Shabbat: T (Talking, Transportation, Trees)

Richard B. Aiken

TALKING

Talking about Weekday Subjects

You may talk about weekday subjects on Shabbat if what you are discussing already happened, but you may not discuss plans to do activities that involve any type of melacha, even d'rabanan.

TAPING

Taping Items Together

You may not tape items together on Shabbat if you intend for them to stay attached for more than 24 hours.

Taping Card to Hotel Room Door

You may tape a card to a hotel room door on Shabbat in order to prevent its locking you out.

TELEPHONES

If Shabbat is over where you are, you may speak by phone to non-Jews in a place where it is still Shabbat.

TOILET

Flushing Toilet

Flushing a toilet on Shabbat is not a violation of transferring from domain to domain.

REASON: It is considered too small a space to be a domain.

NOTE: If the water comes from a pump-operated well, such as in rural or remote areas, consult a rabbi.

TRANSPORTATION

Introduction to Shabbat and Transportation

It is best to avoid traveling at all on Shabbat.

AIRPLANES

Flying before Shabbat for Business

You may leave until sunset on Friday if you are flying for business, but you must be VERY careful to avoid doing any melacha while transiting Shabbat in flight!

Flying before Shabbat and Flight Delayed

SITUATION: You are are flying for business on Friday and the flight is delayed. The flight will leave after sunset.

WHAT TO DO: You may stay on the airplaine.

NOTE: If you are flying for pleasure, you must get off the plane before sunset (if possible).

Flying through Shabbat for Business

If you fly through Shabbat (permitted for business only), you must keep even Shabbat d'rabanan while flying over the area of the earth that is in Shabbat.

If you fly east (such as from Asia to the US, across the Pacific) after Shabbat is over, you will re-enter Shabbat and may not do melacha on the airplane. Say the Shabbat prayers and kiddush at the appropriate local time where you are flying.

FLYING FOR PLEASURE

How Much Time To Allow When Flying for Pleasure

You must not travel during any part of Shabbat if you are flying for pleasure. You must therefore leave with enough time to land and get to an accommodation before local Shabbat starts at your destination.

LANDING

Landing at Connected Jetway

If you land before local sunset on Saturday and the jetway is connected to the terminal building, you may disembark but you must stay in the terminal building until Shabbat is over.

Landing at Unconnected Jetway

If the jetway is a ladder or not connected to the terminal, you must stay on the plane until after dark.

Police Orders To Leave Airport

If you land at an airport on Shabbat and the police or other authority orders you to leave, you may do so.

Taking Luggage from Airport

If you are ordered to take your bags outside of the airport or the building after landing on Shabbat, a non-Jew should take them for you.

BOATS

Embarking for Business Trip

You may embark on a cruise for business until sunset on Friday. You must be on board before sunset, but the ship does not need to depart before sunset. You may not transact business on Shabbat.

Embarking for Pleasure Trip

You must leave by Tuesday at sunset for a pleasure cruise if you will still be on the cruise at Friday sunset. The ship must have departed before sunset on Tuesday.

DOCKING

Docking before Sunset Friday

If your ship docks before sunset on Friday, you may get off on Saturday. Techum Shabbat is measured from the boat.

Docking after Sunset Friday

If the ship was not yet docked at sunset on Friday, you must stay on board during Shabbat.

Moored before Friday

If the ship was moored (anchored to the sea bottom without being connected to dry land) in shallow water before sunset on Friday, you may wade to shore as long as:

You don't get your clothes wet, and

You dry off your legs before walking on dry land.

You may not carry anything with you.

CARS/VEHICLES

Riding with Non-Jewish Driver

You may ride in a vehicle with a non-Jewish driver on Shabbat only if:

He or she doesn't do anything especially for you (for instance, the non-Jew is driving somewhere anyway and offers you a ride for free), and

There is no possibility of mar'it ayin (appearing to do something not allowed, even though the act is technically allowed).

However:

You must not open a door (which will turn on a light) or do any other melacha while riding with a non-Jewish driver on Shabbat.

You may continue to ride on a bus or other public vehicle driven by a non-Jew even once the sun sets on Friday if you have already paid (or if it is free) and if the vehicle is not being driven just for you.

You may not continue to ride in a car or taxi that is being driven for you once the sun sets on Friday even if you have already paid for it or if it is free, unless it will be dangerous for you to get out of the vehicle and walk to a safe place.

You may not invite for a Shabbat meal Jews who may drive themselves to your home on Shabbat unless there is more than a 50% chance that they will arrive without driving on Shabbat.

TREES

Tree Rope

You may only use a tree rope for swinging or climbing if separated from the tree by another entity, such as another rope, tire, or board.

Tree House

You may use a tree house on Shabbat only if both the tree house and access to it are completely separate from the tree. You might build such a tree house by putting tires on top of the tree branch and then building the house on top of the tires. The ladder or other access to the tree house must likewise be separated from the tree.

Walking between Trees/Bushes

You may walk between bushes or trees, even if they are close to each other, and you may use your body to make space for yourself to walk. But you may not push the trunks or branches away using your hand.

REASON: The trees are muktza.

Shabbat: T (Talking, Transportation, Trees)

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