Q&A: Traveling on the Sabbath by a Non-Jew
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Traveling on the Sabbath by a Non-Jew
Question
Is it permitted to board a bus on Sabbath eve if the driver is an Arab and the stops are fixed?
Answer
In simple terms, yes, aside from the issue of appearance to others. It is like boarding a ship on Sabbath eve. Outside the Land of Israel, some have the practice of boarding even on the Sabbath itself. Still, there is room to hesitate here, since the driver is doing work for you. I think there may perhaps be room to be lenient according to the basic law, but it is not proper to act that way.