Drafting plans for a non-Jewish house of worship

Hi,

A Jew may serving as a draftsman to draw up plans for construction of a house of worship for a non-Jewish religion. However, it would be good to avoid this, unless that would damage social harmony or create financial hardship.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:68)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"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

The light bulb in the refrigerator

Hi,

If opening the door of a refrigerator is guaranteed to turn on a light, one may not open the door on Shabbat.

One whose Shabbat food is inside the refrigerator may ask a non-Jew to open the refrigerator door. Although one may not ask a non-Jew to violate Shabbat for one's self, here the non-Jew does not intend directly to turn on the light, and it is for the sake of the mitzvah.

One who will have a great need to re-enter the fridge later for another Shabbat meal may ask the non-Jew to remove the bulb. Although he is now asking the non-Jew to directly violate Shabbat, it is for the sake of a mitzvah and no other options are available.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:68)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Having a non-Jew help with heating up food on Shabbat

Hi,

If a Jew is not permitted to place food on a hotplate or blech due to the laws of Shabbat, he is also not permitted to have a non-Jew do it on his behalf, and food heated up in that manner would be prohibited.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:94)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Work on Erev Pesach

Hi,

Although one may not engage in work [see previous emails] on the afternoon of Erev Pesach, one who hires a non-Jewish employee or contractor may permit him to work at that time as needed, even on the premises of the Jew's home.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 468:1; Mishneh Berurah 468:5; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 468:1-3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Having someone else do the grafting

Hi,

Just as one may not graft a branch from one species of tree on to a tree of another species, so one may not have a non-Jew do this on his behalf. This follows the view that both Jews and non-Jews are instructed against cross-species grafting.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 295:2; Beiur haGRA Yoreh Deah 295:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai