8827 —נסיעה לארץ ישראל באוניה וחילול שבת בפרהסיא

B"H, 25 Iyar, 5724.

Brooklyn, NY.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

With great astonishment and even greater pain I read your letter, which you begin with praise to the Alm-ghty that you are planning (G‑d forbid) to travel to Eretz Yisrael on a ship whose owners are Jews, and the captain and sailors and entire crew and staff are all Jews or 99% of them are Jews; and you add before your writing that the merit of our holy forefathers should bring success to the journey! I would have thought it unnecessary to explain the reason for my great pain, but the content of your letter compels me to write about this at least a few lines, though whatever could be written about this would be little compared to the severity of the matter.

In short: A journey on such a type of ship—every passenger, not to mention the crew working on the ship—is: a) desecrating Shabbos; b) doing so publicly; c) participating in public desecration of G‑d's Name (also before all non-Jews) who know about what was mentioned above; d) this is done in the name of the entire Jewish people, whose contributions on various occasions have helped operate and maintain this ship on Shabbos. It must also be added that it is a rare possibility to desecrate Shabbos publicly every moment of Shabbos day and night—even when one is sleeping! Because the ship travels even while one sleeps. [In contrast, being on land—whatever kind of life one leads—at least when sleeping one does not transgress public Shabbos desecration.] What is written above applies fully no matter where or when the ship travels if it travels during any part of Shabbos.

In this case there is an additional factor: you wish to travel to a land that even non-Jews call "the Holy Land," not because the United Nations says so but because so it is written in our holy Torah, which connects dwelling in Eretz Yisrael especially with observing Shabbos—as indicated in many Torah portions, among them—by Divine Providence—also in this week's portion that will be read this coming Shabbos.

What was written above is already a maximum misfortune (G‑d forbid), but regarding your planned journey there is an added misfortune upon misfortune: besides two or three Shabboses connected with public desecration (G‑d forbid), in this case there will also be public desecration of both days of Shavuos—the festival when the Ten Commandments were given amidst great tumult as described in Midrashim—one of which is "Shamor es Yom HaShabbos leKadsho" ("Guard the Sabbath day to sanctify it").

Apparently we live in a time when people have become accustomed to all sorts of unbelievable things—even such an event as described above can occur without anyone protesting. Of course I know there are those who have taken responsibility—not knowing how a ship operates while considering themselves great experts—and have permitted this public desecration of Shabbos done in the name of Klal Yisrael.

And as it is told: Is it believable that on Shabbos aboard ship a Jew stands wrapped in tallis praying to Hashem Mekadesh HaShabbos (Who sanctifies Shabbos), knowing that at that very moment machinery is being operated by Jews, telegrams sent and communications made, cooking and washing done etc.—all by Jews especially for Jews—and every passenger benefits from it as well as from electricity, water, and all services provided through desecration? But it is also self-evident that our holy Torah does not change—for our eternal Torah was given by Hashem to the Jewish people and people cannot change it.

As our Sages said: A Jew must never despair. Therefore I still do not give up hope that you—and together with you many more Jews—will not commit this public desecration of Shabbos and Yom Tov and will cancel your planned journey. And great is the merit of Shabbos—to bring you long life and good years—and most importantly: true Jewish Torah nachas from your children and grandchildren may they live.

Blessings for good news regarding what was written above.

If canceling your trip so close to departure involves financial loss—it goes without saying that considering this great public prohibition I will gladly reimburse you fully—with heartfelt thanks for giving me an opportunity to save a Jewish soul from such misfortune (G‑d forbid). Additionally there may be others who will not have as an excuse "if Mrs... travels then surely it's permitted," and will also refrain from doing so. And it is well known: saving even one Jew is like saving an entire world.

You attached a check for charity connected with your journey. This is the first time in my life—and I hope I never need do so again—that I must return such a check. But obviously I cannot have any connection with something associated with public desecration of Shabbos—especially when one wants charity itself to assist in such desecration (G‑d forbid). Therefore your check is returned herewith.

I hope you will accept my words—in accordance with this week's portion: "Es Shabbsosi tishmoru... Ani Hashem" ("My Sabbaths you shall keep... I am Hashem").

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that traveling by ship on Shabbos constitutes severe public desecration regardless of destination or intent—even more so when traveling toward Eretz Yisrael or during festivals like Shavuos. One must avoid such actions entirely out of reverence for Torah law.