May the Janitor mop the Shul on Shabbos?
Question: It’s forbidden to have non-Jews do work for us on Shabbos, because amirah l’nachri shvus (telling or a gentile do a forbidden act on Shabbos on behalf of a Jew, or even having them do it of their own initiative, is forbidden by rabbinic decree). How is it that many shuls have non-Jews doing work for them on Shabbos? Are they doing the wrong thing, or are there things that may be done by non-Jews?
Answer: It’s permissible for a non-Jew to perform tasks on our behalf that we are permitted to do ourselves on Shabbos.
Even tasks that are forbidden to us may be done by a non-Jew for a shul as long as it’s forbidden only mi’derabanan (by Rabbinical decree); this is because they are doing it l’tzorech (for the sake of a) mitzvah or l’tzorech rabim (for the benefit of the community).
However, they may not do work that is forbidden mi’d’oraisa (by Biblical command).They may therefore not mop the floor, since it may be an issur (prohibition) d’oraisa, nor should they cut plastic tablecloths on Shabbos.
There is room for permitting a non-Jew to wash the public bathroom in the shul on Shabbos, since bathrooms host many germs that may be contagious, and lead to illnesses or infections, G-d forbid; it is also not kavod habriyos (human dignity) to have people use a bathroom that is not clean.
Non-Jewish waiters in a hotel or at a sheva brachos celebration may perform tasks that are forbidden mi’drabbanan, if there is a necessity. 454
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