Using Elevators On Shabbat

0:11Just because you're allowed doesn't mean you should do it. There are several laws in the Torah that allow for certain actions, but Hashem is outright telling you that you should not do them. You're allowed, but you shouldn't do it. So you're allowed to use a Ma'alit Shabbat, a Shabbat elevator, but you should not do it. And the reason why, one of the biggest reasons, is simply because of Chilul Hashem. Now, Chilul Hashem is not a small sin. Chilul Hashem is the number one sin in Judaism. It is important to consider how one's actions are perceived by others, especially by those who may not be aware of the permissibility. Disagreeing in the name of Hashem, Chazal tells us that the only way to even begin the Teshuvah is to suffer in this world. To begin the Teshuvah, you must suffer in this world for Chilul Hashem. So what's the issue of Chilul Hashem with using an elevator on Shabbat? If a secular person, or the Chiloni, you know, one of those 50-50 religious people sees you, and he knows you're Jewish. It doesn't matter if you wear a kippah or not. He knows you're Jewish. He sees you on the elevator. He doesn't know it's technically allowed.

1:20If you don't press the buttons, if it stops at every floor, and so on, if it follows all these regimens, technically it's allowed. He doesn't know it. So he sees, ah, see, it's all fakers. You guys are all fakers. All these religious Jews, you guys are all fakers. That's why Rabbi Ovadia says you should not do it. Why? Because you risk the possibility of Chilul Hashem. And if you have even 1%, 1% Yirat Shamayim, you would never go into a Shabbat elevator, or any elevator on Shabbat. Unless it's pikuach nefesh, unless it's a situation of life risk. But you're not allowed to go in there. So that's the reason why I told you not to go in there and you're not allowed to go there. Because again, I try to have a little yirat Shamayim. And I have tried to have some yirat Shamayim for you as well. If I tell you to go use Shabbat elevators, go do what you have to do, then the reality is that all of you are going to be viewed by the public as fakers. And what ends up happening is that other people are going to sin because of you. You're going to go up to Shamayim, 30, 50, 100 years, whenever it's going to be, and they'll say, "Oh, yes, it is so-and-so, the Mechalel Shabbat. It is the so-and-so that desecrates Hashem's name every week. It is so-and-so, the Rasha." You'll protest, "What are you talking about? I went to Shiur Torah, I kept Shabbat, I did this, I did that." But they'll say, "No, no, no. You're a Rasha. Why? Sixty people saw you over those weekends. They all left the religion because of you. If you want to take your life at risk, you shouldn't come to Shiur Torah anymore. Go home. Don't come."

2:42If you're taking your eternity so lightly, you shouldn't come to my shiurim anymore. I'm telling you, that's serious. Why? Because I can't help you if you're crazy. I can't fix crazy. Someone who's crazy, you can't fix them. Now, if you're not knowledgeable or you're ignorant, no problem—I can help with that. I can teach you, educate you, and try to help. But if you're crazy, I can't help you in the same way as someone acting like a terrorist. Now, before we move on, let's remember the importance of taking our spiritual life seriously. We have a responsibility to learn and grow in our Yiddishkeit, and our shiurim are here to help guide us on this path.