Issues with Non-Jewish Cleaning Help

Issues with Non-Jewish Cleaning Help

 

Aside from the issues regarding non-Jewish help in our homes on Shabbos, there are a host of issues that confront us during the week as well, such as: 

The isur of yichud: the prohibition of a Jewish man or woman being in seclusion in a private area with a person of the opposite gender, even a non-Jew; 

Kashrus: non-Jews may not cook for Jews unless a Jew lights the fire. If a non-Jew did cook for us, the vessels, dishes and pots, may become non-kosher, as well as the food. We also must ascertain that non-mevushal (literally, “cooked”) wine should not be accessible to non-Jews to be tampered with, thereby making it non-kosher.

There are particular kashrus concerns that apply if a non-Jewish helper or worker (e.g. nanny, carpenter, etc.) is left alone in our home, as described below. To avoid any kashrus problems with our food and dishes, it is highly recommended to lock access to the kitchen or, alternatively, to arrange a yotzei v’nichnas (coming in and out continuously) system. An effective yotzei v’nichnas system consists of two parts: a) we tell the workers that they are not to use our dishes or handle our food, and b) we frequently have a Jew come into our home without notice during our absence. Another option is to set up a CCTV surveillance camera system and inform the helper that the cameras are being monitored. The non-Jewish helper’s concern that they might “be caught in the act” will keep them from doing anything that is against our wishes. Even if we stay out for a lengthy period of time, though not ideal, as long as the helper is not aware of our schedule—how long we will be out of the house—the food is permitted to be used.

If an adequate supervision system is not in place, meat and other foods such as dairy products, oil, bread, or mevushal wine should not be accessible to them to be switched for non-kosher food. The non-Jewish helpers may also not have access to our pots and pans, as well as our ovens, as they could use them for their own treif, non-kosher, food, or mix milk and meat in our pots. We do not have to lock up all cooking utensils; we can tape the relevant areas shut so that any tampering would be immediately noticeable. Alternatively, we can neutralize the stove, oven, and microwave (e.g. shutting off the electricity to the oven), so that they are not useable while we are out of the home. In the event that vessels, dishes, or pots, were left in the presence of non-Jews, they are permissible after the fact, but it is preferable to wait twenty-four hours before using them for hot food. In a case of necessity, such as a senior citizen who has a non-Jewish aide, and none of the above-mentioned solutions are feasible, we should provide the non-Jewish helpers with their own set of dishes, pots, and pans, as well their own microwave oven, and then we need not be concerned that they will use our pots. However, if the worker does not do any cooking and only cleans the house, and is regularly served lunch by us or another Jew, there is room for leniency to leave the pots accessible to them (unless the worker is alone in our home for an extended period of time).

https://halacha2go.com?number=212

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.