JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A significant debate has arisen in recent days over whether the Tel Aviv light rail system can be used immediately. The light rail is closed on Shabbos but the tunnels and railroad works took place on Shabbos as well and therefore deriving benefit from the system could be deemed Maaseh Shabbat which is prohibited.
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A number of poskim suggested that even though one can use the train (since work done by Jews is permitted for others after Shabbos immediately) it would be correct as an act of protest against the shabbos construction not to use the light rail during the first few days.
When Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein was initially asked about the matter a year ago, he responded based on Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, (Chut Hashani 1:22:15) who discussed a bridge built on Shabbos and ruled that the usage of such things should be permitted because a person cannot prohibit the use of land designated for the general public. However Rabbi Karelitz added that there could be an issue of desecration of Hashem’s name if there was flagrant desecration of shabbos in building the bridge and therefore people should refrain from using it.
However when Rabbi Zilberstein’s grandson posed the same question now, adding that the light rail could ease the commute of many wives of avreichim who work in the greater Tel Aviv region, Rav Yitzchok answered that the system can be used immediately, stating that “It is a Kiddush Hashem, since the government said that it would not be working on Shabbos and in this the government demonstrated honor to the Torah, closing all of the stations and trains on Shabbos.
Thus, the ruling reverts to the original one by Rabbi Karelitz that a person cannot prohibit a public resource like land, and the issue of desecration of Hashem’s name is not applicable since there is a Kiddush Hashem in the way the train is not operated on Shabbos.
Vinnew the new Halachic website.
I was waiting for all the great Talmudic minds that read this blog to argue with one of our actual great Talmudic leaders
But then of course what does he know
Terrible – Terrible!! They should not use the light rail at all. In fact they should never use it. It is Prohibited to use, as the Zioynim built it, and all they really want is to entrap Yidden.
Benifit – Then they could close down the station in Bnei Brak, and now we will all have less headaces for many years. Win-Win situation.