Working Around God: Technology, the Pace of Life, and the Shabbos Elevator

The Atlantic ^ | Jun 14 2014 | Dominic Pettman

[Alex Murphy]

I live in a historically Jewish building in New York City. On most days, its two elevators service each section of this rather monolithic structure—just enough to keep up with the flow of residents going up and down. But come Friday evening, one of the cars is switched into Shabbos mode, meaning that it stops at every single floor automatically, backing the tenants up like resentful clogs in beige-yellow arteries. It does so for religious reasons, since many observant Jews avoid pressing electric buttons on Shabbat.

[SNIP]

Shabbos (or Shabbat) Elevators are common in Israel and in other dense centers within Jewish communities. Indeed, even Israeli hospitals have them. The law that forbids using switches is one of many such provisions and prohibitions known as Halakha, a collection of Biblical, Talmudic, and Rabbinical thou-shalts and shalt-nots. The commandment that forbids using electricity strikes the non-Orthodox person as particularly strange, as if the Sabbath exists in a different temporal continuum than day-to-day life. Nevertheless, in 2001, Israel’s government decreed that all residential and public high-rise structures with more than one elevator must henceforth dedicate one of these to such holy duty. For those practicing Jews that don’t have a “kosher” elevator, a Shabbes Goy is the next best option, an obliging non-Jewish person who pushes buttons or flips switches on behalf of the observant one. The etiquette and ethics of asking is hotly debated: some would say that asking someone to carry out an act that you wouldn’t do for yourself violates Shabbat. Such innovations or contrivances to circumvent the law are often considered dubious loopholes by those outside the fold. Indeed, many of those within the Orthodox community express skepticism, interpreting merely being in an elevator on the Sabbath as cheating.

[Alex Murphy]

I live in a historically Jewish building in New York City. On most days, its two elevators service each section of this rather monolithic structure—just enough to keep up with the flow of residents going up and down. But come Friday evening, one of the cars is switched into Shabbos mode, meaning that it stops at every single floor automatically, backing the tenants up like resentful clogs in beige-yellow arteries. It does so for religious reasons, since many observant Jews avoid pressing electric buttons on Shabbat....For those practicing Jews that don’t have a “kosher” elevator, a Shabbes Goy is the next best option, an obliging non-Jewish person who pushes buttons or flips switches on behalf of the observant one.

[I want the USA back]

Pushing or not pushing a button does not put one closer to God.

[Oberon]

Pushing or not pushing a button does not put one closer to God.

No... but I wish more people had this heart to do God's will.

[freedumb2003]

>>Pushing or not pushing a button does not put one closer to God.<<

Not here at FR ;)

[ravenwolf]

No... but I wish more people had this heart to do God’s will.

---

I agree, but what is Gods will? in the Christian world a person would think all we would have to do is read what Jesus told us to do and do it.

But that does not seem to be the case with most Christians, we have to put on some kind of show, we have to know the secret words or symbols.

What Jesus taught in plain words are ignored, we have to meditate on some vague scripture that the professors of religion have made into a mountain but what Jesus said that any grade school drop out can understand seems to be completely forgotten.

That seems to be the case with the Jews also.

[Oberon]

I agree, but what is Gods will?

This is a separate question, and one that is moot unless you're starting with people who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

The word says that people who seek the Kingdom of God will find it, which is a promise I must respect (Matthew 7:7-8). But who will seek God if he has no desire to do the will of God?

[ansel12]

This kind of dedication must explain why Jews are famous for being pro-life. pro-God voters.

Yeah right.

[ravenwolf]

This is a separate question, and one that is moot unless you’re starting with people who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

---

Ok, I thought it was pretty simple but I guess simple to some are not simple to every one, sorry.

[Salvation]

LOL! I’m waiting for a button that will do my dishes and clean my house.

LOL!

[Oberon]

My point was, my original post had nothing to do with theological concerns. Your question... "What is God's will?" ...is a theological question.

I think that from God's point of view, He would probably rather have somebody really want to do His will and not have the first clue how to go about it, than to have someone who is quite clear on what His will is and doesn't care.

[ravenwolf]

No... but I wish more people had this heart to do God’s will.

---

Ok, I will rephrase it.

Do you believe religion which involves some one not pushing a button in an elevator is Gods will?

or for that matter do you believe religion is gods will?

[Oberon]

Do you believe religion which involves some one not pushing a button in an elevator is Gods will?

If I did believe that, I would be an Orthodox Jew... which I am not.

Pointing out what we see as absurdities in the minutiae of the religious practice of other faiths is no more beneficial than not pushing that button, however.

For the record, I think they're getting it wrong. For my part, I have to depend on the grace of God for all the stuff *I* get wrong. I guess those folks are probably depending on the same thing.

[cynwoody]

For those practicing Jews that don’t have a “kosher” elevator, a Shabbes Goy is the next best option, an obliging non-Jewish person who pushes buttons or flips switches on behalf of the observant one.

How about we equip the elevator with voice response?

"Floor 17". "Proceeding to 17." How would that differ from asking a Goy to push 17?

[ravenwolf]

Pointing out what we see as absurdities in the minutiae of the religious practice of other faiths is no more beneficial than not pushing that button, however.

---

That was my whole point, if we can see what we think is useless in any religion other than our own, ( which I do not have )

Why can`t we see it in our own?

The Jews and gentile Christians are supposed to be of the same tribes by Adoption but all of the religion has not only separated Christians from the Jews who believe in Christ but also separated Christians.

This did not happen by Preaching the words of Jesus but by preaching every ones word except Jesus.

[Zionist Conspirator]

The Jews and gentile Christians are supposed to be of the same tribes by Adoption

This is the teaching of certain forms of chrstianity, not of Judaism.

You pro-Jewish chrstians are sweet and mean well, but I wish you would occasionally try to get out of your own heads for just a moment. And the idea that you support Jews only from a chrstian standpoint--only with the permission of the "new testament" and as if the TaNa"KH of itself means nothing--does not send a good message.

[ravenwolf]

This is the teaching of certain forms of chrstianity, not of Judaism.

---

Ok, I confess the adoption thing came from Paul which I am not even sure was an apostle.

You pro-Jewish chrstians are sweet and mean well,>>>>>

well thank you very much, you must be sweet also.

And the idea that you support Jews only from a chrstian standpoint—only with the permission of the “new testament” and as if the TaNa”KH of itself means nothing—does not send a good message.>>>>>

I don`t even know what the TaNa”KH is, I have a daughter who might, since she got most of the way through grade school and learned Hebrew, married a Jew who was a worthless cuss and was welcomed into the synagogue because of her maiden name.

I never was interested in it myself but my name comes from the tribe of Benjamin.

I believe in Jesus who is the Christ, his 12 Apostles who never preached anything that Jesus did not.

Paul, well....