February is Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month. It’s a moment to reflect on how thoughtful design can support inclusion, particularly when it comes to mobility, independence, and honoring traditions like Shabbat.

Years ago, a longtime customer called Amigo Chairman and Founder Al Thieme and shared how much he loved his Amigo RD, but he needed a way to travel to synagogue on Shabbat. He explained how Halacha (Jewish law) affects the use of electricity and motorized mobility devices on Shabbat.

Al promised to find a better way.

From that conversation, we connected with the Zomet Institute and worked together to develop the world’s first halachically-approved mobility cart—the Amigo Shabbat.

Our commitment to finding a better way has truly touched every part of our business.

How the Amigo Shabbat helps our customers

In 2004, Amigo Mobility began making halachically approved power-operated vehicles (POV) for people who observe the Sabbath.

Aptly named the Amigo Shabbat, the POV uses a module manufactured in Israel. They are then inspected and certified by the Zomet Institute, an Israeli nonprofit organization specializing in IT equipment and electronic appliances designed to meet Halacha.

For Amigo Shabbat owners, this technology makes all the difference because they can continue to participate in those sacred traditions.

Heshy Gottlieb lives in Florida and uses her Amigo Shabbat RT to travel to shul (synagogue) each Shabbat. She is grateful that it allows her to continue participating in Shabbos.

Another owner we interviewed described a similar experience, though she uses her Amigo more frequently. She shared that she’s struggled with her mobility since 2007 and was using a walker previously. Her synagogue is about a mile away from her home, and she needed a better solution to get there.

After consulting her rabbi, he suggested the Amigo Shabbat to her, and she had no doubts about her decision. She loves how well the Amigo steers and how stable it is. She did mention there is a learning curve to use the Shabbat mode.

“Just be prepared for it, and you’ll be fine,” she advised.

How does it work?

A toggle switch changes operation from “normal” to “Shabbat” mode. In Shabbat mode, if the rider does not engage the throttle, a built-in timing circuit automatically sets the Amigo in motion after 10 seconds. This meets the “no work” requirements of Sabbath observance.

Rabbi Jason Miller, a tech entrepreneur, digital media expert, and innovative Jewish educator, wrote a blog post about the Amigo Shabbat when it was first featured in the Detroit News.

In the blog, he addressed how it’s “kosher” for use on Shabbat.

“The key factor in the [Amigo]’s acceptability is the differentiation in Jewish law between a direct and indirect action on Shabbat,” Miller explained. “For instance, according to the laws of Shabbat, a Jewish person may not intentionally extinguish a flame, but if he opens the window and the wind blows out the flame, he has not violated the law.”

He went on to reference an article in the Saginaw News, where the late Rabbi Yisrael Rosen explained the need to apply this leniency.

“The law does not allow Jews to intentionally carry out non-Sabbath activities under the principle, but it does provide exceptions for people in dire need,” he said. “Health is among those needs. While not life-threatening, physical disabilities are a legitimate need that may allow a person to use the principle of indirect action for driving a [Shabbat Amigo] on the Sabbath.”