YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Shabbat
- Laws of Shabbat
Answer: We will all but ignore halachically complicated issues about pleasure cruises for which there are legitimate lenient opinions. One is setting sail within three days of Shabbat (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 248:1-2; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 30:66; Yalkut Yosef, Shabbat I, pp. 48-52). We will focus on seeing if there are cases where we cannot find any legitimate leniency.
Operating the motor is among full melachot that are done while sailing. If a Jew is performing these actions, it is forbidden to benefit from them, and so if that may be the case, one may not go on the cruise (see Yalkut Yosef ibid.). What if the relevant crew includes no Jews?
There are two issues with using a non-Jew’s work on Shabbat. 1) Telling the non-Jew to do the work. 2) Receiving benefit from the work a non-Jew did on behalf of a Jew (Shabbat 122a). There are more possible ways around the former, and we will focus on the latter.
The gemara (ibid.) says that if a non-Jew does melacha on behalf of a group including Jews and non-Jews, we consider it as being performed on behalf of the majority. Thus, if the majority of a ship are Jews, it forbidden to benefit from the sailing done on their behalf. Now, let us clarify two points. First, regarding each melacha done, we have to consider who the beneficiaries are. Some (e.g., putting on the cabin air-conditioning) are done for all aboard, including staff. However, the sailing, as opposed to docking or anchoring at sea, is done because the vacationers want to arrive at a good time at the next destination. The second point is that when the benefit comes, it is too late for the individual, who cannot change the itinerary mid-cruise or jump ship, to do anything. Therefore, if he knows he will get forbidden benefit, he must not get on the ship.
Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions (654)
Rabbi Daniel Mann
169 - Obtaining Arba’ah Minim for the Sukkot after Shemitta
170 - Shabbat Cruises
171 - Automatic Payment on Shabbat or Yom Tov
Load More
Presumably, a round-trip pleasure cruise from Israel would not set sail without passengers or plan to continue sailing on Shabbat if all prospective Jewish passengers objected to it. The problem comes up when many of the passengers are unaware of the halachic issues and others are not Shabbat observant and are thus unwilling to sacrifice "covering ground" to keep Shabbat. I heard a suggestion that, statistically, some of the Israelis must not be Jewish. However, it is hard to believe that there are enough non-Jews on a round-trip Israeli cruise to be able to implement the above leniency. (Also, who will check lineage or cancel the cruise if too many clearly Jewish people participate?).
Therefore, we do not see a legitimate heter for going on thestandard cruise that fits your description.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
