Comments on: NYPD Takes Immediate Action After Officer Demands Jewish Pedestrian Write On Shabbos

By: danielb43

danielb43 — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:52:55 +0000

Refusing to write was not an option, because there was a realistic possibility that this would have resulted in his spending the night in jail, which is (at least) a Safek Sakanah (he could have been attacked by someone violent, HIV positive, or with Hepatitis C). Even Safek Sakanah would justify the performance of a Melacha d’Oraysa; Kal Vachomer, if it was done with a Shinuy.

However, the fact that no Aveira was committed is besides the point. It is outrageous that NYC police officers (whose salaries are paid, in no small part, by the tax dollars of members of our community) would not be sensitive to Shabbos observance.

By: HaKatan

HaKatan — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:43:28 +0000

I say the guy should be commended with keeping his cool and remembering to write with a shinui even under the pressure of a possible jail trip with nobody in his family having any idea what would have happened. Regardless of whether or not it was the correct thing to do.

By: raquel3

raquel3 — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 02:16:47 +0000

im appalled by this story!! i dare say that the unless the officers had a reason behind these decisions.. thet are missing some fundementals!

By: minyan gal

minyan gal — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:59:59 +0000

I read a longer article about this event on another website and it says that he did write with a shinuiy.

By: basmelech

basmelech — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:12:28 +0000

Since when is it required to carry ID at all times? Is that a new law?

By: PloniAlmoni

PloniAlmoni — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:43:35 +0000

Where is the dan lekaf zechus? Do you know that he didnt write with a shinuy making it only a drabanan? And might be justified to be able to spend Shabbos as a yid? Please look with a good eye!

By: Shlomo 2

Shlomo 2 — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 20:32:45 +0000

I happen to agree that it would have been best for him to refuse, but why assume he was doing an issur d’Orayssa?

Maybe he wrote with a shinnui, for instance with his non-dominant hand. Maybe he held the pen in an unusual way, etc.

By: 613770

613770 — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:57:49 +0000

BSD Please stop being such strict judges. None of us truly knows what we would have done had we been in the same situation. NOBODY.

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By: lakwoodr

lakwoodr — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:36:42 +0000

I apologize for my spell checker…. My last post should read “issur d’oyrasa”.

By: lakwoodr

lakwoodr — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:34:17 +0000

Yeshivaworld commentator:
I’m not judging here but you are incorrect. Firstly, one cannot transgress an issue d’array to save others from doing an issur. Second, shomrim would not be doing anything wrong as they would be working under the assumption that it is pikuach nefesh.