Q&A: Driving to Synagogue on the Sabbath
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Driving to Synagogue on the Sabbath
Question
Have a good week.
There are many communities abroad where some of the community members drive to synagogue on the Sabbath. In many cases, people live too far away to get there on foot, and Sabbath prayer in the synagogue is their only connection to Judaism, and perhaps also the only thing preventing them from assimilating. Beyond that, connection to the community can strengthen them religiously and lead them to be more careful in observing Jewish law later on. How should the community rabbi respond to this phenomenon?
Answer
In my opinion, he should turn a blind eye. If people are driving on the Sabbath, they are probably the kind who would be driving anyway. So it is better that they drive to synagogue.