The rabbis wrote that this new technology, which was explained to them by elevator technicians and engineers in “a written and oral technical opinion,” made them aware for the first time that using Shabbos elevators may be a “desecration of the Sabbath.”

At the very least, said a man in a long black coat, pushing a stroller on New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn, with three other small children in tow, “it’s not another water situation.” He referred to the commotion in 2004 when some Orthodox rabbis in Brooklyn ordered people not to drink New York City tap water after learning it contained tiny harmless organisms called copepods, which are crustaceans, not considered kosher. Yeshivas, kosher restaurants and thousands of people bought water filters.

More ridiculousness of religion

We should all bow down and worship the size of your brain.

While there are many more intellectually endowed then I, certainly your groveling would improve your pathetic understanding of reality.

Clip-on, you've been extremely obnoxious the last couple of days and I won't put up with you attacking people on a clip of mine. If you have something to say, you're welcome to do it, but quit the name calling!

Clip-on's comment is hereby deleted. Take it elsewhere clip-on.

iPhone has capability of remote control for various devices... Never heard about elevators but guess it can be no hassle to invent elev. application for App store. And no buttons to press.

That would still be work wouldn't it? Unless you could program the elevator through you I-phone a day in advance for the minute you needed to use it ...

At some point you just have to admit how silly the whole superstition thing gets.

Talmudic rules prohibit 39 categories of activity on the Sabbath, including manual labor or the use of electrical devices.

I don't think they're allowed to use iPhones or any electrical devices at all, on the Sabbath, even indirectly. I read a story once about someone complaining about motion-sensitive lamps that turned on outside their building when they passed by and they said that was a against the rules too, because they caused the lamps to turn on, just by walking by them. They felt compelled to stay indoors so as not to trigger the lamps.

At some point you just have to admit how silly the whole superstition thing gets.

Bingo.

For a day these people force themselves to suffer a self inflicted obsessive compulsive disorder - they get uncomfortable doing certain things.

It reminds me of one of the Ender books by Orson Scott Card. Been a while since I read it, but if I recall, there were some nobles or holy people that would have a compulsive desire to do odd things like follow the grain in wood, try to get to the highest point, count spots on a table, etc and if they did not do it then they would feel unclean. Seems the same thing with the Jewish people if they are starting to feel uncomfortable for not performing their day under specific guidelines.

Anyway, the thought just passed through my mind.

Hmmmm, makes much sense to me Oortcloud

I agree Oortcloud that much religious practice is self-inflicted, or learned OCD. A nice insight, thanks.