Posted on 03/21/2015 11:22:09 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
In a corner of New York City where most residents observe a Sabbath prohibition on the use of cellphones, televisions and other electronics, news of the deadly fire traveled at the speed of footsteps and whispers.
Little by little Saturday, Orthodox Jewish residents in the Midwood section of Brooklyn pieced together the story that had been making national headlines for hours: Seven children perished in an overnight blaze.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
A tragedy beyond belief.
Many photos at this link:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3005283/Fire-Department-7-children-die-Brooklyn-fire.html
Gleaned from the report that the home did not have smoke or fire alarms except in the basement. That is just foolish, there was no religious requirement in the family’s faith to forego them (and if I understand mainstream Orthodox Jewish philosophy, it would be considered a duty to have such things, and probably the local rabbis are going to put the word out about it before long).
There was a catty comment about religion and the electric hot plate, which apparently being used to keep food warm during a Saturday sabbath observation, failed and caught fire. Unless you are going to “pan” (pun intended) crockpots, ordinary nonreligious people have this risk too.
“news of the deadly fire traveled at the speed of footsteps and whispers.”
Oh, puh-lease.
Bad news travels fast.
I think it’s very foolish to leave stuff like that on, over night or when you’re not at home.
I know you are supposed to be able to leave a crockpot all day when you’re at work or whatever, but I would never do that.
They DO get warm on the outside, and I suppose a malfunction is always possible. Besides I have cats and who knows what mayhem they could cause.
I used my crockpot on the weekends only.
I don’t get the no smoke detectors either.
The hot plate for this purpose (or a crock pot that could serve) would need to put out a very low heat so as not to burn the food for 24 hours. So this was a malfunction, which could happen to anything even an electric clock. The fire began while everybody was home. Had there been working smoke alarms, there would have been time for everyone to evacuate, if not also to extinguish the fire.
Eruv doesn’t have anything to do with this situation. Why would you think it does?
Carrying inside the limits of an eruv is generally deemed fine. Switching a current of electricity, not fine (deemed a kind of fire). Or, cooking. The house gentile generally fended for himself or herself and the family would benefit by the generosity of the gentile who understood the situation and sympathized.
None of this is directly biblical. The bible forbids “work” without much elaboration.
Why do you ask?
An eruv is established for carrying that would otherwise be prohibited. House keys, strollers, wheel chairs. I haven’t seen anything in this story related to that.
Once there is a danger to life, no Sabbath rules apply anyway.
Oh, it was just personal curiosity. That and Luke 14:5.
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