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Hilchos Shabbos


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#1 Chaim613

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Posted 19 August 2012 - 07:54 PM

Hello Rabbi Shapiro.

I had a few questions about halachos of Shabbos.

1- If someone is in enough sakana to drive to hospital (birth, etc.) other than the person driving the car (if necessary, or cab) may the woman or injured person have someone else go for "support" such as a mother as a coach. In other words is only the birthing mother or injured person plus driver aloud to get in the car?

2- If someone gets word somehow of a relative who is in the hospital on Shabbos and it is likely that they will not live until the end of Shabbos, and they are conscious and want to see you before they pass, may one drive to the hospital which is far away?

3- Last question is more general. What is the violation of riding in a car on Shabbos? The extra weight that makes the engine work harder? What would be the problem with a train (if one could avoid carrying/ buying tickets) ?


thank you very much,
Chaim

#2 Rabbi Shapiro

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Posted 26 August 2012 - 03:31 PM

1 - It is permitted to accompany a Choleh in the car on Shabbos if your presence will provide emotional support which will possibly prevent undue stress that could exacerbate the danger to the Choleh.

2 - That is prohibited, unless the situation is such that it is possible the Choleh will pass away quicker if they do not see the person.

3 - Assuming Techum is not an issue, it is because the more gas is being burned by the passenger's weight, plus it is probably Uvda D'Chol. If the driver of the car is a non-Jew, adding weight is not a problem, since the driver is the one who is considered burning the gasoline. If someone is going to care for a choleh, Uvda D'Chol would not be a problem. Also a car is Muktzeh, but that would not prohibit riding in one, since it would be considered כלי שמלאכתו לאיסור לצורך גופו.

As far as the train goes, the only prohibition would be Uvda D'Chol, and that's only if it's a crowded or rough riding train where you're being tossed about a bit, in a way that is incongruent with the spirit of Shabbos (see Teshuvos Chasam Sofer), but a nice comfortable ride on the Long Island Railroad, for example, would not be prohibited (as well as in any of the cases that Uvdim D'Chol would be permitted) but I would not state this publicly without adding that it is probably in the category of Milsa D'Taimah. (I once told someone who called me right before Shabbos who was stuck in traffic, that he should get to the Bronx, park his car and and get into the subway system, which he was able to do before Shabbos, and then take the train home. Had he stopped and spent Shabbos where he was, he would have been without Kiddush, Lechem Mishna or Seudas Shabbos. Riding a train on Shabbos was a much better alternative.)



#3 Chaim613

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Posted 26 August 2012 - 05:15 PM

From a halachic standpoint if someone had to choose whether to ride a bike or ride in a car as a passenger, which would be less of an issur? Would it make a difference if the driver was a non-Jew?

thank you

#4 Rabbi Shapiro

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Posted 11 September 2012 - 03:23 PM

Ride in the car. Especially if the driver is a non-Jew. If he's a Jew it gets complicated.

#5 Chaim613

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Posted 12 September 2012 - 08:54 AM

If there was a community eruv, would the same apply, or would the bike be the lesser of the two evils?

#6 Chaim613

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Posted 15 September 2012 - 09:06 PM

So it seems that being driven to shul (by a non-Jew) is a relatively "minor" issur? Would it be the same culpability or less on yom tov?

#7 Rabbi Shapiro

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Posted 24 October 2012 - 07:16 AM

So it seems that being driven to shul (by a non-Jew) is a relatively "minor" issur? Would it be the same culpability or less on yom tov?


Shabbos and Yom Tov are the same thing.

But "minor", even in quotes, and even coupled with the adjective "relatively" is not a proper description. Minor carries with it a connotation of unimportance. That is not the case with such a prohibition.

Besides the fact that Uvda D'Chol is a real prohibition as well.



#8 Rabbi Shapiro

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Posted 24 January 2013 - 07:32 AM

If there was a community eruv, would the same apply, or would the bike be the lesser of the two evils?

Depends. Exercise on Shabbos, even without Melachah, is Halachicly prohibited, so if the bike involves even moderate exertion (even if it is enjoyable) the car is still a a better choice. There are other factors as well. If this question ever comes up in actual practice, because of the different factors involved, you should ask your local rabbi. 



#9 Rabbi Shapiro

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Posted 29 January 2013 - 07:21 AM

So it seems that being driven to shul (by a non-Jew) is a relatively "minor" issur? 

It's more of an issur than not going to Shul. The person should rather stay home if those are his choices.