Sunday, December 2, 2012

"Holiday" Presents



Hi,

Am I allowed to give a "holiday" gift or bonus to my non-Jewish employee?

We encourage the development of positive relations between Jews and their neighbours, for the sake of creating a healthy society. However, we are restricted from strengthening our neighbours' loyalty to that which we consider idolatrous.

Because of these rules, we are prohibited from sending a non-Jew a gift on the day of his holiday. However, one may send it before the holiday. Further, there are no concerns regarding sending a gift if one knows that the recipient does not personally observe that holiday as a religious event, and there is no concern that the recipient will think that the sender observes the holiday as a religious event.

(Avodah Zarah 6a-b, 64b-65a; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 148:5, 8, 12; Shach Yoreh Deah 148:13; Rabbi Mordechai Willig at http://bit.ly/sgvoiX)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

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