Walking Outside a Hotel or Motel on Shabbos

May one walk outside a hotel/motel on Shabbos that is on the outskirts of a city where there are no houses?

Yes, one can walk without carrying, but one should be careful not to walk outside the Techum Shabbos which is two thousand Amos (approximately 3,750 feet) outside of the city. This rule applies even if one wishes to walk for the purpose of a mitzvah, such as praying with a minyan. The only way one may walk further is by making an Eruv Techumin, which will enable them to walk an additional 2,000 Amos from where they place their eruv. It should be noted that an Eruv Techumin can only be done for the sake of a mitzvah. (See Shulchan Aruch OC 415 and Orchos Chaim.)

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt”l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.