Driving on Shabbat
Why is driving a car on Shabbat forbidden for the religious Jew? Does it depend on how cars work or is there something else to the equation? Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman as he explores halacha and driving on Shabbat.
Driving on Shabbat: Driving on Shabbat
Helo Everyone,
The question of driving on Shabbat can be divided into several “sub-questions.” First we need to understand what sort of vehicle is to be used? Are we asking about a vehicle using an internal combustion engine or does the vehicle use electricity? We will see that there is a distinction to be made between the two types of vehicles. Second, why are we asking about Shabbat and not about Yom Tov? Finally we need to ask if driving is absolutely totally forbidden or are there circumstances which may permit driving.?
I hope to cover as much as I can to address these questions in the coming two weeks.
Driving on Shabbat: Driving on Shabbat
Hello Everyone,
Last week we begand our discussion of driving on Shabbat by examining the issue of operating a vehiclr which uses an internal combustion engine. Since those engines involve the burning of a fuel their use on on Shabbat would be an איסור תורה of הערה-burning.
Today we will discuss the operation of vehicles which use an electric motor. This question requires a more nuanced response because the use of electical appliances on Shabbat was debated by two of the greatest Halachic authorities of the past century. These teo authorities were the Chazon Ish zt”l and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l.
In the absence of a Sanhedrin to whom the question could be presented for a vote both opinions “exist.” Some authorities take a very strict view on questions involving the use of electrical appliances on Shabbat and some are lenient. Therefore some authorities absolutely forbid the operation of electrical vehicls on Shabbat and some premit this under certain circumstances.
We will bli neder talk about this today.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.