A controversy is stirring the world of halachic law these days: Is it permissible to travel on the light rail, since the construction of the tunnels and the work process also took place on the Holy Sabbath, and halachic law prohibits the use and enjoyment of Shabbat?
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Many poskim and teachers discussed the matter and expressed their opinions, but many avrechim were not satisfied and wanted to hear a clear and sharp ruling from the great and elder poskim, and therefore they sent the question to the desk of Rabbi Zilberstein.
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In the "Shiach Yitzchak" line from his Torah, it was reported that as early as the month of Tishrei 5778, at the beginning of the excavation work for the light rail, the rabbi was asked this question: What will happen when the construction of the light rail is completed - will it be permissible to travel on it or not since the construction was on Shabbat?
The Rabbi expanded in a reply printed in the collection 'The Ways of the Pillars and Their Frames' on the details and roots of this issue and the methods of the poskim, and ultimately brought in the name of the Rabbinical Rabbi, Karelitz (Hot Sheni Shabbat, Ch. 12, Section 15) who discussed what the permission was for using a bridge that was built intentionally on Shabbat, and wrote that it is possible that a person cannot prohibit the use of land designated for public use. But there he concluded that even if a permission were found, it would still be blasphemy - and therefore he concluded that it is appropriate for those who fear God to avoid traveling on such tracks, which were built while publicly desecrating Shabbat.
Now the question is particularly practical and topical, and almost a 'decree that the public cannot abide,' as the use of the light rail greatly assists users of public transportation in the center of the country.
A recording was published on the 'Sheach Yitzhak' channel in which Rabbi Chaim Melin's grandson is heard proposing the question to the Rabbi again:
Grandson: The Avrechim from the line, Mashiach Yitzhak, wanted to ask, now they have finished building the light rail, now they built it on Shabbat, also on Shabbat and especially on Shabbat, really desecrating Shabbat. A few years ago, Grandpa wrote a reply in 'Wai Amoudim' on this subject, which basically cannot be prohibited, because it is public property. Grandpa cites Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, who discusses every bridge that is built on Shabbat, how it is permissible to travel on it, and Rabbi Nissim said that it is public property and they cannot prohibit us from traveling on it. But there Grandpa concluded that since it was built in desecration of Shabbat, it is not appropriate to travel on it.
Now, in the current situation, there are a lot of wives of avrechims who work in the center, and instead of an hour and a half bus ride in traffic jams, it's a ten-minute ride on the light rail. Now on Friday it started working, people are standing and asking, a lot of avrechims asked me to ask Grandpa.
Rabbi Zilberstein: I say it is permitted, why? Because it is Kiddush Hashem... Why? Since the government said that it will no longer work on Shabbat, that they do not work on Shabbat, that from now on it will not travel on Shabbat, the government expressed respect for the Torah here, that on Shabbat the train will not work, that on Shabbat the station is closed.
Grandson: And they built it on Saturday?
The Rabbi: After all, no one prohibits something that is not theirs, and according to the law, there is the permission of Rabbi Nissim, which is public property and they cannot prohibit us. But what? It is very unseemly, but here it is indeed a good thing, that they announce that the train will not run on Shabbat. So we can tell them that it is permitted.
