The Jewish law is that if nothing is being done that wasn’t already being done anyhow it’s generally not a violation of the sabbath (cooking things has its own rules). So if the elevator is programmed, before the sabbath, to stop at every floor, then a person getting on it and off of it isn’t desecrating the sabbath by doing so if he needs to. But someone who doesn’t need to do it (i.e. anyone who doesn’t have difficulty walking up and down stairs) still should do just as you say — walk. this is an accommodation for the old folks, people in wheel chairs, etc., of whom there are obviously quite a few in Florida, aka heaven’s waiting room.
a person interested in the technicalities of these rules can spend quite a bit of time mastering them, and at the margins there’s always room to learn more (and to argue).
Seems to me that Shabbat being a day of rest, it is logical that the act of pushing a button incurs expenditure of far less energy and effort than treading flights of stairs.
The Rebbe's have gone from foolishness to mindless extremes concerning Shabbat restrictions.
The Shabbat was and is to be a day of rest for man and beast.
The main stipulations are that there is to be no work and no commerce.
All preparation to avoid such should be made previous in the week.
But the day is to be a day to enjoyed.
I'm sure that while God must in some way admire the meticulous dedication of observant Jews that He also shakes his head sometimes at the unnecessary extremity.
ahhh...
so that explains jewish people giving quarters to non-jews to push the button for them.