India – Israeli Religious Girls Refuse Rescue Due to Desecration of Sabbath

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    India – Eleven Israeli backpackers were stranded in a storm in northwestern India, and rescued in a complex mission launched by the air force. But two other Israeli backpackers were left behind – refusing to be rescued as it would constitute desecration of Shabbat.

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    Over the weekend during a raging storm 150 tourists, 13 of them Israelis, got trapped in the remote village of Kaza, located in the Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh, with all access roads to the village closed off, including the one leading to Manali, the nearest city.

    The Israeli tourists contacted the Israeli embassy, and asked Consul Irit Shneor in New Delhi to help them, telling her that earlier Belgium had sent a rescue helicopter to extricate the Belgian citizens trapped in the village.

    After conversing with Jerusalem the Israeli Embassy decided it, too, would send help.  IDF attache in New Delhi Colonel Yossi Turgeman contacted the Indian air force, which sent out a helicopter funded by the backpackers’ insurance.

    But the rescue mission left Saturday morning, which prompted two religious girls who were among those trapped to announce that they would refuse to board the helicopters, as this constituted desecration of the Sabbath. Their friends pleaded with them, citing the life-saving extenuation of the law, but they were adamant.

    The 11 backpackers arrived safely at Buntar Airport in Kullu, India and called the consul to thank her. The two religious girls remained trapped in the village along with 100 other European tourists.
    The consulate in New Delhi is currently in touch with them and attempting to assist them with the help of other foreign embassies.


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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    very nice I’m just woundering if this is pikuach nefesh?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    what idiots ! pikuach nefesh shabbos becomes any other day of the week

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    very nice I’m just woundering if this is pikuach nefesh?
    ——————————

    The air force came to rescue them, still wondering?? As to the girls, perhaps they should stay in Israel and learn basic Hilchos Shabbos before going on their trips. Every 10 yr old knows that for pikuach nefesh you’re allowed to be m’challel shabbos.

    SD
    SD
    15 years ago

    Kol HaKavod to these girls, who showed more Yiras Shomayim than those who have commented so far on this blog.
    Perhaps they felt that, despite the evacuation of tourists, the situation was not one of even safek pikuach nefesh. In other words, just because tourists are panicking, it does not mean that the situation is truly one of pikuach nefesh.

    Moishe Zichmech
    Moishe Zichmech
    15 years ago

    Chusid Shoitr! I’m a fellow backpacker and frum yid and would not hesitate being rescued

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    As I reread the story, I see even more reason to congratulate the girls. A bog snpw storm cut the village off from the rest of the world. All that means is that they are trapped there, which is very scary and probably very unpleasant. But, that does not mean it’s pikuach nefesh.
    Congratulations to these wonderful girls for putting their brains ahead of their emotions.
    I think that Vos iz Neias commentators could learn from their example.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    To Moishe Zichmech:
    Would you like to explain to the oylam why being trapped in a village means that one has to be rescued b’davka on Shabbos and why it wouldn’t be possible to wait until after Shabbos and be rescued with the other tourists?

    bechasdei hashem
    bechasdei hashem
    15 years ago

    boruch hashem whatever the case may be they are o.k. may it be a zechus merit for them and us all before rosh hashana amen.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    To Anon 09:38 Have you ever been to that part of the world. Are you aware that the weather changes hour-to-hour??

    The RS”O sent a helo on Shabbat as a rescue not as a test. You get on and get off then find a minyan to bentch gomel.

    Al Tehi Tzaddik Harbei
    Al Tehi Tzaddik Harbei
    15 years ago

    To all the “poskim” here: On the one hand, at best from what the article says it’s safek pikuach nefesh. On the other hand, I don’t see any d’Oriaiso violation in being evacuated (maybe techum Shabbos and amira le’akkum, which are both d’Rabbonon.

    So, I think either way would be OK: stay put or be rescued.

    In any case: al tadin es chavercha ad shetagi’ah lemekomo.

    DRC
    DRC
    15 years ago

    The girls exemplified alot of ignorance through their decision.

    Rabbi Yonah Lazar
    Rabbi Yonah Lazar
    15 years ago

    Baruch Hashem these girls performed a kiddush hashem. Better they should give their lives than be michallel shabbosh kodesh.It’s all you modernishe who don’t understand this.

    Policeman
    Policeman
    15 years ago

    When a government’s security forces declare a danger requiring evacuation, a 10-year old child should not claim to know better regarding how ‘imminent’ or ‘real’ the danger is. While I admire her devotion to Shabbos and Jewish Law, it is important to live to see another Shabbos, and you must rely upon knowledgeable authorities who declare that there is danger, and that it is serious enough to warrant immediate evacuation. Even if Shabbos ended and no harm resulted, that does not prove she was right. The weather in that region changes very quickly and can become very extreme; when experts warn you of this, you should listen.

    Groiseh Macher
    Groiseh Macher
    15 years ago

    My question is, regardless of the pikuach nefesh issue, other than boarding a helicopter not being in sync with the spirit of shabbos, how is boarding a helicopter chilul shabbos in the first place, presuming that all the person is doing is sitting and not perfoming any melachah? Particularly in a helicopter, you can’t say that a person’s weight causes more fuel to be burned.

    Anywho, they should have taken the ride. You can’t second guess when it comes to safek – you have to make sure you’re around for the next shabbos also.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    this was a case of pekuach nefesh, the rama write in shulchan aruch, if its even a minute chance that it pikuach nefesh you are ducha shabbos, one does not hae to be a professor to evaluate if it is or not. dumb stupid. they should have gone on the . if g-d forbid somthing would have happened they would be responsibile and even perhaps a avaira of v’chai bhem!!!

    authenticSatmar
    authenticSatmar
    15 years ago

    I fail to see what pikuach nefesh issue there is here? The road to the village was not accesible. They are in a village with hundreds of other tourists, hardly a life threatening issue.
    I commend these girls for not folding under dificult circumstances. This is a kiddush hashem!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    What would ANY of you think it is Pekuach Nefesh?? The story states “The two religious girls remained trapped in the village along with 100 other European tourists. ” If 100 other people did not think there was any danger there is no Pekiach Nefesh!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Presumably all the commenters who know for certain whether or not this was a situation of pekuach nefesh were there as well; they must be the other tourists who were rescued.

    Toras emes
    Toras emes
    15 years ago

    The girls demonstrated great mesiras nefesh for Shabbos. However, they should be taught that if there is the slightest safek of sacana that they should avail themselves of any means of rescue.

    As others have mentioned, this is not truly chillul shabbos since riding in a vehicle that is being driven by a goy is not an issue.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Mr. #14
    The government did NOT declare it a life threatening emergency.
    Yes; the tourists were scared, but being scared does not add up to pikuach nefesh. They were trapped in a village with shelter and food.

    ShatzMatz
    ShatzMatz
    15 years ago

    What are such erliche tzedeikestes doing in India erev rosh hashana in the first place? Were they trying to find nirvana or spiritual enlightenment? Doesnt sound so erlich to me. If it is not a case of pikuach nefesh, why are there still efforts to extract these girls now? What a waste of precious resources of embassy personell and and local rescue agencies.

    Gefilte Fish
    Gefilte Fish
    15 years ago

    It looks like ya’ll were there, I was not. so what can I say? I don’t know if it was pikuach nefesh. and to all of you commenters that were there, why not share your story? how were you rescued? or are you still stranded there? I wish you all a refuah shelaimo!

    formaly
    formaly
    15 years ago

    not sure what it was usser to go on the helicopter, there where other people going on it, so in essence the helicopter was going there with them or not. If I remember my halocha correctly, they could have gone on the helicopter even if no pikuach nefesh.

    Who is Rabbi Yonah Lazar
    Who is Rabbi Yonah Lazar
    15 years ago

    “Better they should give their lives than be michallel shabbosh kodesh.It’s all you modernishe who don’t understand this.”

    that is not the Torah. You must be quoting some other religion. like Joan of Arc.

    matzahlocal101
    matzahlocal101
    15 years ago

    In 9/11 tens (hundreds) of thousands of people were trapped in Manhattan. Were they all in imminebt danger of death that would have allowed violation of the Shabbos? No. The article says the normal roads in and out of the region were blocked. It did not say there was no food, no shelter, no heat. Being uncomfortable is not a reason for chillul Shabbos. I side with the girls. On a technical note, every bit of weight on an airplane uses more fuel. That is why every aircraft has a set of performance specs depending on: Altitude, temperature, humidity, weight, runway lengths, etc. I know. I fly.

    Policeman
    Policeman
    15 years ago

    Manhattan 9/11/01 was not isolated by severe weather. That day was unprecedented in US history, and authorities struggled with decisions as to what to do.
    In this case in India, authorities were experienced with India’s severe weather patterns, and advised evacuation. All tourists were waiting for their embassies to help them. Just how much danger would you like, to convince you to leave, even though it’s Shabbos?

    What if 9/11 had been Shabbos, and the police decided that evacuation was the best course of emergency action?
    What about Hurricane evacuations? You will remain like a schmuck on the roof of your house, as the flood waters rise?