From the Ravs Desk: Staying at a Hotel for Shabbos Where the Lights Turn On When You Enter the Lobby

Staying at a Hotel Where the Lights Turn On When You Enter the Lobby

Question:

Hi, my name is Menachem. I’m staying at a hotel in downtown Geneva for a business conference over Shabbos. It’s a beautiful place—sleek, modern, and conveniently located near the convention center and Shul. But as I walked in Friday afternoon, I noticed something troubling: the lobby lights seem to be motion-activated. Every time someone enters, the lights flicker on automatically. Now I’m concerned. What happens when I walk into the lobby on Shabbos and the lights turn on because of my movement? Is this a halachic issue? Should I check out and find another hotel? Or is there room to be lenient?

Answer:

This is a very real and increasingly common halachic dilemma in our modern world, where technology is seamlessly integrated into everyday life—even in places we least expect.

Let’s break it down:

1. What Kind of Lights Are They?

The first key factor is the type of lighting system in use:

• LED or Fluorescent Lights: These typically involve a rabbinic prohibition when activated indirectly (grama). If the lights are LED or fluorescent, and there is no reasonable alternative hotel nearby—or the alternatives involve significant hardship—there is room to be lenient. You may stay in the hotel and enter the lobby even if the lights turn on as a result. This is especially true if the activation is indirect and not your primary intention. However, you should try to not intentionally benefit from the light, as if you benefit from the light that you turned on then it is no longer under the status of Lo Nicha Lei.
• Incandescent (Filament) Bulbs: These are considered a biblical prohibition when activated, as they involve heating a filament to the point of glowing, which is akin to kindling a fire. In this case, the issue is more serious, and most authorities agree that it must be avoided, although those who are lenient even by these lights have upon whom to rely.

2. What Should You Do?

• If You Haven’t Booked Yet: Try to find a hotel where the lights are not motion-activated, or where you can access your room without triggering any electrical systems.
• If You’re Already Booked or Have No Other Option and they have LED or Fluorescent Lights:
  • You may stay in the hotel and enter and exit the lobby as you wish even if the lights turn on as a result, based on the principals of Pesik Reishei Delo Nicha Lei by a Derabanon, and Grama Derabanon, and Misaseik.
• If You’re Already Booked or Have No Other Option and they have incandescent (Filament) Bulbs:
  • Avoid the Lobby on Shabbos as much as possible.
  • Wait for others to enter or exit the lobby so the lights are already on when you pass through.
  • If that’s not possible, and you must pass through, do so in a way that minimizes your involvement, such as walking slowly or indirectly, without intention to activate the lights.
  • Stay in the hotel nonetheless, especially if alternatives are impractical or would cause undue hardship.

Explanation – Why the Type of Light Matters on Shabbat

When it comes to motion-activated lights in hotels, the halachic status of the light itself plays a crucial role in determining whether walking through such areas on Shabbat is permissible.

1. The Nature of the Light Source

• Filament (Incandescent) Bulbs: These lights work by heating a filament until it glows, which is halachically equivalent to kindling a fire. Since kindling fire is a biblical prohibition on Shabbat, causing such a light to turn on—even indirectly—is considered a serious issue of Pesik Reishei. One must treat this as if they are actively violating a Torah-level melacha.
• LED and Fluorescent Lights: These do not involve heat or fire. Their activation is generally considered a rabbinic prohibition, not a biblical one. This distinction opens the door to leniencies under certain conditions.

2. The Principle of Psik Reisha D’Lo Nicha Lei

Halacha recognizes a concept where a person performs an action that inevitably causes a prohibited result, but:

• The person does not intend for the result to happen.
• The person does not benefit from the result.

This is known as psik reisha d’lo nicha lei, and in cases of rabbinic prohibitions, many authorities permit such actions—especially when the person is simply going about their normal activities and the prohibited result is unavoidable and undesired.

In the case of motion-activated LED or fluorescent lights, walking into a lobby is not an act of turning on a light. The light turns on automatically due to sensors, and the person gains no benefit from the light turning on (especially if the area is already sufficiently lit or the light is not needed). Therefore, many poskim allow this under the principle above.

3. What About Filament Lights?

Even though filament lights are biblically prohibited, some authorities—including the Shevet HaLevi—apply similar logic and argue that if the person is not actively trying to turn on the light, and the action is forced upon him while simply going about his business, it may not be considered a direct violation. According to this view, walking through such an area would not be a halachic problem, even if the light turns on. However, not all poskim agree with this leniency. Some maintain that since the result is inevitable and the prohibition is biblical, one must avoid such situations whenever possible. Therefore:

• If you know the lights are filament-based and will turn on when you enter, you should try to find another hotel.
• If you’re already staying there or have no other option, minimize your presence in the lobby on Shabbat.
• Wait for others to pass through so the lights are already on when you enter.
• If no alternative exists, and avoiding the lobby is impossible, you may still stay in the hotel, relying on the more lenient opinions in cases of need.

Sources: Keren Ledavid O.C. 102 [Meikal]; Shevet Halevi 9:69 [Meikal even by Filament]; Chakal Yitzchak O.C. 16; Maor Hashabbos 4:14; footnote 99 and 104 in name of Rav SZ”A [Machmir by filament] and in name of Rav Elyashiv [Meikal]; Piskeiy Teshuvos 277:7-8 See regarding the subject of Safek Pesik Reishei: Admur 316:4; Kuntrus Achron 277:1; Taz 316:4; M”B 316:16; Biur Halacha 316:3 “Vilachen.” See regarding the subject of Lo Nicha Lei: Admur 316:3 regarding bees; 316:4 and 320:24; 1st opinion in Michaber 320:18; Aruch Erech Sever, brought in Tosafus 103a; P”M 321 M”Z 7 and 511 M”Z 8; Chemed Moshe; Nehar Shalom; Shaar Hatziyon 658:6; Terumos Hadeshen, brought in M”A 314:5; Shaar Hatziyon 316:21; See Beis Yosef brought in Taz 316:3

Summary

Motion-activated lights in hotel lobbies on Shabbat raise halachic concerns depending on the type of bulb used. Filament bulbs are considered a biblical prohibition due to their fire-like heating mechanism, while LED and fluorescent lights are rabbinically prohibited, allowing for leniency under certain conditions. If the activation is unintended and not beneficial (psik reisha d’lo nicha lei), many authorities permit walking through areas with LED or fluorescent lights. However, filament lights are more problematic, and while some poskim are lenient even in such cases, others advise avoiding these situations whenever possible.

Halachic Status of Motion-Activated Lights on Shabbat