice of phrasing, or if i got any details wrong.<br><br clear="all">RD<br><div class="gmail_quote"><div> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
So how do I explain<br>
the issur of electricity (boneh) Truth is I do not know enough about circuits<br>
<br>
and electricity to<br>
really do it. But the question will b how<br>
is turning a light switch on building ?<br>
<br>
<br>
And if one could create a type of device that is not boneh, does<br>
that mean some lights could be turned on during Shabbat<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</blockquote></div><br>