Railway works
Peace and blessings,
A few weeks ago, a ruling by a rabbi was published stating that it is forbidden to enjoy a train whose tracks were paved on Shabbat.
At first I thought he was exaggerating to evoke echoes of the seriousness of Sabbath desecration, but it turns out that he wasn’t really, as explained here, for example:
(https://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/7741#8b)
“A secular Jew who is accustomed to doing work on Shabbat for others, even on the night of Shabbat, is prohibited from enjoying his work by anyone who did it for them. Because only when the work is done randomly, is it permissible for others to enjoy it on the night of Shabbat, and there is no fear that a Jew will be asked to desecrate Shabbat in order to enjoy his work on the night of Shabbat. But when he is accustomed to doing so, it is prohibited to enjoy his work forever. For example, someone who is accustomed to baking bread on Shabbat in order to sell it on the night of Shabbat, even if the bread is made from kosher ingredients, is prohibited from eating the bread he baked on Shabbat. Because if they eat from it, it is found that they encourage him to continue to desecrate Shabbat and become accomplices in a transgression. Likewise, a restaurant where a Jewish cook cooks dishes on Shabbat for the purpose of those who dine on the night of Shabbat, is prohibited from eating there on the night of Shabbat.”
Is it true that we cannot use the railway lines that are being paved on Shabbat?
thanks
In principle, this is true, but there are some considerations that may still allow it. First, it is not done just for Jews or for you. Second, it is also necessary for security purposes (such as electricity being produced on Shabbat). Third, those who do this do not believe in their obligation to observe the commandments (i.e., not willful offenders) – and this should be lenient. Fourth, the one who told them to violate Shabbat here was the government, and it is unreasonable to issue a prohibition lest a private person who observes the commandments come and tell another Jew to violate Shabbat for him. And so on. After all, the whole world used to be lenient about this and there is probably something to be trusted.
It's not at all clear that your third is correct. I'm actually guessing that it's completely incorrect.
Regarding the “second” when Gentiles are a minority, it is not clear that it is permissible,
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