Q. See question above. When one is travelling and due to today’s weight restrictions did not take seforim with him, can he leave his laptop on with the daf on the screen, so he can learn it during Shabbat?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that learning a daf from a laptop, a tablet, a computer screen or an iPhone, should not be done on Shabbos, even if it was left on before Shabbos began and the keyboard or control buttons are taped or covered. Since one may become engrossed in his learning and alter them, without thinking. This case is not comparable to learning Torah by a normal light that could be modified, since that is unusual when the light is already good and is therefore permitted. (See Ch. Bame Madlikin, and Shulchan Aruch O.H 264). Not so with the above instruments, where one is used to constantly altering them regardless.
Besides, one may easily approach the hotel desk or business center with his laptop etc. and ask them to print that page.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
