Ask the Rabbi
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Shabbat
- Eruv and Carrying
Question
Can I use a wheelchair on Shabbat in an area with no Eruv?
Can someone else do the pushing?
What about cane or crutches?
Answer
Wheelchair - if you can't walk on your feet, you are allowed to use a wheelchair.
With an Eruv - anyone can push you.
No Eruv - a Jew is not allowed to push you.
For a non Jew - in Carmelit (a rabbinic defined Reshut Harabim i.e. most public domains in the world) he can push you anywhere.
In a Torah defined Reshut Harabim he can push you only if you are capable of pushing yourself and you are helping him to push.
Cane and crutches - if you can walk without them they can't be carried without an Eruv, if you can't walk without them - you can take them with you outside the Eruv.
(Shmirat Shabbat Kehilchata, 18,13; 34,27)

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