Judaism and bus stops

Judaism and bus stops refers to the significance of bus stops in Judaism. The use of bus stops in the Jewish religion is forbidden on the sabbath; doing so in preparation for motzei shabbath involves transgressions of the sanctity of the day by "preparing" (hachonah) for the mundane. Bus stops are also of concern within the Jewish religious leadership as they sometimes feature immodest advertisements which are frowned upon. Although usually dealt with through the proper channels, such displays have often led to vigilante behaviour by Jewish extremists who set about destroying the bus stop in protest, especially in Israel.
Advertising
Jewish organisations use bus stops for advertising. Such groups include Lubavitch whose adverts highlight upcoming Jewish holidays and communal protection organisations, such as the CST who use bus stops to alert people to anti-Semitism. In areas of large hasidic populations, such as in Stamford Hill, posters have been displayed in Yiddish and English.
Sometimes, bus stop adverts have become the target of attack by religious Jews who find them offensive. In Israel, a number of bus stops have been defaced or set alight. Sometimes bus stops are destroyed for displaying such things as mayonnaise jars, even without any human aspect.
In New York, Rabbi Shea Hecht, who serves as Chairman of the Board of the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education stated the following in response to the Metropolitan Transit Authority descision not to allow posters featuring scantily dressed women on appearing on buses:
Daubings and attacks
Bus stops have been targeted by racists who daub anti-semitic grafitti. In Salford, a large black swastika was painted in black paint and approximately 18 inches in diameter. In London, "Kill Jews" was sprayed.
Bus stops are a place for potential anti-semitic attacks. In Northern Israel, three yeshiva boys were attacked at a bus stop. Their holy books and their tefillin were set ablaze after they had run away.
Suicide bombers also target Jews at bus stops. On the eve of the Jewish olympics a suicide bomber blew himself up at a bus stop near a railway station in central Israel, killing two Israeli soldiers and injuring four other people.
Assistance
The Mesillah organisation advises that when a blind person is waiting at a bus stop, it is recommended to ask which bus is needed and to let the person know when it arrives. If a bus suddenly arrives, the best thing is to simply announce which bus number.
Kovod ha-Rav (Respect for elders)
Bus stops are used as locations to fulfill the mitzvah of Kovod Raboi. The students of Kol Torah yeshiva were accustomed to greet Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach on his arrival at the bus stop near the yeshiva. On the way to the yeshiva, they would ask him questions. After the lecture, they would accompany him back to the bus stop, discussing Torah with him the entire time.
Shabbat
In Jewish law, one may not walk to a bus stop on Shabbat if one intends to take a bus as soon as Shabbat ends. This falls under the category of hachonoh (preparation for the mundane). One can certainly not linger at a bus stop during the sabbath as this may cause maris ayin (suspect behaviour) since using buses on the sabbath is forbidden. There may also be an aspect of ovda de'chol involved. Although, beshass hadechak, one could lean against the bus stop or use a bus shelter to aleviate hardship, as long as one does so with a shinui.
Waiting at bus stops
Gender mingling
Within the Haredi society, these sites are pointed to as loci of improper mingling of genders. In some area of Jerusalem, separate bus stops are set up adjacent to each other to allow for men and women to remain at respectful distances.
Moral discipline
It is said that Rabbi Elya Lopian was once waiting at a bus stop for a long time. He finally looked up to see if a bus was coming. Afterwards, he chastised himself, as his futile action had not accomplished anything and had shown a lack of trust in God’s providence.
Giving charity
In and around religious neighbourhoods in Israel, it is common to find charity boxes affixed to bus stops.
Recently the Jerusalem municipality decided to remove them as they had been attached without permission, but they relented after giving in to public sentiment.
Memorials
Sometimes, in the aftermath of bombings at bus stops in Israel, impromptu memorials are set up. Prayers adorn the shelter walls while prayer books and psalms are left inside the shelter.

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