why do jews walk to church?

Question

i always see jews walking to church on saturday afternoons. why do they walk instead of drive?

Answer 1

because of the commandment not to light a fire on the Sabbath. Starting a car would mean sparking a flame in the engine. So, jewish people walk to shul (synagogue) instead.

Answer 2

They only do this on their Sabbath because of the biblical commandment not to light a fire on the Sabbath. As a car runs on internal combustion, using one is lighting a fire, and those Jews who practice Judaism (a minority) do not use them on the Sabbath.

Incidentally they do drive to the synagogue on the weekdays, and they go 3 times a day.

BTW, people who keap mentioning electricity as lighting a fire, you should actually read the responsa on the issue. Electricity isn't forbidden because of lighting, but becaus of boneh - building. When one flips a switch, he closes a circuit, thus "fixing" the circuit and making it work. now if you're thinking, "But that's just like a door, and we close doors," you are right, except that there is a Mosaic tradition that a door in a wall is always considered closed even when open, whereas a circuit in a switch, there is no such tradition.

Answer 3

Jews walk to synagogue, not a church, because by starting a car they see it as igniting a flame, which Torah does say not to kindle a light or flame on the Sabbath. Some will not even turn on a light switch to where they even tape them. That is how close they want to be without doing such work on the Sabbath (Shabbat)

Shalom, shalom!

Answer 4

Jews do not walk to church. They avoid church whenever possible regardless of day or time.

The Orthodox walk to shul (synagogue) on Shabbot. To start a car is to make a fire (exploding gasoline in the engine.) Making a fire is one of the forbidden forms of work on Shabbot.

Answer 5

Jews do not go to church, they walk to Shul because they are commanded not to kindle fires on Shabbat, and cars create thousands of tiny fires every minute of use..

Answer 6

If you see a Jew walking to church, stop the presses- they go to synagogue.

Answer 7

Because starting a car (combustion) sparks a flame. No lighting of fires on Shabbat. Therefore they live close enough to walk.

And its a synagogue, not church!

Blessings
David

Answer 8

Um, if they are Jews they aren't going to church.

But to answer your question, Orthodox Jews don't use anything electric on the Sabbath. That means no driving.

Answer 9

On Shabbat we do are not allowed to light a fire--this includes using electricity, starting a car, etc. So, we are not to drive to synagogue, so we walk. On weekdays we drive, though.

Peace

Answer 10

I knew many Jewish people back in New York. They (at least Orthodox +) do not use elevators, cars, and many other things from sundown Friday through sundown Saturday--because it is their Sabbath.