I read that it is permissible to use hearing aids on Shabbat as long as they are switched on before Shabbat. Furthermore some poskim permit adjusting the volume. Many hearing aids are chargeable either by placing them in a charging cradle connected to AC power supply (via a stepdown transformer). Others can be charged in a battery powered cradle that was charged before Shabbat. Are either of these charging methods permissible on Shabbat? Additional information follows to evaluate this: When the hearing aids are put into the cradle, the hearing aids are switched off and an orange LED light comes on indicating the hearing aid is now off. The hearing aids are then charged. On removing the hearing aid it switches on and a green LED light comes on and a while later a sound is emitted to advise that the hearing aid is now on. A fully charged hearing aid will last about 22 hours if left on the whole Shabbat, which means the last two or three hours the hearing aid will no longer be active or 26 hours or more on two day holidays. Is there an issue of muktze once the hearing aid is discharged?

Shalom, Thank you for your question. Firstly, there might be a way “around” the issue. That is, it may be possible to attach the charging cradle to a shabat clock. The hearing aids could be inserted into the cradle when it is off – say when going to bed at night – and then the Shabat clock would turn on from, say, 2am until 6am, and charge until the clock turns off. After that the hearing aids could be removed without any issues. Even though this relies on a form of “grama” (causative actions), this would be allowed in order to facilitate one’s ability to hear, which is considered as a halachic need. However, not all types of charges and hearing aids will allow this type of work around. Another work around would be to get a non-Jew to charge the hearing aid. This would certainly be allowed. If these solutions are not applicable in your particular case, there may be room to charge the hearing aids on Shabat by inserting them into the charger with a “shinui”, that is in an abnormal way. This would lessen the severity of the act, and when coupled with the fact that the charging of the hearing aid (even with the LED lights, and the on / off action) is considered as a Rabbinic prohibition by many opinions, may be allowed in cases of need. However, it must be stressed that this would need an individual ruling for your personal case and would depend on many factors. Let me outline a few of them – 1. would it be possible to purchase a second pair of hearing aids and have them ready charged for when the first pair loses power? 2. What is the level of need of the hearing aids? Without them can the person not function normally, or is it only a minor level of hard of hearing? 3. Will the charging (or lack of charging) on Shabat lead to the fulfillment of mitzvot or not (such as being able to pray, go the minyan, learn with a chevrutah, hear a shiur, or enjoy a Shabat meal)? 4. Would it be possible to change to a type of hearing aid that is more suitable for Shabat use? For a ruling of such a nature a person will need to be in touch personally with a Rabbi who is familiar with these issues and can adjudicate your particular situation. Blessings.