Question: Do I need to cross the road on
Shabbos to avoid triggering a motion sensor light?
Answer: The Mishna Berura (277:9) writes that
one mustn’t open a door near a candle. As the breeze will inevitably fan the flame,
this is considered to be pesik reisha denicha lei as one may benefit from this too. The Piskei Teshuvos (277:9) writes
that this halacha applies equally to walking past a light that will be
triggered by a sensor.
Nonetheless, R’ Chanoch Padwa (Cheshev Haefod
3:83) and R’ Ephraim Greenblatt (Rivevos Ephraim 7:1231; 8:532:1) argue that when one isn’t interested in
triggering someone else’s light it is considered to be pesik reisha delo nicha lei. Thus, they write
that while it is ideal to avoid triggering such lights, one may walk past them
if necessary.
R’ Ribiat (The 39 Melochos, p1214) differentiates between a
regular residential road and a rural area. Only if the street is lit up enough
that one can see where they are going clearly is this extra light considered pesik reisha delo nicha lei. Even then, one
should avoid triggering this light if possible. Such a light on a dark street
would be akin to walking into a building with a light sensor which would be assur
(See Orchos Shabbos 26:28).
R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 9:69), however,
disagrees. He quotes the Gemara Yerushalmi (Shabbos 13:6) which writes
that one may close one’s house door as normal even though a deer will
inevitably be trapped (See Rashba, Shabbos 107a; Magen Avraham OC 316:11). Unlike
an automatic door that opens as you walk up to it, when one has no interest in
triggering the light sensor, there is no issue with walking normally down the street
(See Yechave Daas 5:29). R’ Yosef
Shalom Elyashiv, R’ Nissim Karelitz (quoted in Orchos Shabbos 26:31) and
R’ Shraga Feivish Schneebalg (Shraga Hameir
8:137) concur.
In conclusion, if one knows that one is going to trigger a
light switch by walking past it on Shabbos, one should cross the road to try to
avoid it.
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