Shabbat at hotel

Asked by SS · November 30, 2004 · Shabbat

Question

I was at a hotel with an electric door. I waited for someone else to go out and then I followed him. Was this OK? I started thinking that perhaps my stepping on the mat extended the time before the door closed. Also, if I am in a Shabbat elevator and the door starts to close on someone, can I put my hand out and stop it or do I have to let it hit the person and open on its own.

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

The above is OK, both the door & the elevator. The mat is in the worst scenario similar to a refrigerator (a Gerama). The elevator is in the worst scenario a Derabanan done Kilachar Yad. (A Rabbinically derived law done in a way that is different than a normal direct action), which is certainly OK in an important circumstance. AA