A Non-Jew Using an Elevator on Shabbos for a Wheelchair Patient

May a Non-Jew Transport a Jew in an Elevator on Shabbos?

The wheelchair-bound, rachmana litzlan (G-d forbid), who are unable to leave their apartments on their own, are often assisted by non-Jewish aides who naturally wish to transport their charges via the elevator, including on Shabbos. Whether this is permissible is subject to a dispute among contemporary halachic authorities: many maintain that if using the stairs was a viable option, and the non-Jewish caretakers are using the elevator solely for their own convenience, it’s permitted, since this action isn’t being taken strictly on the Jewish person’s behalf. 

However, the following conditions must be present:

• There aren’t so many steps that it would be almost impossible to take the wheelchair-bound person down without an elevator.

• The non-Jew is absolutely prepared to take their charge down the steps in case the need arises.

• The Jew is not doing a melachah (transgressing a forbidden action on Shabbos) when entering the elevator. Although it’s possible that the weight of the individual being transported can affect the mechanics of the elevator, many poskim are of the view that this isn’t a concern when dealing with a wheelchair-bound person.

(This halachah is only addressing a situation where there is no concern of hotza’ah [carrying within or into a public domain] e.g. where there is a kosher eruv. The issue of a non-Jew transporting a Jew where there is no eruv is a topic beyond the scope of this halachah.)

However, there are poskim who disagree with the premise that the non-Jews should be viewed as using the elevator for their own sake, and therefore do not permit it—even if all of the above conditions are met. Yet they, too, concede that if the Jew left their home before Shabbos, they may be returned to their apartment via the elevator, and would not be expected to stay away from home for the entire Shabbos. Similarly, leaving their house for the express purpose of davening with a minyan may also be grounds for permitting use of the elevator, even according to the more stringent view. #442?

https://halacha2go.com?number=442

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.