Jewish Sabbath Loopholes
Comments focus on Orthodox Jewish practices, creative loopholes, and accommodations for Sabbath observance, such as Shabbat elevators, eruvs, shabbos goys, and prohibitions on work or electricity. Discussions also note the irony of these topics appearing on Hacker News during the Sabbath when observant Jews cannot participate.
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Reminds me of the various 'loopholes' Orthodox Jews use to get around their rules/laws regarding the Sabbath.
De Jure - yes. You are right.In reality (in Israel, in this case), many people come up with their own versions/interpretation/complications of Jewish law.As anecdote, I knew one semi-religious family (masorati but coming from very famous ultra-orthodox lineage). They won't cook on Sabbath; they won't join friends to BBQ - because Sabbath and you can't make fire but they will operate all the other appliances and will drive around in car.
> Telling a liftboy where to go seems to be okWhy is it that Hacker News loves to bring up topics where Jewish Law is discussed by non Jews during the Sabbath in the U.S. when most Jews who read Hacker News won't be able to provide correct information?(I am in Jerusalem this week, where it's already Sunday)
I don't know WTF you're saying but it does seem like you'd appreciate the lengths to which supposedly religious Jews will go to avoid complying with rules regarding the Sabbath.
What makes you think that most of Jews on HN observe Sabbath ?Signed: Jew, where it's still Sabbath
They are orthodox Jews and are forbidden from doing business on the Sabbath.
That's correct; I updated my original comment to mention that the Jewish laws of the sabbath aren't meant to apply to non-Jews (there is, however, a large and rather entertaining body of practical discussion of under what conditions, and how explicitly, one can ask a non-Jew to do things on the sabbath that would be forbidden for the asker themself to do).
It was a Sabbath/holiday - many (primarily Orthodox) Jews don't use phones/computers, etc.
Related: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat_elevator
Your response may strike some as flippant, but it's not exactly uncharacteristic of how Jews, even the Orthodox, navigate adherence to their mitzvot (commandments). For example, the Shabbos Goy and the Sabbath elevator, or the eruv (the wire described in the article) itself.