A few weeks ago I was coming back from the Hebron region on the tunnels road (photo here). It was late on a Friday afternoon and the beginning of Shabbat was nigh. In one of the tunnels, there was a car accident. As we drove past it, we saw the line of cars backed up to Jerusalem. Most of the travelers were Jewish people who live in the West Bank and who are religiously observant. Which means that the pain was quite evident on their faces as they sat in their cars, not knowing if they would make it home before Shabbat. I wondered aloud what they would do if Shabbat began and they were not home, as they are not allowed to drive on this day. My friend suggested that they might claim “pikuah nefesh,” and continue driving because of the risk to one’s life if he stopped in potentially hostile territory and had to spend the cold night outside.
Today the Jerusalem Post reprints a column from a New York Jewish man who faced just this problem, but in New York. He tells an interesting story, including how he was “saved” by evangelical Christians.
A recent items of news in Israel was the impending boycott of Israel’s national airline, El Al, because they flew a delayed flight on Shabbat. A few weeks ago, the head of the Israel Electric Company was fired because he ordered a heavy piece of equipment to be transported on Shabbat (when there would be less disturbance to traffic). The desecration of the Shabbat is a very important matter to religious Jews.
This week Rabbi Yaakov Salomon mentioned that the Shabbat command is recorded more times in the OT than any other commandment. He had another message about cutting close to the approach of Shabbat last year (that addresses your message in this post about getting stuck), but I don’t recall which week it was.
Another interesting thing to think about is the oft-repeated point made by evolutionists, “If God created everything in 6 days, why do scientists say it’s billions of years old? That’s very tricky/deceptive of God!” Actually, that would only be true if we were not told it was all created in 7 days. Like Jesus turning water into wine. It looks/tastes like old wine (deceptive to the drinkers), but there were eyewitnesses who recorded it being created instantly. No tricks.
I used to live near Amish country and most Amish clans would not drive cars. Talking with non-Amish in these areas, I found that while most of the Amish would not drive, many of their were not ashamed to bum rides from the non-Amish. For some, these rides became quite a burden.
Interesting contradiction.
Hey there Todd!
long time no talk…enjoying your blog here…Was just passing through here and saw this post…got me thinking…the first thought that I had when i read your story about the accident was I wonder who went to the rescue of the people involved in the accident? I wondered how many of the people (Jewish or not) sat in their vehicles beseeching God on behalf of those involved in the accident? then I wondered if sometimes God, who still makes an effort to establish relationship with his people (again Jewish or not), allows such things to take place to remind them that again it is about mercy not sacrifice…couldn’t help but think of Matthew 12 and Jesus’ attempt to further explain what the Old Testament Prophets had given their lives to communicate…
Matthew 12:12 How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.