cleaner on yomtov | Imamother

shalhevet

Tue, Aug 28 2007, 1:59 pm

A Jew can only ask a non-Jew to do something for them on Shabbos/ Yomtov if the Jew is allowed to do it himself. That includes arranging with them before as well.

However if there is a permissable way to do the action, it is of no further consequence to the Jew how the non-Jew does it.

So there is no way to clean a carpet/ floor on Yomtov, but you can ask a non-Jew to wash the dishes and provide them with a scrubber which is allowed to use and then it is irrelevant if they decide to use a sponge and hot water because they prefer it.

Please ask a rav for details, because the halachas are very complex and many people don't know them.

Have you considered cancelling your cleaner that week?

shopaholic

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 7:22 am

My cleaning lady comes every Thursday so she knows what to do. therefore, when she comes on Yom Tov, I don't need to give her instructions, except to keep the lights on that were already on. And I don't let her vacuum.

shalhevet

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 8:20 am

It's not to do with giving instructions. You are not allowed to have a non-Jew do any issur for you on Shabbos/ Yom-tov even if you never said anything to them, ever. Unless, as I mentioned, there is a muttar way to do the same action and THEY chose to do it another way.

And if they did it without you asking them (say you have a non-Jew in your house and they saw you sitting in a room, reading in the dark, and they switched the light on for you) you are not allowed to benefit from the melacha.

Please ask your rov, because I know many people have mistaken ideas about this.

chen

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 9:46 am

shalhevet wrote:

A Jew can only ask a non-Jew to do something for them on Shabbos/ Yomtov if the Jew is allowed to do it himself. That includes arranging with them before as well.

Explain, then, the widespread phenomenon of the Shabbos [gentile].

shalhevet

Wed, Aug 29 2007, 9:58 am

chen wrote:

shalhevet wrote:

A Jew can only ask a non-Jew to do something for them on Shabbos/ Yomtov if the Jew is allowed to do it himself. That includes arranging with them before as well.

Explain, then, the widespread phenomenon of the Shabbos [gentile].

Whoops - you're right, chen.
It's allowed for certain conditions - eg for a choleh she'ain bo sakana - someone sick but not in danger, but not something like a headache. A child under 9 is always considered a choleh she'ain bo sakana. Also if it is extremely hot or cold anyone is considered as such which makes it permissible to have a [gentile] come to turn on heating or AC. I don't remember the exact conditions but that's the general principle.

But... that does not allow a [gentile] to do your laundry, vacuum, clean the floors, wash the walls and whatever (or even take out the garbage if there's no eruv).

In fact it's also assur for there to be a noise in your house which sounds like chilul Shabbos, so it's forbidden for a Jew to say, turn on a dryer or washing machine before Shabbos that will continue to operate on Shabbos.

Like I said, everyone needs to consult with a rav, because the halachos are very complicated and not well known. I'm not sure if I have everything right here and if there are other opinions.