I know that rule,
but I'm not sure how that applies here, I don't know whether the Sabbath extends to automatic equipment or not, I'm sure I remember reading some counterexamples. It would probably take another Orthodox Jew to talk them out of it.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 18:54, archived)

I worked with an observant jewish lad a few years back
if it was going dark when he finished work on friday night then the silly twat used to walk home

edit: beause Jehovah would strike him dead if he used his car
( Gilgamesh gazed in wonder as Frampton came alive, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 18:58, archived)

oh yeah,
Hebrew days go from sunset to sunset, so he wouldn't be able to operate a motor vehicle.

An interesting issue from the Talmud is that the Sabbath would be announced by a trumpeter from the city walls at sunset. The sounding of the trumpet would be the official start of the Sabbath. The problem is, no transfer of property from public to private property is allowed on the Sabbath, so then what does he do with the trumpet?
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 19:04, archived)

leaves it in the communal trumpet cupboard?

( glued eel /questions/questionsyoudliketoask/post1648081, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 19:09, archived)

this is, believe it or not, exactly the right answer.
there's a great argument in there where some rabbi proposes the hypothetical situation of someone throwing a beehive into the street on the Sabbath. It just gets more bizarre as it goes on.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 19:10, archived)

I bet God was having a right laugh when he was writing the rules.
1) Don't kill people.
2) Don't say my name in vain.
3) No carrying trumpets on Sunday.
4) No eating pork.
5) No walking past automatic light sensors
( Druid, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 19:21, archived)

The Talmud is Rabbinical rather than prophetic,
but yeah, it's hilarious in parts. There's some brilliant stuff about Leviathan. And apparently the age of consent in ancient Israel was... 9.
( Moon Girl Technologies horrendous beanbag, Tue 16 Jun 2009, 19:29, archived)