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Amirah LeNochri: Difference between revisions

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There is a rabbinic<ref>The Gemara Gittin 8b (and several others) explicitly state that Amirah LeNochri is only a rabbinic prohibition. Additionally, the Ramban Shemot 12:16 writes that even though the Mechilta learns Amirah LeNochri from a pasuk, it is only an asmachta. Rav Hershel Schachter [in a shiur on yutorah.org] explained that Amirah LeNochri is a rabbinic prohibition that is patterned after (Ke'eyn Deoritta) the din deoritta of Amirah LeGer Toshav, of which the Tosfot Yevamot 47b s.v. Zu writes that asking a Ger Toshav to do a melacha on [[Shabbat]] for the benefit of a Jew is a biblical violation of [[Shabbat]].</ref> prohibition to ask a non-Jew to do work for oneself on [[Shabbat]].<ref>One of the earliest sources of this prohibition is the Mishna ([[Shabbat]] 121a) that states that it is forbidden to ask a non-Jew to put out a fire on [[Shabbat]]. Rashi (150a s.v. Amirah) writes that this Mishna is the source for Amirah LeNochri. </ref>
There is a rabbinic<ref>The Gemara Gittin 8b (and several others) explicitly state that Amirah LeNochri is only a rabbinic prohibition. Additionally, the Ramban Shemot 12:16 writes that even though the Mechilta learns Amirah LeNochri from a pasuk, it is only an asmachta. Rav Hershel Schachter [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/802426/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Shiur_# in a shiur on yutorah.org (Shabbat Shiur #50, min 0-2)] explained that Amirah LeNochri is a rabbinic prohibition that is patterned after (Ke'eyn Deoritta) the din deoritta of Amirah LeGer Toshav, of which Tosfot (Yevamot 48b s.v. Zeh Ger) writes that asking a Ger Toshav to do a melacha on [[Shabbat]] for the benefit of a Jew is a biblical violation of [[Shabbat]].</ref> prohibition to ask a non-Jew to do work for oneself on [[Shabbat]].<ref>One of the earliest sources of this prohibition is the Mishna ([[Shabbat]] 121a) that states that it is forbidden to ask a non-Jew to put out a fire on [[Shabbat]]. Rashi (150a s.v. Amirah) writes that this Mishna is the source for Amirah LeNochri. </ref>
<p class="indent">There are three reasons for the Rabbinic prohibition to instruct a non-Jew to perform work for a Jew on [[Shabbat]]: (1) asking a non-Jew to do work will cause a laxity in the observance of [[Shabbat]], (2) there’s a statement from the prophets which says “[[Daber Davar]]” meaning that one’s speech on [[Shabbat]] should be different from one’s speech on the weekdays, and (3) instructing a non-Jew is halachically considered a form of שליחות (agency) which attributes the actions of the messenger to the sender. <Ref>39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 63-4) </ref></p>
<p class="indent">There are three reasons for the Rabbinic prohibition to instruct a non-Jew to perform work for a Jew on [[Shabbat]]: (1) asking a non-Jew to do work will cause a laxity in the observance of [[Shabbat]], (2) there’s a statement from the prophets which says “[[Daber Davar]]” meaning that one’s speech on [[Shabbat]] should be different from one’s speech on the weekdays, and (3) instructing a non-Jew is halachically considered a form of שליחות (agency) which attributes the actions of the messenger to the sender. <Ref>39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 63-4) </ref></p>
There’s two main sections of Amirah LeNochri, instructing a non-Jew and benefiting from the work of a non-Jew. <Ref>39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 64), Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:1 </ref> See also [[Summary of Amirah LeNochri]].
There’s two main sections of Amirah LeNochri, instructing a non-Jew and benefiting from the work of a non-Jew. <Ref>39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 64), Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:1 </ref> See also [[Summary of Amirah LeNochri]].
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# In places where there is a heat wave one may ask a non-Jew to turn on a fan or air conditioning for someone who is suffering from the extreme weather. <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:11, Sh"t Minchat Yitzchak 3:23-4, http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=591 </ref>
# In places where there is a heat wave one may ask a non-Jew to turn on a fan or air conditioning for someone who is suffering from the extreme weather. <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:11, Sh"t Minchat Yitzchak 3:23-4, http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=591 </ref>
===For a Mitzvah===
===For a Mitzvah===
# For the purpose of a mitzvah, it’s permissible to ask a non-Jew to perform a Melacha only if it is only forbidden MeDeRabbanan. <Ref>S"A 307:5, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 74-5) </ref>
# For the purpose of a mitzvah, it’s permissible to ask a non-Jew to perform a Melacha only if it is only forbidden MeDeRabbanan. <Ref>Gemara Eruvin 67b, S"A 307:5, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 74-5) </ref>
# For the need of a mitzvah of congregation of people, we rely on the opinion who says that it is permitted to ask a non-Jew to do melacha for the purpose of a mitzvah. <ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:23, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 75), Mishna Brurah 276:25. See also the Ramban ([[Shabbat]] 130b) regarding Gittin 8b. </ref>
# Some say that this leniency of permitting Amirah LeNochri for the mitzvah of a congregation only applies to a mitzvah that is to occur on [[Shabbat]], but not for a mitzvah that is to happen after [[Shabbat]]. Others disagree. <ref>Rav Hershel Schachter (Be'ikvei HaTzon p. 57) writes that there is room to debate whether  the leniency of permitting Amirah LeNochri for the mitzvah of the multitude is a dispensation of the prohibition, in which case it stands to reason that it is only permitted if the mitzvah occurs on [[Shabbat]], or whether chazal never instituted Amirah LeNochri in such a case, in which case it would be permitted even for a mitzvah that is to happen after [[Shabbat]]. See the Machasit HaShekel 307:8 allows Amirah LeNochri on a derabbanan for a mitzvah of the multitude that is to occur tomorrow, yet, the Taz 655:2 seems to forbid it.  </ref>
# Some say that it is forbidden to ask a non-Jew to violate [[Shabbat]] in order to allow a congregation of people to learn Torah since [[learning Torah]] is supposed to lead to the practical fulfillment of Torah and not its descration. Others, however, argue that in this regard [[learning Torah]] is no different than any other mitzvah and it is permitted to ask a non-Jew to violate [[Shabbat]] in order to allow a congregation of people to learn Torah on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>The Pitchai Teshuva OC 276 quotes Rav Yitzchak Chaver who suggests that just like Torah is unlike other Mitzvot with regards to exempting one who is involved with a mitzvah from performing another mitzvah (osek be'mitzvah patur min hamitzvah) perhaps the same is true for Amirah LeNochri. The reason that [[learning Torah]] doesn't exempt one from performing other mitzvot is because Torah is supposed to practical fulfillment of Torah and mitzvot. Similarly, [[learning Torah]] can't be used as a valid dispensation of the prohibition of Amirah LeNochri for the sake of a mitzvah of the multitude (Mitzvah De'rabbim). The Orchot Chaim 514:7 disagrees and permits Amirah LeNochri for a congregation to learn Torah. 39 Melachos (vol 1, p. 75, n. 284a) quotes Rav Aharon Kotler as also permitting. Rav Hershel Schachter (Be'ikvei HaTzon p. 57) writes that those who disagree with Rav Yitzchak Chaver hold that we don't view the mitzvah of the multitude as a dispensation for Amirah LeNochri, but rather for the mitzvah of the multitude, chazal never introduced a prohibition. If so, there's no distinction between [[learning Torah]] and any other mitzvah. </ref>
# If it is necessary, in order to buy a [[land of Israel]] from non-Jews on [[Shabbat]], it is permissible to have a non-Jew write the document confirming the sale on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Gemara Gittin 8b, S"A 306:11</ref>  
===For The Need of Many People===
===For The Need of Many People===
# In order to prevent widespread transgression it’s permissible to ask a non-Jew to perform a Melacha Deoritta if that is necessary. For example, it is permissible to ask a non-Jew to fix the eruv if it fell on [[Shabbat]] so that many people don’t carry on [[Shabbat]] unintentionally. If the eruv string fell and the non-Jew can retie it with a bow, he should do so. If he can’t tie it with a bow, the non-Jew should tie it with a double knot <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:23, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 75), Mishna Brurah 276:25. See also the Ramban ([[Shabbat]] 130b) regarding Gittin 8b. </ref>
# In order to prevent widespread transgression it’s permissible to ask a non-Jew to perform a Melacha Deoritta if that is necessary. For example, it is permissible to ask a non-Jew to fix the eruv if it fell on [[Shabbat]] so that many people don’t carry on [[Shabbat]] unintentionally. If the eruv string fell and the non-Jew can retie it with a bow, he should do so. If he can’t tie it with a bow, the non-Jew should tie it with a double knot <Ref>Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 30:23, 39 Melachos (Rabbi Ribiat; vol 1, pg 75), Mishna Brurah 276:25. See also the Ramban ([[Shabbat]] 130b) regarding Gittin 8b. </ref>