DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.22 MB)
Ordering a Taxi for Immediately After Shabbat

The Poskim discuss whether it is permissible to order a non-Jewish taxi service to pick one up immediately after Shabbat. Obviously, the non-Jewish driver would have to violate the Shabbat in order to reach the address on time. The question is whether his driving on Shabbat is considered Melacha done for the Jew, which is prohibited to benefit from.

Rav Yishak Yaakov Weiss (1901-1989), in his Minhat Yishak (Vol. 6:25) was asked a similar question with regard to calling a non-Jewish driver on Friday to pick up Jews who spent Shabbat in Meron at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. He concluded that it is prohibited to do so.

This strict ruling was questioned by other authorities, including Rav Shelomo Miller. They rule that it is permitted based on the Mishna Berura (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan, 1839-1933, 276:27). The Mishna Berura cites the opinion of the Taz (Rabbi David Segal, Poland, 1586-1667) who permits instructing a non-Jewish maid to wash dishes, which is intrinsically a permitted act, even though she will have to turn on the lights in the kitchen to do so. He reasons that the Jew has no direct benefit from the light; it was her prerogative to turn them on, and she did so for her own benefit. The Mishna Berura applies this leniency to sending a non-Jewish messenger on a mission on Shabbat, even though he will kindle a candle to illuminate his path. Based on these precedents, these Poskim are lenient and permit ordering the taxi for Mosei Shabbat, since the Jew did not direct him to drive on Shabbat; he is doing so for his own benefit.

This lenient opinion is the accepted Halacha. However, one must exercise caution not to accidentally order a Jewish driver.

It is possible that the Minhat Yishak was strict on this issue, because he was dealing with a case where the taxi company charged for the drive to the Jew on Shabbat. In such a case, the time driving on Shabbat constitutes an integral part of the service provided to the Jew.

SUMMARY: It is permitted on Friday to order a non-Jewish driver to pick one up immediately after Shabbat.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
How A Person or Chazan Can Make Up Missed Minha Of Erev Shabbat
What Is The Rule For Travelers To and From Israel, For Barech Alenu in The Amidah Starts Earlier In Israel Than America
What to Recite in Lieu of Barechu When Praying Privately
Reciting “Lamedeni Hukecha” During the Amida to Avoid a Beracha Le’batala
Keri'at Shema Al Ha'mita
May the Hazan Recite the Repetition of the Amida if Some of the Ten People Had Prayed Earlier?
Until What Point in the Day May One Recite the Berachot of Shema?
Does One Answer “Amen” to a Beracha of Kaddish in the Middle of Pesukeh De’zimra?
The Prohibition Against Interrupting During Pesukeh De’zimra
May One Step Back for “Oseh Shalom” When Somebody is Praying Behind Him?
Reciting Hallel on Rosh Hodesh; Providing Food for Torah Scholars on Rosh Hodesh
Are Women Required to Recite Birkot Ha’shahar?
Answering “Amen” and Other Responses During Pesukeh De’zimra and During Baruch She’amar
Is it Permissible to Pray in Front of a Mirror or a Window?
The Recitation of “Baruch Hashem Le’olam” Before Va’yebarech David
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found