6121 - The Rebbe’s Protest Against Shabbos Desecration on Israeli Ships

In this letter the Rebbe continues addressing the issue of the Israeli Zim ships traveling on Shabbos. The Rebbe explains that he had already written about this matter previously and had sent a copy of the questions and answers that were published in English explaining clearly that the operation of these ships involves violations of Shabbos, including prohibitions from the Torah itself.

The Rebbe writes that although the recipient does not mention receiving the material, he assumes it reached him. However, the situation has unfortunately become worse rather than better. As time goes on it becomes increasingly clear that additional melachos are being performed on these ships which are not automated. One of the arguments used to justify the operation was that everything was done automatically without human involvement, but the Rebbe explains that reality shows otherwise. More and more violations are being discovered.

Furthermore, even in areas where technology could theoretically allow the work to be done automatically, in practice it is not arranged that way. Thus the number of Shabbos violations continues to increase. At the same time, there are many voices actively trying to persuade others to permit the practice, even though they have no solid halachic basis for doing so. The Rebbe describes this as people trying to hold on even to a straw, though in truth they do not even have that.

The Rebbe then notes a particularly troubling example. A special trip was being organized on these ships for members of one of the religious political parties. This means that the majority of passengers would be Jewish and that the trip was purely for pleasure. The participants even describe the journey as being done “rak l’shem shamayim.”

Because of this, the Rebbe explains that the various arguments used to justify the ships’ operation become completely nullified. Even if the ship belonged to non-Jews and even if the crew were non-Jews, when the majority of passengers are Jewish it is not permitted for non-Jews to perform work on their behalf on Shabbos. Certainly when the trip is merely for enjoyment and not for any urgent need, there can be no justification.

The Rebbe adds that the most shocking aspect of the entire matter is the silence surrounding it. Despite the public and widespread desecration of Shabbos, “אין פוצה פה ומצפצף”—no one raises their voice in protest. Even more troubling, a certain individual who calls himself a Rav and is connected with a religious party publicly defends these voyages.

This individual claims that they are prepared to show self-sacrifice for the sake of maintaining these ships, arguing that the matter is essential for the country and that they are willing to give up their lives for it. The Rebbe comments somewhat ironically that in a certain sense this statement is correct. Normally, mesirus nefesh means sacrificing the body in order to elevate the soul through fulfilling Hashem’s will. In this case, however, the opposite is occurring. Through public desecration of Shabbos, a person harms his soul in order to provide pleasure for the body.

The Rebbe concludes with a prayer. Since during this season of the year Hashem performed many miracles for the Jewish people, the Rebbe hopes that a similar reversal will take place now as well—“ונהפוך הוא.” The Rebbe quotes the verse “ליהודים היתה אורה,” explaining that “אורה” refers to Torah, and expresses the hope that the light of Torah will illuminate every matter. He also cites the verse “כי נפל פחד היהודים עליהם,” explaining, based on the commentary of the Rama in Mechir Yayin, that the phrase refers to the fear of Heaven possessed by the Jewish people.

The Rebbe blesses that this genuine fear of Hashem should spread and influence the situation so that the desecration of Shabbos will cease and the matter will be transformed for the good.