I once worked in an apartment building New York City where I met this Jewish gentleman who always requested that we press the elevator button for him and open his apartment door because if he did it it would mean that he had worked and he was sinning. Is this an official belief Jewish community or is it a misunderstanding on this person's part?

RickJ

My reply was

I gave more than a cursory glance at the 3 links but did not find anything about pushing a button or opening a door. I may have missed something.

In fact, if indeed creating a spark is prohibited, I could buy pushing a button that makes a spark, but the opening the door thing is the stickler for me at this point.

This is the stuff I thrive on in case they ever call me to go on Jeopardy, so I'm as curious as Starman on this one.

Starman

I along with my uncle Hannibal worked as security guards, maintanance, and doormen. So the person had no trouble with the front doors since we were there to assist. After which we had to press the elevator button for him. I seem to remember that we also assisted him with opening his apartment door. I do recall accompaning him to his front door which we would only do if he needed further assistance. I also recall him standing outside at the outer entrance of the building waiting for us to open the outer building doors. If I were him, I'd just stay home and avoid the hassle.

Starman

My thanks to all for the responses.

ScottGem

Hi Starman,
Can you clarify the apartment door issue? Did he really ask that as well? Did he ask that it be opened both when leaving and coming home?

Again, the reason for the elevator button pressing is clear. But the apt door opening isn't.

Starman

Since I worked the night shift, my only encounter with him was when he was entering building on his way to his apartment at night. I never heard my uncle mention that he needed his apartment door opened in order to leave. My uncle would have known about it since there was much interchange of info among workers and he had occasionally worked the day shift.

BTW
Others of the Jewish faith who lived there didn't do that.

ScottGem

There are three main divisions of Judiasm; Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. Within each, especially Orthodox, there are variations. Some use a very strict interpretation of Bibilcal and Talmudic law, others a looser, more modernistic interpretation.

I used to date a girl raised in stricter household. If I would go over to her house to hang out on Saturday afternoon, I would have to operate anything electrical, she couldn't.

Was the outer door a security door that worked on a buzzer? That might explain waiting for the security people to open that door. I don't understand any need to open the aprtment door. But the desire not to do anything that involved electricity is completely normal.

As to avoiding the hassle, I'm sure I could find some Christian rituals that are more onerous. I don't think, enduring some inconvenience in order to attend services should be considered a "hassle".

Starman

My apologies for the hassle statement. You are 100% correct.
Perhaps he was waiting be be let in because of a locked door.
In an case, thanx for the time taken to respond.

orange

Everything that Scott said was right on!!

Well I guess I'm late to this question, but I wanted to add, my in-laws are Orthodox Jews, and they would never push a button on the Sabbath as they are Shomer Shabbos (meaning they keep the laws of the Sabbath). They do other things too, such as tape the lightswitches on or off so that no one accidentally flips them, and tear toilet paper in the bathroom and place it in piles (since you are not allowed to tear on the Sabbath, either). It might seem extreme, and even I don't agree with it, but it's a very common practice among Orthodox Jews in general, not just the Ultra Orthodox. It's not a matter of superstition; it's based on scriptures, Talmud, and Rabbinical interpretations. And if you've been brought up with it and know nothing else, it's extremely difficult to think of doing things in any other way.

Regarding the Jewish man who asked you to press the button for him, he was just following Shomer Shabbos; there was no misunderstanding on his part. In synagogues there is often a non-Jewish person who is employed as a helper to do certain "work" on the Sabbath, since the law doesn't apply to non-Jews. Maybe this man was thinking of you in the same way as he would the non-Jewish helper.

milliec

Hi!
I've read this thread several times before deciding to join the debate.
I don't wish to discuss this person in particular, since we don't have enough facts concerning him.
Still, I do have some remarks:
though we all , here, agree there is only one God, I think we'll also agree there are many ways to worship Him.
Who's to say which way is the true one? We're only human beings, and it's only human we shall not agree upon this.
In the main three monotheist religions, there are different "streams" all of which belong to this specific religion, yet they will not agree to submit to the other stream.
The same holds for Judaism. The three main streams were mentioned above, yet there are so many more "shades of gray" in each and everyone of them. I assume that holds true for the other religions as well, though I won't be categoric about subjects I hold myself as ignorant about.. I truly appreciate Starman's interest, I find his curiosity very sincere. I'd never label or categorize something without understanding, I have too much respect for others. Wouldn't you raise an eyebrow at an Argentinian (who can't see himself living without his Assado) winking at a Hindu who considers cows holy and would never harm them? I would. If I were an Argentinian I think I would respect the Hindu very much for giving up something so delicious, because of his belief!
I'd like to add that there are also secular Jews , like me, who are not very observant of our strict religion, yet keep many traditions going. We lived for 35 years in a high apartment building - there were religious families there only up to the 3rd floor, so that on Shabath and Jewish religious days, they wouldn't have to use the elevator. Although almost all us were secular Jews, they wouldn't ask us to help them, so that we won't commit a sin on their account!
I wouldn't know about opening the lock of the apartment door, but on Shabath and Jewish religious days, the downstairs door would be always left open: this door had an electric lock.
They will never touch any appliance in the kitchen. There is a hot plate left on for 24 hours, and the food is kept warm on it.
Yes, and they DO walk to the synagogue, even when very old .
If a very religious person had access to a pool on foot, they'll never use it on such a day, so as not to "wash" the swimming suit when they immerse in the pool.
There is toilet paper pre - cut, so that they won't have to tear it.
Seems odd?
Looking from a different angle, everything could look like superstition - there are probably endless examples in other religions as well, but I'll never get into it.
When I was a little girl in Romania, people used to make the sign of the cross whenever they passe by a church - and there were so many! I admired their deep belief - that's how I saw it.
I will end with a very wise ancient hebrew saying which I apologize in advance for translating it awkwardly, but I'm sure you'll see the point, and that's what really matters;
"whatever one rejects in others, he is actually rejecting in his own self"
That's why, whenever I fell i begin to criticize something, I look inside to see where I can see it in me and don't like having it deep inside!
Millie

Starman

My post was meant as an honest inquiry and wasn't meant in any way as criticism. It's unfortunate that it be taken that way since doing so stifles any other questions that might be asked. Perhaps no questions at all should be asked. This way no offense will be taken.