The light bulb in the refrigerator

Hi,

If opening the door of a refrigerator is guaranteed to turn on a light, one may not open the door on Shabbat.

One whose Shabbat food is inside the refrigerator may ask a non-Jew to open the refrigerator door. Although one may not ask a non-Jew to violate Shabbat for one's self, here the non-Jew does not intend directly to turn on the light, and it is for the sake of the mitzvah.

One who will have a great need to re-enter the fridge later for another Shabbat meal may ask the non-Jew to remove the bulb. Although he is now asking the non-Jew to directly violate Shabbat, it is for the sake of a mitzvah and no other options are available.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:68)

Have a great day,
Mordechai