When the B’nos Tzlafchad approach Moshe Rabbeinu, they are intent on pointing out that their father was not part of Korach’s rebellion. Rather, they remind Moshe that “he died on account of his own sin.” (Pinchas 27:3) Rashi tells us that Tzlafchad was the “M’koshesh Eitz” – the wood gatherer who did this Melacha on Shabbos and was therefore Chayav Misa. This was apparently the first time in the Midbar where someone was chayav misa due to chillul Shabbos.
In the last couple of years, we have been introduced to several new technologies suggesting that they would allow us to use cell phones or light switches through the use of a “gerama” device on Shabbos. Predictably, the wagons were quickly circled by the various factions of Judaism as to the permissibility, propriety and indeed the harm which could come from altering Shabbos observance in such a manner. I feel very strongly, perhaps stronger than anything on which I have previously written, that most of these voices, while well intended, are revealing a glaring weakness in our people and our leadership which was not present a mere 40 years ago.
At the outset, before many of those people tune me out and brand me as a “danger” or worse, I wish to declare categorically that I think the use of these new devices would be a terrible detriment to Shabbos and of greater concern, would almost certainly lead to more chilul Shabbos as the lines between what is and isn’t permitted would be radically blurred. However, in our zealousness to condemn these new technologies, I fear we have lost sight of a great opportunity and so revealed how our agenda sometimes gets in the way of our true goals as an Am.
Let’s assume for a moment that the technologies are technically sound – that they have found a technically permissible way to circumvent the Issurim which may be present in using cell phones and light switches today.[1] Let’s further assume that we all agree that using such “tricks” to get around the Issurim is also a concerning development. Why have so few voices been heard lauding the constructive ways such technologies could be used to help and protect our people – to help and protect Shabbos?
Most of the arguments for not using these technologies are virtually the same which were heard 45 years ago when planning began to build the Baltimore ERUV. Many decried how Shabbos would be altered; people would forget the halachos etc. THEY WERE RIGHT!!! As a young boy, part of my Ervu Shabbos ritual was to check my pockets before leaving to shul on Friday evening. How many people do that now? The presence of an Eruv, while certainly bringing the community closer together in many positive ways, has caused many to become totally unfamiliar with the basic laws of Hotzaah. Nevertheless, the Eruv moved forward and was built largely on the back of one very strong, irrefutable argument which had carried the day in Eretz Yisroel in the 1960’s. Building an Eruv, with all its perils, would prevent Chilul Shabbos on a grand scale. Think of all the people who carry accidentally on Shabbos, think of the non observant who carry deliberately on Shabbos. Building an Eruv would prevent Chilul Shabbos by all of those people EVERY WEEK. And that was the overriding concern. Building an Eruv, while having its downside, would enable us to prevent a large amount of Chilul Shabbos from occurring.
I have not heard that as part of the cell phone and light switch discussion. Instead, some decry how these technologies would take away from Shabbos and others on the other side of the spectrum, stand on their soapboxes arguing how beautiful it would be to sip Pina Colada’s on the beach without missing the text message that the Rav’s Drasha is over. Please. Instead, I would have liked to have heard and through this audience which I am able to reach I am calling for, all of us to do what we can to ensure that all future construction in Eretz Yisroel be mandated to incorporate the gerama light switch into their buildings. These switches cost virtually nothing additional over conventional switches and would help prevent Chilul Shabbos on a grand scale never before possible. Imagine if every building in Eretz Yisroel was so equipped. The accidental use of a switch on Shabbos would no longer be a Chilul Shabbos, the non observant would no longer commit this Aveira each time they used a light switch. What an opportunity!! Are we so short sighted and xenophobic that we can possibly let such an opportunity go by? Where are the calls for this?
While various religious parties (and many in America) are always lobbying members of the Knesset for money and policies which favor the observant has anyone made this a pivotal part of their platform? Where are our ethics? Where are our morals? Where is our concern for our fellow Jew? Imagine how we would be viewed by the non-religious parties if the cornerstone of our platform was aimed at preventing Chilul Shabbos instead of harvesting more money for our personal causes. Imagine how differently Shabbos may be viewed. These religious zealots are more concerned about protecting Shabbos than generating monetary concessions at the bargaining table. We should be Zoche to see the day.
How many parts of the Torah tell us to act this way? Only a dozen or more. Kol Yisroel Areivim Ze Lazeh, Lifnei Iver Lo Sitein Michshal, The Medrash in Shemos (25:12) states that if Klal Yisroel would keep one Shabbos properly, than Moshiach Ben Dovid would come. The list goes on and on…..Are these just part of what we teach or is it what we believe and practice? We cannot continue on this path of isolationism to such a degree. Do we need to take steps to protect the Torah and its proper observance – Of Course. But we cannot ever forget our obligation to our fellow Jews, observant or not and the need to help and protect them. We cannot forget our obligation to Hashem and His Shabbos and our need to help achieve its widest possible observance.
It is worth noting that the same Gemara (Shabbas 96b), which identifies the M’koshesh Eitz as Tzlafchad, calls the author who made the identification to task for revealing what the Torah had chosen to protect – Tzlafchad’s identity. Said R’ Yehuda Ben Beseira “Should we embarrass the one who the Torah protected”? Concern for our fellow Jew, even one who was M’chalel Shabbos and Chayuv Misa has always been part and parcel with keeping Hashem’s Torah. While we certainly should advocate protecting our traditional methods of Shabbos observance, we must also remember and do everything in our ability to see that opportunities to protect others from Chilul Shabbos are taken advantage of to the maximum.
[1] Most people are wholly unaware of the primary issur in using electricity on Shabbos. There was a dispute among Poskim in the last century as to whether it may constitute “Eish”. Virtually everyone concluded it did not. The consensus was that it constituted “Boneh” in completing the circuit.
