Israel – Will Rabbis Allow Just Thinking About Driving on Shabbat?

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    Photo illustrationIsrael – As the interface between brain and machine moves from science fiction to reality, rabbis will be debating whether a vehicle one merely sits in and drives solely with brain activity can be used on Shabbat.

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    This intriguing thought was discussed on Thursday by Rabbi Dr. Dror Fixler, an electrooptics engineer at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, who was one of the speakers at Thursday’s 18th Torah and Science Conference of the Jerusalem College of Technology, Yeshiva University in Israel and BIU.

    Fixler showed a recently released clip of a “proof of concept” vehicle that has a person inside who merely thinks of how to maneuver it. The vehicle drives itself safely, turning corners, slowing down and giving more gas. The person wears a special cap with 16 sensors on the surface that trains the car computer by examining the human brain’s electromagnetic signals.

    Merely by pointing to the left and the right, the human is able to teach his movements to the computer without saying a word; from them on, the vehicle could maneuver through an empty section of a Berlin airfield with no problem except a short delay between thinking and the computer carrying out the mental demands.

    Fixler said that the issue of the brain thinking and action – which could or could not be approved by rabbis as permissible Shabbat activity – could raise halachic arguments. Even though the person does not take any physical action to manipulate and move the car, just thinking about it could be forbidden on Shabbat, he said.

    But there are those who could contend that just thinking does not constitute a “melacha” – prohibited activity on Shabbat that was necessary for the construction of the Tabernacle taken by the People of Israel through the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. There are 39 such types of “work” and their subcategories that cannot be performed on the Sabbath.

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    29 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    12 years ago

    There is never an inyan of “thinking” per se being deemed “malacha”. There is a separate inyan of having “improper thoughts” (aka pritzus) but that has nothing to do with one of the malachot that is assur on shabbos. Having such thoughts is just as big an aveyrah if one does so on eruv shabbos or motzi shabbos.

    Secular
    Secular
    12 years ago

    why is this different than sitting on a bus or a train ?

    ShaloiOsaniGay
    ShaloiOsaniGay
    12 years ago

    שאמרו חז”ל, ‘אצל ישראל מחשבה כמעשה דמי’

    moshegabai
    moshegabai
    12 years ago

    The question is, if its considered a “Meleches Machsheves”.

    basmelech
    basmelech
    12 years ago

    I would think it is still wrong because causing the car to go violates several halochos of Shabbos and travel is ossur without an eruv even in a wagon that is pulled.

    shvigger
    shvigger
    12 years ago

    Of course there will be “Rabbis” who will allow it. Plenty Rabbis out there aching to be matir whatever you wish.

    Joe-Shmoe
    Joe-Shmoe
    12 years ago

    perhaps it’s a psik reisha? or it might be keila sh’mlachto l’issur and be muktza? Electric is still electric, is ossur! Problem is, the english interpretation for the concept of “melacha” is not “work”. but rather a melacha which was in the mishkan. And does not have to conform to the exact method of doing that “melacha” in the mishkan. ie, driving a car, which was not yet invented, is ossur if it has certain elements which were in the mishkan. for instance, esh, (prior to natural gas) nolad (chicken wasn’t running around in the mishkan laying eggs which are nolad), nor was the washing machine invented, or the boiler, but they do have elements which were in use in the mishkan and are therefore assur. (don’t quote me please, verify and discuss with your rabbi) Except if you have no problem with shabbos, because “they are always machmir”, then you can be mechallel shabbos! If your rational is “the rabbis themselves are not sooo frum” then you can be mechallel shabbos. When one comes up to shomayim, they don’t ask, did you keep up with the flow of traffic! nor does it help that you were “not the only one”. if one transgressed, it’s his fault. If he got a hetter, then it’s the rabbis.

    AlbertEinstein
    AlbertEinstein
    12 years ago

    Interesting question.

    If this car were to take you outside the techum, you might be stuck in a 4 amah radius.

    jewishtaliban
    jewishtaliban
    12 years ago

    I’m glad that jews are moving into modern times its giving me hope for the future thank god we won’t be cave men anymore

    Raphael_Kaufman
    Raphael_Kaufman
    12 years ago

    If the car responds to brain impulses than it would be no different than your arms, legs or the rest of your body. If your brain tells your body to be mechalel shabbos, that’s what you are. No difference if your brain tells your car to start it’s engine.

    12 years ago

    The helmet is definitely muktza, the argument is mute.

    benyomo
    benyomo
    12 years ago

    “The question is, if its considered a “Meleches Machsheves”

    Actually the question is whether it is Machshavas Melacha

    gives a whole new meaning to “Sof ma-ase, b’machshava t’chila”

    12 years ago

    The argument is moot, not mute.

    In any case, #11 & #12 are correct. Using the helmet and the car would still be Chillul Shabbos.

    Regarding “thinking” even without the helmet and the car, we’re supposed to be devoted to Kedusha on Shabbos and stay away from “Chol,” as much as possible.

    itzik18
    itzik18
    12 years ago

    Our local rosh yeshivah taught that talking on a phone is not melachah, but it is still assur because of uvdin d’chol. Same thing here. It might be useful though for hatzalah to make less chillul shabbos, but the poskim were already matir hatzalah, so it would not be necessary but ironically could be a new and perhaps unneccessary chumrah.

    marcia
    marcia
    12 years ago

    then why not an escalator or elevator or moving sidewalk

    Berel13
    Berel13
    12 years ago

    You are all missing the main point. When there are novel questions, this is how true scholars behave – they discuss and analyze the issue with those who have expertise. I am sure they will get around to polling the VIN readers when they need a final psak

    12 years ago

    Wow, very interesting question.
    Of course getting in the car and putting on the helmet is a problem, as is the techum/eruv problem, but there is little in halacha to forbid thinking.

    leahle
    leahle
    12 years ago

    For many years there has been a trek cochavim listserv, where Jewish science fiction fans have debated futuristic halacha (for example, how do you tell it is shabbos when you’re on a space ship in another galaxy?) There is no doubt that we will have many interesting issues arising in the future and we will need to have many discussions before understanding how to correctly apply halacha. Someday, someone will wonder whether/how they shake a lulav on the moon. I hope I’m still around to hear the answer!

    kalman1
    kalman1
    12 years ago

    Therotically one can parallel this scenario to walking through a motion sensor area. By placing the electrodes on ones head one is causing an action to occur, although unlike a motion sensor it is a delayed, non-directly related electric response. However, if you look at the teshuvos from rabbi mordechai eliyahu and rav menashe klein assering bike riding on shabbos, even if this would be not meleches shabbos it would be assur for the various derabanon reasons mentioned there. a nafka minah may be a electric wheelchair bound individual, where if it would only be derabbonon, many poskim would be permissive.

    As to those who claim its a kli shemelachto lissur, if it would be mutar it would not be a kli shemelachto lissur.