A transformative development in the world of Charedi urban planning and construction: Sephardi Chief Rabbi David Yosef, son of Shas founder and spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, has issued a landmark halachic ruling on a long-contested issue—whether it is permissible to use a Shabbat elevator. His decision affirms that elevators adhering to the strictest halachic standards may be used. This ruling carries far-reaching implications for high-rise residential construction in the Charedi sector and could significantly advance urban renewal initiatives. Until now, most of the Charedi community has avoided living in tall buildings.
A Shabbat elevator is a specially programmed elevator that operates automatically on Shabbat to avoid halachic prohibitions against pressing buttons or activating electrical circuits. Traditionally, the Charedi (ultra-Orthodox) community objects to their use on Shabbat.
In a response letter written about a week and a half ago, the Rishon LeZion (Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel) addressed Rabbi Chaim Meir Cohen, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, regarding the permissibility of approving high-rise residential buildings in the Charedi community. He clarified that “there is no impediment to approving residential construction plans for high-rises and tall buildings, on the claim that the use of a Shabbat elevator was prohibited [sic] by some halachic authorities. The majority opinion… permits using a Shabbat elevator, when it meets all the required conditions, particularly where it complies with all the halachic stringencies adopted by certified technological institutes.”
Rabbi Yosef further wrote that “the question before us is not whether it is permissible to use a Shabbat elevator or not, but whether a project in which significant investment has been made should be blocked from approval on this basis—and surely, we have no authority to prevent it, and in practice, each person should follow the guidance of their rabbinic authorities.”
In short, Rabbi Yosef supports allowing high-rise construction in the Charedi sector, provided the elevators meet strict halachic standards, and emphasizes that halachic disagreements should not be used to block city planning or housing development. Individuals should seek rabbinic guidance regarding whether or not to use the elevator.
Technological developments intended to address halachic concerns
This development follows years in which various technological advancements have been introduced to address halachic issues related to operating a standard Shabbat elevator. For example, about two years ago, the Nadlan Center revealed a new development for a “kosher” Shabbat elevator called “Ma’alin Bakodesh,” a system initially supported by some rabbis such as Rabbi Shalom Galber, Rabbi Yitzhak Mordechai Rubin, and Rabbi Shriel Rozenbach, but which also faced opposition from others, like Rabbi Zvi Rozenblat, Chief Rabbi of Bnei Brak. Due to the opposition, some rabbis retracted their initial support, though they still permitted its use for those with medical issues.
Rabbi Yosef’s stance thus provides a real boost to the trend among Charedi halachic authorities inclined to accept Shabbat elevators. As more of these technologies are adopted by poskim, they could make it possible for the Charedi public to reside in 20–30-story towers—something that has not been feasible until now.
The Tzomet Institute, which focuses on aligning technological reality with Jewish halachic life, responded: “Congratulations to the Rishon LeZion for his clear stance, without fear of man or favoritism, for the benefit of all of Israel, based on clear fear of Heaven and a solid halachic position. High-rise construction and the use of advanced technologies are a necessity of reality, and the proper path is to align their use with halacha under the guidance of leading halachic authorities.
“There is tremendous halachic and economic significance to making adaptations before construction, and therefore, the Rishon LeZion’s ruling is highly significant. We are proud to have worked for many years with Israel’s leading contractors to provide halachic solutions while remaining faithful to the rulings of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and other great halachic authorities regarding halacha and technology.”
