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Some of you may have seen the article posted today about two hitch hikers in lakewood receiving tickets. The first 9 posters took the side of the police. This was my comment
I’m disappointed in the posters here
Hitchhiking is an opportunity to to a mitzvah. I routinely give frum people rides. Whether in Brooklyn, Lakewood or EY . Why leave a fellow yid to stand out in the elements? If you have the finances to afford a car , why not share that wealth?
Of course if it’s dangerous to stop I don’t. But if it’s not?
I simply can not understand the mindframe of those who are the children of avraham avinu to rationalize not doing Chesed . And please don’t argue it’s dangerous. Halachically one episode in Israel doesn’t outway the obligation to help thousands. And don’t argue the law. My law (halacha) says that you help a yid in need.
It’s Elul . Three things save you from din. Chesed is one.Seriously, If Avram Avinu was walking with a caravan of camels near sedom, do you think he would have said “sure there is a guy who needs a ride, but the law says i cant”
Two Lakewood Yeshiva Bochurim Ticketed For Hitchhiking in Jackson
And here was my response to you: mentsch1: Picking up a hitchhiker maybe an act of chesed but the hitchhiker is violating NJ law whether you like it or not. I am not so naive to believe these boys were looking for a ride just so the driver can be credited with an act of chesed.
Robin Hood also thought he was doing a chessed.
It is the responsibility of the parents and yeshivos (in that order) to get the bachurim home at night.
Before advocating hitching as a valid mode of transportation, please be sure to educate everyone involved how to do so in a manner that ensures their safety as well as those on the road which includes those who would stop and pick them up, and drop them off, as well as the other vehicles on the road.
From what i hear lakewood is plagued with illegal hitchhikers.
The lakewood cops has their hands tied so to speak by the local askaim.The jackson cops on the other hand on simply not going to put up with it. Its dangerous both for the bachurim and has caused many car accidents in lakewood already. Genig shoyn.
Its the parents and yeshivas responsibility to make sure the bachurim get whete they are suppose to in a safe manner.
And to that commenter about what avrom aveenu would have done etc. I can guarentee u he would not pull over and put other drivers at risk of getting hurt. Even if it was legal to hitchikeI don’t get this whole controversy. They did something wrong, they got punished. You can do chessed in ways that are safe and legal. You can also hitch or give rides if you think that is a good idea, and then pay the fines. To say “they shouldn’t get tickets because its chessed” is ridiculous. We live in America, where they do not use the Torah (exclusively) for the laws. And yes, standing in all black clothing (or any clothing really) in the road, sticking your arm into oncoming traffic, stopping in middle of the road, and accepting rides with strangers are all inherently dangerous.
“Robin Hood also thought he was doing a chessed.”
He hurt people, hitching doesn’t.“Its dangerous both for the bachurim and has caused many car accidents in lakewood already.”
When was the last time a bochur hitching in lakewood had got hurt or kidnapped?mentsch1: implicit in your posts is something that is not part of this story…..not giving a ride is a maaseh sedom. Where in the story is there any mention that 5, 10 or 20 cars passed these boys without stopping? The posters are just stating that the cops did not do anything out of line by issuing a ticket, just like if you passed a red light and were issued a ticket. Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense.
dumb law, some free country
If it’s illegal why doesn’t dinei d’malchusa apply? In general, I’d think askanim guided by Rabbanim should issue guidelines how to act.
mentsch1: My issue is that you are using this forum for your mussar when it was not the reason for these bochurim being issued the tickets. They did not get a ticket because cars passed them. They go a ticket because there is a law on the books making hitchhiking illegal for whatever reason the legislature passed the law. If you don’t agree with the law, move to New Jersey (unless you already live there), run for the legislature and change it.
Why is this different than our fights against shecita bans etc. ? Because we cannot live a normal life without shechita.. Hitchhiking (however you want to twist yourself into a pretzel and turn it into a chesed) is not. If the boys were just walking along the road towards Lakewood, your mussar would be correct. The fact that they were actively trying to hitchhike in an area where it is forbidden is the problem.
To solve the problem would be to designate an area where yeshiva bochurim to congregate and drivers know to go there to offer them rides. It would be similar to the groups that gather at “Shomrei Shabbos” on 53rd and 13th Ave. looking for rides from Brooklyn to Lakewood.
“hitching doesn’t. ”
It can, and has.
“When was the last time a bochur hitching in lakewood had got hurt or kidnapped?”
Typical, looking at it from the side of the hitcher, only. There is another component, cars on the road.
Unless all involved are made aware of the potential danger to themselves and everyone else who shares the road with them, hitching is a stupid thing to do. If the yeshivos insist the bachurim get out at 10:30 at night, and parents agree to send their kids to such a yeshiva, by all means figure out how to get them home.
Walking at night, on a dark road, wearing dark clothing, it stupid. Standing at or near the passing traffic looking for a hitch, is even dumber. You can get hit. Drivers might not see you until it is too late. They may have to swerve, or stop short and endanger other pedestrians or cars. The driver may stop suddenly to pick someone up. May not pull completely off the road, and pose a danger to those who might get into the car on the street side, or to other passing drivers who may not see the open door or those passengers.
I witnessed many near misses many times over the past summer on route 42 in Fallsburg. All scenarios mentioned above, I saw myself, more than once, in fact several dozen times. Until all involved understand the inherent dangers of hitching, I wouldnt advocate it. It is not a question of IF, it is a matter of WHEN someone gets seriously hurt.
“callousness is a disease of the soul”
so is a self centered view of the word. when one understands the inherent dangers on standing on the side of a road trying to hitch a ride, or, the inherent dangers to other cars on the road, when one suddenly stops, or only partially pulls off the road poses to others, at the very least, wouldnt so enthusiasticly support hitching. At the very least, promote the inherent dangers involved and the precautions necessary both for those looking for a ride, and those who wish to offer the ride.
While googling this subject I see it’s not a new machlokes.
Found an “ask the rabbi” with rabbi Chaim Mintz that says what I’ve said. If it’s safe do it. And don’t worry about holding people up for a few moments that’s within norms.
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What is a bigger sin:
Picking up bochurim while in an illegal and dangerous spot?Buchrim hitchhiking when its clearly prohibited and dangerous?
Doing a mysa sedom by not picking them up while in a dangerous and prohibited area?
Googling and blogging on the internet
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