[Avodah] switching with a chiloni

[Meir Shinnar]

> I am not sure I agree. Actually in Israel many poskim discuss the
> question whether one can switch either duty time as a doctor or in the
> army with a chiloni so as to avoid working on shabbat. My impression
> is that the overwhelming psak is that one cannot switch with a chiloni
> since the religious person will be more careful.
>
> Nevertheless R. Chaim Dovid HaLevi Zt"l former chief rabbi of Tel Aviv
> paskens that one can switch with a chiloni based on the fact that the
> chiloni will almost definitely do melacha on shabbat in any case.
The practical conclusion of the discussion (this was a theoretical
psak)  - that one may switch - is not radical.  However, most of the
poskim I am aware start with the issue that shabbat is dchuya versus
hutra - and therefore , if good medical care can be guaranteed,
minimizing hillul shabbat is a consideration.  What was radical (IMHO)
was his position that even if one assumed hutra rather than dchuya  -
and therefore there is no issur shabbat involved - (and I am aware
that halacha lema'ase most pasken dchuya) -  the desire to keep
shabbat with the family is the overriding issue ....

Meir Shinnar