A student of Rav Yitzchak Zilbershtein, rav of Ramat Elchonon neighborhood of Bnei Braq, related this story that recently happened with Rav Zilbershtein - this student frequently drives Rav Zilbershtein, especially from his kollel in Holon back to Bnei Braq where he gives a shiur on Mondays.
The student relates this past Monday he was driving Rav Zilbershtein to Bnei Braq and as they were leaving Holon he noticed the gas light was blinking. He knew with that much gas left it was extremely unlikely they would make it to Bnei Braq and had to fuel up nearby. The only issue being, all the local gas stations are stations that are also open on Shabbos, as are many gas stations in secular cities. Rav Zilbershtein is very careful about supporting and encouraging Shabbos observance and would not approve of using this gas station.
He says he stopped the car and asked the rabbi what to do? The rav clarified - will we be able to make it to Bnei Braq with the gas we have? and the response being that it is highly doubtful they could make it to Bnei Braq. The rav said that in this situation we cant rely on a miracle and must get gas now - that being said, you need to go in to get gas, I dont need to go in, so I will get out here on the road while you go get gas, go to a pump as far to the side as possible and only get the minimum amount of gas needed to get us to Bnei Braq, and you an then fill up in Bnei Braq, while accepting upon yourself to be more careful in the future to only fill gas in shomer shabbos stations. He ended up convincing the Rav to not get out on the road in the cold but to go to the back seat where he would not be seen clearly due to the tinted windows and would not be seen as supporting chilul shabbos.
The student continues saying that when they went into the station to get the gas, he reminded the rabbi that ten years prior the Rav passed by this very station and stopped to go in because they had a big sign saying "open on Shabbos". The Rav went there with 30 avreichim from the kollel and went in pleading with the manager saying that he passes by this station regularly and the sign pains him - even if you cant close the station on Shabbos, at least please take the sign down.
A few days later the sign was gone.
Upon hearing this story the Rav said that shows the owner is not doing it lehachis, to anger God, but because he feels he needs to be open on Shabbos to earn a living, to make money. Knowing that, while still upset about what happened with needing to get gas at such a station, it has subsided somewhat.
Rav Zilbershtein concluded saying to the student that both of them need a kapara for their part in supporting chilul shabbos and as repentance they must strengthen their knowledge of the halachos of shabbos and commit to not filling up in a gas station open on Shabbos, and with the merit of Shabbos observance, the nation of Israel will be protected.
source: Hamechadesh, Haredim10
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As with other facilities (such as power plants), there are also good reasons gas stations have to be open on Shabbat.
ReplyDeleteHalachik idealism meets real-world practical need. And what do you know, practical need takes precedence [followed by rationalization]. Funny the way that works, no?
ReplyDelete