Welcome to the daily halacha (Jewish law). We know that on Erev Shabbat, in the afternoon, after Chatzot—after midday—the time changes depending on the season and where you’re living. You have to check when Chatzot is: midday, not midnight. We’re talking about Chatzot Hayom, not Chatzot Halayla.
The halacha is that on Erev Shabbat, on the eve of Shabbat, after Chatzot Hayom, after midday, a person cannot do melacha; a person cannot do physical work. One of those things is that a person cannot fix the air conditioning, and a person cannot fix refrigerators on Shabbat. A person is not allowed to sew on Erev Shabbat after Chatzot. There are many halachot that fall under that, but today we’re going to discuss a case. Let’s say that on Erev Shabbat, Friday afternoon, a person’s air conditioning breaks or his fridge breaks. Is he allowed to order a handyman to come fix the fridge or the air conditioning on Erev Shabbat after Chatzot, after midday? Or is he not allowed? Because then you do melacha—you do work—after midday, after Chatzot Hayom, on Erev Shabbat.
Chacham Ovadia says that if there’s a need for the air conditioning on Shabbat—let’s say it’s very hot outside—and if there’s a need for the fridge on Shabbat, which is the case 99% of the time—you need the fridge; you don’t want your food to get spoiled—you’re allowed to call a plumber, a technician, or a handyman, even though it’s after Chatzot Hayom, after midday, to have it fixed for Shabbat, even though the repair person is doing a melacha. Consider LeTzorech Shabbat, because you need the fridge to work on Shabbat, and you need the air conditioning to be on on Shabbat to work. Otherwise, there will be pain, tzaar, on Shabbat. So because it’s LeTzorech Shabbat, it’s for the need of Shabbat, even though it’s after Chatzot Hayom, you’re allowed to do the melacha.