elevator button = electricity = fire = forbidden action.
Toilet flushing has no electricity so there’s no prohibition. Plus it’d be very icky if you couldn’t flush a toilet. I know this may sound strange, but Jewish law works hard in a certain way to make common sense. plus it works hard to make the sabbath pleasant, and unflushed toilets would not be pleasant.
Toilet flushing has no electricity so there’s no prohibition. Plus it’d be very icky if you couldn’t flush a toilet. I know this may sound strange, but Jewish law works hard in a certain way to make common sense. plus it works hard to make the sabbath pleasant, and unflushed toilets would not be pleasant.
Also, failing to flush a toilet could create a health hazard, thereby potentially endangering someone's life. Even if flushing nominally would violate the Sabbath (it doesn't, unless you have an electric flusher), it would be permitted - nay, mandated - to save a life. There's that common sense thing cropping up. Heck, if one of the oldsters was having a seizure or heart attack, they could push the button, go to their car and drive to the hospital - and they'd be required to do so.