Shabbat Subway? The Tel Aviv Metro Controversy

“If a Shabbat Elevator is permitted on Shabbat, then surely the underground electric train - which will soon be operating in Tel Aviv - should be permitted on Shabbat” This argument was recently – and surprisingly - made by Ron Huldai who is the Mayor of Tel Aviv. Given this, our latest episode of RZWeekly considers why Huldai felt the need to make this argument, its merits and flaws, the overall question of public transportation on Shabbat in Israel, and how so-called halachic loopholes are understood, and equally often, misunderstood.