Driving on Shabbat
Encyclopedia
According to Jewish law
, the operation of a motor vehicle
constitutes multiple violations of the prohibited activities on Shabbat
. Though Jewish law is based on texts that existed long before the existence of the automobile
, various writings prohibit during Shabbat the actions that take place as a result of driving. The Torah
thus prohibits driving on the basis that a labor is being performed by the act of operating a motor vehicle. The vehicle's ignition
combusts fuel, which by some is considered to violate one of the 39 prohibited activities on Shabbat, as well as creating a spark, which is likewise considered to violate a related rabbinic prohibition. ("Igniting a fire"). Isaiah
58:13-14 speaks out against travel during Shabbat. Modern vehicles also have many other electrical components, such as lights, that are continually turned on and off during the course of a vehicle's operation, often without the driver's awareness. Besides, the laws of Shabbat place limits on the distance one may travel beyond the city/town where one is spending Shabbat, regardless of the method of transportation.
However, Jews of varying backgrounds have taken differing views on the matter, either finding various interpretations to permit and justify at least some driving on Shabbat, either solely for synagogue attendance or for other personal reasons as well, or else by disregarding the Jewish laws altogether.
Some feel that driving involves less effort than walking. Others feel that those who live too far from a synagogue would be cut off from religious life altogether if they do not drive to reach the synagogue, and the benefits outweigh full Shabbat observance.
In Israel, some ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods are barricaded on Shabbat to prevent driving. In Mea Shearim
, residents have been known to throw stones at those driving through their neighborhoods on Shabbat. Jerusalem and some other Israeli cities with heavy Orthodox populations, public buses do not operate during Shabbat. Part of the reason public funding of religious education is justified is that part of the population views it as "sinful" to drive on Shabbat, and is annoyed by those who drive through their neighborhoods on the Shabbat.
generally prohibits driving during Shabbat under all circumstances except for a life-threatening emergency.
Orthodox Jews have never challenged prohibitions against driving on Shabbat, but rather have strived to make any accommodations necessary to avoid this activity, including living within walking distance of a synagogue
and other places where they wish to visit regularly during Shabbat, walking long distances when the need arises, and staying at home throughout Shabbat when this is not possible. Those who are travelling away from their hometown will attempt to find a hotel
or other accommodations within a practical walk of their Shabbat needs.
While riding an animal, the primary ancient form of transportation, during Shabbat is rabbincally prohibited, the operation of an automobile is considered a direct violation of Torah law due to the burning of fuel, among other issues. Additionally, those who do drive frequently travel greater distances than those who walk, thereby leaving the boundaries of the local eruv
and violating those Shabbat laws pertaining to traveling beyond the "boundary distance" (tehum) and transferring between a public and private domain (hotza'ah).
Orthodox Jews do not view the use of the automobile in order to fulfill the mitzvah
of attending synagogue as acceptable. In Orthodox Judaism, committing a sin in order to fulfill a mitzvah other than saving a human life (Pikuach Nefesh
) is not considered Halachically acceptable, and if one cannot reach a synagogue by walking, it is preferable to pray at home. In particular, Orthodox Judaism frowns upon those who purchase a home too far to walk to a synagogue, then state they can only reach the synagogue by car, or those who live within a practical walk to a synagogue, but prefer attendance at one that can only be reached by car from their home, though a minority of Orthodox rabbis have viewed that Yoma
85b, which states "Desecrate one Sabbath so that you may be able to observe more Sabbaths" may be justification for driving during Shabbat in order to prevent assimilation
.
Certain professionals who perform life-saving duties, such as physician
s, may be permitted to drive during Shabbat to their place of employment in order to perform these duties, and may be permitted to drive home following the completion of their work. A non-professional who drives to a hospital during an emergency is not permitted to drive home, once the emergency situation has been stabilized. Parking and turning off the vehicle may not be permitted under these circumstances either, although moving the car out of the emergency lane is viewed with more leniency.
In practice, though truly Orthodox Jews generally do not drive during the Sabbath, some Jews use their vehicles to reach Orthodox synagogues for services. Some Modern Orthodox synagogues have a large number of non-Orthodox congregants who drive to their services. While some of these facilities allow congregants to park in their own lots, others will close off their parking and require those who drive to park elsewhere.
In Israel, streets in some Haredi neighborhoods are closed off during Shabbat in order to prevent non-Shabbat-observers from driving.
examined the issue of driving on Shabbat during the 1950s and decided to allow limited use of the automobile strictly for the purpose of attending synagogue services. The need to reexamine the ruling came in response to demographic shifts, as many Jews were moving into suburban communities and no longer in walking distance of their synagogues. In accordance with these rulings, driving is not permitted for any other reasons, including attendance at a social function at the synagogue that has no prayer involved (such as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah reception), as doing so is viewed as serving man and not God. Nevertheless, many Conservative Jews take this leniency further to allow driving for almost any reason they wish. Some Conservative Jews who follow a more stringent practice will refrain from driving at all during Shabbat, or will reserve driving for rare occasions for which they find it unavoidable.
The Conservative movement made the decision to permit driving to synagogue based on the changes in the way people were living. Since most people in the modern world live too far from a synagogue to walk, few Jews would possibly be able to attend synagogue without driving, which they believe could lead to the collapse of Jewish observance.
There are some within the Conservative movement, however, who frown upon the Conservative practice of driving during Shabbat on the basis that other Jewish laws are typically broken when driving takes place. These include the handling of one's wallet or purse (a muktzah
item), since it contains one's driver's license
; the purchase of gasoline
, a business transaction; and the distance of travel, which usually extends outside the boundaries of an eruv.
During the 1990s, the Masorti
Movement in Israel took the stricter view and banned all driving on Shabbat on the basis that no one in Israel works on Shabbat, and that it is possible to pray at home simply by opening a siddur
.
More importantly, aside from all the 'minor' transgressions above, according to many authorities, one is actually transgressing the biblical decree not to ignite a fire on Shabbat.
, which traditionally follows little, if any, halakha
, generally does not prohibit, and has long permitted driving during Shabbat. Most members of Reform temples reach services by automobile, and consider driving for any other reason acceptable, such as running errands or enjoying various forms of entertainment. Additionally, the Reform movement permits use of electronic equipment in the vehicle, such as the radio.
The rationale for permitting driving on Shabbat is that society has become very car-dependent, and without driving, reaching the temple would become impossible and Shabbat could not be properly observed. But it has still been criticized as making Shabbat into a secular Saturday, and that rushing around makes the day not restful.
during Shabbat.
Some Orthodox rabbis have ruled that besides the appearance being given, since a passenger being present in a vehicle may cause the vehicle to require additional fuel versus the absence of that passenger, this practice is generally not permitted. However, it may be permissible if a Jew has a medical reason to be transported in a vehicle that is short of life-threatening.
, leave the engine
running, and leave the door open, since closing the door will cause the dome light to turn off. A gentile should then be asked to park the car. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
is famous for allowing someone in this position to drive home, even though there is no medical reason to drive home, so that someone who is in need of medical treatment will not forgo that treatment because they would be stuck at the hospital until the end of Shabbat. Others require that travel home from the hospital be conducted by a non-Jew, for example a taxi driver.
Labor
is considered a life-threatening emergency, thereby permitted driving during Shabbat. If a woman is transported to the hospital as a result of false labor, and then sent home, she must be driven home by a gentile.
that observant Jews, who abide by the prohibition of driving, drive while in the army or as part of the security watch on their town.
and has the need to receive a treatment during Shabbat that cannot otherwise be avoided, transportation provided by a gentile can be arranged prior to Shabbat, in which the gentile opens and closes the doors of the car for the Jew. All arrangements must be made in advance.
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
, the operation of a motor vehicle
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
constitutes multiple violations of the prohibited activities on Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
. Though Jewish law is based on texts that existed long before the existence of the automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, various writings prohibit during Shabbat the actions that take place as a result of driving. The Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
thus prohibits driving on the basis that a labor is being performed by the act of operating a motor vehicle. The vehicle's ignition
Ignition system
An ignition system is a system for igniting a fuel-air mixture. Ignition systems are well known in the field of internal combustion engines such as those used in petrol engines used to power the majority of motor vehicles, but they are also used in many other applications such as in oil-fired and...
combusts fuel, which by some is considered to violate one of the 39 prohibited activities on Shabbat, as well as creating a spark, which is likewise considered to violate a related rabbinic prohibition. ("Igniting a fire"). Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
58:13-14 speaks out against travel during Shabbat. Modern vehicles also have many other electrical components, such as lights, that are continually turned on and off during the course of a vehicle's operation, often without the driver's awareness. Besides, the laws of Shabbat place limits on the distance one may travel beyond the city/town where one is spending Shabbat, regardless of the method of transportation.
However, Jews of varying backgrounds have taken differing views on the matter, either finding various interpretations to permit and justify at least some driving on Shabbat, either solely for synagogue attendance or for other personal reasons as well, or else by disregarding the Jewish laws altogether.
Some feel that driving involves less effort than walking. Others feel that those who live too far from a synagogue would be cut off from religious life altogether if they do not drive to reach the synagogue, and the benefits outweigh full Shabbat observance.
In Israel, some ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods are barricaded on Shabbat to prevent driving. In Mea Shearim
Mea Shearim
Mea Shearim is one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Israel. It is populated mainly by Haredi Jews and was built by the original settlers of the Yishuv haYashan.-Name:...
, residents have been known to throw stones at those driving through their neighborhoods on Shabbat. Jerusalem and some other Israeli cities with heavy Orthodox populations, public buses do not operate during Shabbat. Part of the reason public funding of religious education is justified is that part of the population views it as "sinful" to drive on Shabbat, and is annoyed by those who drive through their neighborhoods on the Shabbat.
Orthodox
OrthodoxyOrthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
generally prohibits driving during Shabbat under all circumstances except for a life-threatening emergency.
Orthodox Jews have never challenged prohibitions against driving on Shabbat, but rather have strived to make any accommodations necessary to avoid this activity, including living within walking distance of a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
and other places where they wish to visit regularly during Shabbat, walking long distances when the need arises, and staying at home throughout Shabbat when this is not possible. Those who are travelling away from their hometown will attempt to find a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
or other accommodations within a practical walk of their Shabbat needs.
While riding an animal, the primary ancient form of transportation, during Shabbat is rabbincally prohibited, the operation of an automobile is considered a direct violation of Torah law due to the burning of fuel, among other issues. Additionally, those who do drive frequently travel greater distances than those who walk, thereby leaving the boundaries of the local eruv
Eruv
An Eruv is a ritual enclosure around most Orthodox Jewish and Conservative Jewish homes or communities. In such communities, an Eruv is seen to enable the carrying of objects out of doors on the Jewish Sabbath that would otherwise be forbidden by Torah law...
and violating those Shabbat laws pertaining to traveling beyond the "boundary distance" (tehum) and transferring between a public and private domain (hotza'ah).
Orthodox Jews do not view the use of the automobile in order to fulfill the mitzvah
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
of attending synagogue as acceptable. In Orthodox Judaism, committing a sin in order to fulfill a mitzvah other than saving a human life (Pikuach Nefesh
Pikuach Nefesh
The Hebrew term pikuakh nefesh describes the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration...
) is not considered Halachically acceptable, and if one cannot reach a synagogue by walking, it is preferable to pray at home. In particular, Orthodox Judaism frowns upon those who purchase a home too far to walk to a synagogue, then state they can only reach the synagogue by car, or those who live within a practical walk to a synagogue, but prefer attendance at one that can only be reached by car from their home, though a minority of Orthodox rabbis have viewed that Yoma
Yoma
Yoma is the fifth tractate of Seder Moed of the Mishnah and of the Talmud. It is concerned mainly with the laws of the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur, on which Jews atone for their sins from the previous year...
85b, which states "Desecrate one Sabbath so that you may be able to observe more Sabbaths" may be justification for driving during Shabbat in order to prevent assimilation
Jewish assimilation
Jewish assimilation refers to the cultural assimilation and social integration of Jews in their surrounding culture. Assimilation became legally possible in Europe during the Age of Enlightenment.-Background:Judaism forbids the worship of other gods...
.
Certain professionals who perform life-saving duties, such as physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s, may be permitted to drive during Shabbat to their place of employment in order to perform these duties, and may be permitted to drive home following the completion of their work. A non-professional who drives to a hospital during an emergency is not permitted to drive home, once the emergency situation has been stabilized. Parking and turning off the vehicle may not be permitted under these circumstances either, although moving the car out of the emergency lane is viewed with more leniency.
In practice, though truly Orthodox Jews generally do not drive during the Sabbath, some Jews use their vehicles to reach Orthodox synagogues for services. Some Modern Orthodox synagogues have a large number of non-Orthodox congregants who drive to their services. While some of these facilities allow congregants to park in their own lots, others will close off their parking and require those who drive to park elsewhere.
In Israel, streets in some Haredi neighborhoods are closed off during Shabbat in order to prevent non-Shabbat-observers from driving.
Conservative
The Conservative MovementConservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
examined the issue of driving on Shabbat during the 1950s and decided to allow limited use of the automobile strictly for the purpose of attending synagogue services. The need to reexamine the ruling came in response to demographic shifts, as many Jews were moving into suburban communities and no longer in walking distance of their synagogues. In accordance with these rulings, driving is not permitted for any other reasons, including attendance at a social function at the synagogue that has no prayer involved (such as a Bar or Bat Mitzvah reception), as doing so is viewed as serving man and not God. Nevertheless, many Conservative Jews take this leniency further to allow driving for almost any reason they wish. Some Conservative Jews who follow a more stringent practice will refrain from driving at all during Shabbat, or will reserve driving for rare occasions for which they find it unavoidable.
The Conservative movement made the decision to permit driving to synagogue based on the changes in the way people were living. Since most people in the modern world live too far from a synagogue to walk, few Jews would possibly be able to attend synagogue without driving, which they believe could lead to the collapse of Jewish observance.
There are some within the Conservative movement, however, who frown upon the Conservative practice of driving during Shabbat on the basis that other Jewish laws are typically broken when driving takes place. These include the handling of one's wallet or purse (a muktzah
Muktzah
Muktza is a Hebrew word that means "separated", or "set aside." The generally accepted view regarding these items is that they may be touched though not moved during Shabbat or Yom Tov , some extend this prohibition to the actual handling of these items...
item), since it contains one's driver's license
Driver's license
A driver's license/licence , or driving licence is an official document which states that a person may operate a motorized vehicle, such as a motorcycle, car, truck or a bus, on a public roadway. Most U.S...
; the purchase of gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
, a business transaction; and the distance of travel, which usually extends outside the boundaries of an eruv.
During the 1990s, the Masorti
Masorti
The Masorti Movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in Israel and other countries outside Canada and U.S. Masorti means "traditional" in Hebrew...
Movement in Israel took the stricter view and banned all driving on Shabbat on the basis that no one in Israel works on Shabbat, and that it is possible to pray at home simply by opening a siddur
Siddur
A siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
.
More importantly, aside from all the 'minor' transgressions above, according to many authorities, one is actually transgressing the biblical decree not to ignite a fire on Shabbat.
Reform
Reform JudaismReform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, which traditionally follows little, if any, halakha
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
, generally does not prohibit, and has long permitted driving during Shabbat. Most members of Reform temples reach services by automobile, and consider driving for any other reason acceptable, such as running errands or enjoying various forms of entertainment. Additionally, the Reform movement permits use of electronic equipment in the vehicle, such as the radio.
The rationale for permitting driving on Shabbat is that society has become very car-dependent, and without driving, reaching the temple would become impossible and Shabbat could not be properly observed. But it has still been criticized as making Shabbat into a secular Saturday, and that rushing around makes the day not restful.
Riding in a vehicle
While the operation of a motor vehicle clearly violates Shabbat laws, another question is if it is permissible to ride as a passenger in a vehicle driven by a gentileGentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
during Shabbat.
Some Orthodox rabbis have ruled that besides the appearance being given, since a passenger being present in a vehicle may cause the vehicle to require additional fuel versus the absence of that passenger, this practice is generally not permitted. However, it may be permissible if a Jew has a medical reason to be transported in a vehicle that is short of life-threatening.
Life-threatening emergencies
In the event of a life-threatening emergency, all of the laws of Shabbat (including the prohibition of driving) are suspended.Medical Emergencies
When it is necessary to drive someone to the hospital, the driver must put the car in parkParking pawl
A parking pawl is a device fitted to a motor vehicle's automatic transmission in order for it to lock up the transmission. It is engaged when the transmission shift lever selector is placed in the Park position, which is always the first position in all cars sold in the United States since 1965 A...
, leave the engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
running, and leave the door open, since closing the door will cause the dome light to turn off. A gentile should then be asked to park the car. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
is famous for allowing someone in this position to drive home, even though there is no medical reason to drive home, so that someone who is in need of medical treatment will not forgo that treatment because they would be stuck at the hospital until the end of Shabbat. Others require that travel home from the hospital be conducted by a non-Jew, for example a taxi driver.
Visiting others in hospital
If a close relative is taken by ambulance to the hospital on Shabbos, it may be permissible to accompany that relative. If the relative is not coherent, others may be required to provide authorization for life-saving treatment, and the mere presence of visitors can have a salutary effect on patients.Labor
Labor
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
is considered a life-threatening emergency, thereby permitted driving during Shabbat. If a woman is transported to the hospital as a result of false labor, and then sent home, she must be driven home by a gentile.
Security
When there is a threat on human life from belligerent foes, driving is permitted. Therefore, police, army, and other security personnel are permitted to drive. It is common in IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
that observant Jews, who abide by the prohibition of driving, drive while in the army or as part of the security watch on their town.
Non-life-threatening health problems
When a medical issue occurs that is not considered life-threatening, but is of discomfort to a person, or may endanger one's limb, it is acceptable to ask a gentile if available to drive the patient to a hospital or physicianFertility treatment
Some rabbinical authorities have ruled that in the event that a couple is undergoing treatment for infertilityInfertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
and has the need to receive a treatment during Shabbat that cannot otherwise be avoided, transportation provided by a gentile can be arranged prior to Shabbat, in which the gentile opens and closes the doors of the car for the Jew. All arrangements must be made in advance.