Wixom, MI – Michael Balkin observes traditional Jewish practices, but walking to services on Shabbat has been difficult for the past 20 years.
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A worsening neurological disorder has made walking more than a few steps nearly impossible for the 59-year-old West Bloomfield resident. But in recent years, things have improved for Balkin, thanks to a motorized — and perfectly kosher — scooter.
“Now I’m able to do whatever and go to Shul and do whatever I want and how I want,” said Balkin.
Orthodox Jews don’t drive vehicles or use anything motorized during the Shabbat, or Sabbath, which lasts from sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday. But a Bridgeport company has rolled out specially designed scooters that allow Orthodox Jews to follow their beliefs and still make it to the synagogue.
Amigo Mobility International Inc. began making the Shabbat-approved scooters five years ago. It uses a module manufactured in Israel and certified by the Zomet Institute, an Israeli nonprofit that specializes in electronics that meet Halakha, or Jewish religious law.
The scooters, which cost $2,500 to $3,500, are sometimes covered by insurance. Amigo sells the scooters at a a store in Wixom the company opened two years ago to meet the needs of the estimated 7,000 Orthodox Jews in Metro Detroit.
Scott Chappell, the manager of the Amigo Mobility Center on Wixom Road, said the company was approached by the local Orthodox Jewish community for a scooter model that could help homebound individuals to be able to get to the synagogue during Shabbat.
“It’s designed in such as way that on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s a special mode and during the week it is a standard mode,” Chappell said.
The Shabbat-approved scooter carries a special black-and-white sticker that has to be displayed at all times so others know it meets Halakha law, said Chappell. “(Others) will see that it has been certified by Zomet.”
Balkin said he has used the Shabbat-authorized scooters during his trips to Israel. He was happy that he was able to get one in the United States. Deborah Balkin says she’s glad that the scooter has given her husband more mobility so that “he doesn’t have to stay home on Shabbat.”
“He can go to services,” said a smiling Deborah Balkin. “We can walk to a friend’s house on Shabbat. It keeps him from being isolated. One of the worst things for a person who is ill is to be isolated.”
Iris Rosen, who is not Orthodox, but uses a scooter to get around, said she is happy to see the technology come to the United States.
“It’s amazing. It’s proven. It’s approved by the Orthodox community. It’s definitely, definitely a good thing,” said Rosen, a Farmington Hills resident.
Rabbi Jason Miller, who has been studying the use of technology and Judaism, said the technology has allowed Balkin and others to be more physically comfortable and practice their faith “without violating the tradition.”
“We should all see this as a benefit to our community no matter where you are on the observance spectrum,” said Miller, also the rabbi of Oakland County-based Tamarack Camps and the spiritual leader of Congregation T’chiyah in Oak Park.
“There are many rabbis out there who would give him permission to drive to synagogue on the Sabbath but on a psycho-spiritual level for someone with his observance patterns they would still be uncomfortable with this leniency,” said Miller.
“His (scooter) allows him to be part of the community on the Sabbath and to feel comfortable in knowing that he hasn’t compromised his observance.
maybe they will come out one day with food that you will be aloud to eat in yom kipur ?
Can you please mention somewhere in the article exactly what this special shabbos mode is, how it operates and now it makes it kosher for shabbos? without this information, this article is useless.
This entire article does not say anything about why it might be kosher. I’m so confused!
While I dont know for sure, I beleive that it ises a gramma mechanism to start. They thought about creating a gramma starter for Hatzolah buses a few years ago.
Any other poskim support this solution?
From the Amigo Owners’ Manual:
When you put the Amigo into Shabbat mode, it connects to a separate
circuit board (this is the Shabbat module). The Shabbat module has a
timing circuit that takes about 7 to 11 seconds to begin very slow
movement of the Amigo on its own. There is no throttle lever activation
required by the rider. This is considered an “indirect action.”
When the driver is in Shabbat mode, he/she can then pull the lever to go
faster because the Shabbat module has already activated the motor relay
circuit. This is not considered a direct action. If the driver chooses to go in
reverse, a directional rocker switch is pushed causing the Shabbat Amigo
to go through its timing cycle again before changing the motor relay.”
It is a ‘grama’ gadget made in Israel and widely used there. However, many authorities dispute whether it really is a ‘grama’. It was developed by the Zomet institute which make many such devices but whose approach is a little contreversial.
There is a delay from when you press the gas to when it starts moving..that’s a klacher yad..(I think) for a choleh its muttar
The article was filled with many generalities…Having random people say that it’s Kosher doesn’t make it Kosher. Stating that it’s been widely used in Israel….How widely? Thousands? Hundreds…LIke an an eruv…maybe kosher maybe not…We need details not gossip
Is it allowed to use this product in an area where there is no Eruv?
if you carry with ther eruv why not drive a car also
the more averos the merierr
besides the halachik issues of shabbos. there is also a issue with mares eyin.
Using these devices is not so simple, and the answer for one person may not be the same for others. Most of us, I’m sure, prefer to be machmir on these kinds of things. However, nobody should just “assume” that it is kosher for their purposes… otherwise we’d all get them for shabbos (maybe we’ll need special shabbos bike lanes?). If you think this could help you, you should speak to a trusted poseik who can evaluate your personal situation.
The leading Poskim have already given their Psak forbidding the use of this so-called “kosher-scooter” on Shabbos
I don’t know if it’s the same thing or not, but several years ago someone in Monsey came out with a “Shabbos bicycle”. His “Rav” paskened that it was Muttar to use it on Shabbos, and the first week the rider was hit by a car on his way to Shul. Not that I usually believe in hibbyjibbies, but this story happened in my neighborhood…
I’m also wondering if there might be a difference in din for a choleh and someone who is b”h well – although it’s a slippery slope. At what point would one be considered sick enough that he is allowed to use it? I’d love to hear what the Rabbonim say on the matter…
Its not important to know “why” its kosher: as long as the rabbonim can find some way to circumvent the requirements and give mobility to those who would otherwise be unable to leave home on shabbos, why poke around to find some “issue” and take away their mobility. That would be cruel to frumme yidden who need this help. Please stop looking for new chumrahs to make their lives miserable. or someday your good work will assure you of the same affilictions.
Can anyone suggest a web site that explains the orthodox position on the use of electrical devices on shabbos? I’ve never understood the prohibition on the use of electricity, or the exception that seems to have been carved out for elevators. (I’m an engineer, so technically dense discussions would be especially welcome.)
All the article mentions is that it’s a good thing, nothing about how it works.
To All The Posking here on VIN,
Would anyone of you know, is it mutar to use roller blades or roller skates on shabbos, to go to “my” shul which is quite far from my house? I’m not a cholah, just a bit heavy & chubby and this would be much more quicker then walking.
Oh , I “might” use some of the time which I’ll b saving by this, to learn a bit more on shabbos afternoon instead of sleeping so much because of all the walking….
Nu, lets hear some D’vurim Shal Taam….
I once read that there is another kosher scooter that works differently. The motor runs all shabbos. The driver uses a lever to engage a belt that connects the drive shaft to the axel thereby making the scooter move. It cannot be used fir the whole shabbos because the battery would run out in the middle.
I do not know if the device is kosher or not. I am sure every nay sayer her has no idea either. Rather than hope that we can help part of the frum population we have too many who automatically say “not kosher”. I can only hope that the rabbonim will find it all right to use the device. To all the nay sayers I imagine you are not going to sell your chometz this year.
Shaare Tzedek hospital is one of the most halachically observant hospitals in the world. All decisions were check with R. S.Z. Aurbach zt”l and the Tzomet Institute in Bayit Vegan.
Anyone putting down Tzomet is an am ha’aretz de’orissa. The entire halachic world accepts their work.
This is not a product for mainstream people. It is a product for people who can not walk to shul.
If you understand the halacha’s of a gramma switch, you will understand the people using this are not accelerating or turning anything on.
If you haven’t studied the halachot of grama but you’ve somehow heard that R. S.Z. Aurbach was an okay guy to follow, than be still for once.
What they are doing is kosher at the highest level.
Go clean your house for pesach.
Those that do not have solid knowledge of physics, mechanical, electrical engineering will not trust the “kashroot” of such mechanical/electrical devices because it is hard to understand the functions of these devices. Most people will rely on their gedolim to make the decision on whether these are kosher for shabbos or not. The rabbonim who are not comfortable understanding the detailed scientific explanations will just ban them to be on the safe side.
I am trying to have an open mind about this. How does this resolve the halachic issues? It sounds to me like it is taking the issur from d’oraysa to a d’rabbonon. I know that doctors and hatzolah use various devices to create either a gramma or k’lyachar yad (or both). There would still need to be a tzorich that is either doiche the d’rabbonon (e.g. sakona) or rests in an area that the rabbonim were not gozer, for some reason. Any clarification?
I like how they quote Rabbi Jason Miller who is a CONSERVATIVE “rabbi” and then “rabbi” Miller states that many rabbis would allow him to drive to shul on shabbos….
oy veh! they should interview an orthodox rabbi for the article
The “Rabbi” quoted at the end sounds ridiculous. Which Orthodox Rabbis could he be speaking of.? He also implies this whole thing merely makes the user, who would otherwise be mechalel shabbos, feel better.
Chubby and Millhouse,
There is nothing wrong with rollerblades or a bike.
Even a bike out side of an eruv is might be OK if you dont walk it. Its carrying you your not carrying it and its the normal way u and it are one. But on that some might have another opinion.
Amigo Mobility Wixom’s phone number is: 1-877-312-6446 if you want to call them with any questions.
The Rabbi (Miller) being quoted from Michigan is not Orthodox. His opinion can not be used to represent the frum community.
The Shabbat sticker says: “Don’t look it and it won’t be ma’aris ayin”