Rabbinic dispensation

With regard to “Rabbi lets Ivanka, Jared fly on Shabbat” (May 21), would It be too much to ask this rabbi to make his identity known?

Given that the Trump family has its own private jets and lays claim to billions of dollars, its seems farcical that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner should claim that they have a rabbinical sanction to violate Shabbat when they easily could of have flown a day earlier. This clearly demonstrates that their claim to keep the mitzvot is untrue and gives substance to those who have cast doubt on the validity of Ivanka Trump’s conversion.

Finally, perhaps this posek (rabbinic decisor) would like to rule whether this dispensation applies to British Airways and other airlines as well – or is it only for the ultra-rich who can afford to pay for it? MICHAEL GROSS

Herzliya Pituah

I don’t see why this is an item that belongs on the front page above the fold other than being implied criticism of the Trump family. What might have been worthy of this location is the fact that Saudi Arabia allowed Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to enter that country.

The article lists a number of prohibitions involved in observing Shabbat, but not all of them, and one that is relevant to this case is excluded. There is a biblical prohibition against leaving your moshav on Shabbat. There were and are sects that interpret this to mean that one cannot leave one’s dwelling. However, mainstream Judaism defines this as not being able to travel more than 2,000 cubits (approximately one kilometer) from the city in which one welcomes the Shabbat.

I am not a rabbi, but I wonder how any rabbi could find a way around that. HAIM SHALOM SNYDER

Petah Tikva