Friday, November 2, 2012

Melacha Done by a Goy on His Own

Day: Friday
Date: November 2, 2012
Parshat: Vayera
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 307

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf. 

A non Jewish housekeeper who is washing dishes on Shabbat and wants to use the dishwasher, does not need to be stopped since she is doing it based on her own motives and she could have washed them in the sink had she wanted. 
One who is staying in a hotel may take food from the mini bar etc. on Shabbat even though the non Jewish room service will write what he took. This is okay since they are writing it for their own convenience so they will know what to charge him for. If the non Jewish housekeeper sees that the family is going to sleep on Shabbat and the lights are on, she may turn off the lights and she does not need to be stopped. Again, this is because she is doing this on her own without bring told. 

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at www.613dsh.com

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A Goy Who Does a Melacha On His Own For a Jew

Day: Wednesday
Date: October 31, 2012
Parshat: Vayera
Source: Yalkut Yosef: 307

Sponsored by the Aharonoff family in memory of Sarah bat Yocheved. May her neshama be elevated and may she be a heavenly advocate on our behalf.

A non Jew who is doing melacha for a Jew on the Jew's property on Shabbat, must be stopped. However if he wants to do a melacha for himself he does not need to be stopped even if he's using the Jew's utensils to do it. The Jew may not tell him to the melacha with his utensils. For example, if a non Jewish housekeeper wants to turn on the light for her Jewish employer the Jewish employer can not allow it. If the housekeeper wants to turn it on for herself one does not need to protest, however the employer can not suggest to her to turn it on. 

The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at www.613dsh.com