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How far can i go when it comes to talking to goyim about our beautiful religion? can i tell them that every motzei shabbos right away i do something like do my homework for example?
They can read anything here.
You can certainly tell them about the sheva mitzvot. While not everyone agrees the Rema (Teshuva 10) says that they must adopt all of Choshen Mishpat so you can tell them about the laws of neighbors, torts, etc.
I would think several times before telling them about the CR as the multiplicity of opinions might confuse them (unless they have legal minds) and the lack of civility might turn them off.
anyone can google stuff nowadays, better they hear it from you, than from googling
Are they asking? Are you volunteering? What are they asking about?
From my experience, avoid it. Unless you live in an area with a lot of frum Jews, so the goyim will have already have a lot of exposure, they will think we’re crazies.
“anyone can google stuff nowadays, better they hear it from you, than from googling”
And we’ve seen on these comment boards how off base is the Judaic and halachic knowledge of people whose knowledge is from Rabbah Google.
And we’ve seen on these comment boards how off base is the Judaic and halachic knowledge of people whose knowledge is from Rabbah Google.
Even if that’s true, that’s *still* an improvement. At least I have the ability to evaluate what “Rabbah Google” says and make a judgement call as to what’s correct. I may or may not be correct, but I certainly have a better shot than someone without my knowledge and experience.
The Wolf
Wolf,
But there are people whose sum total knowledge is from Google.
And we see what they infer from their sources is wrong.
and many of those who use Rabbah Google are apparently incapable of discerning the truth. And yet they remain completely sure that they are now meivinim.
Well, a goy is not permitted to learn Torah and a goy who does learn Torah deserves death.
However, there are parts of Torah that a goy may learn.
Last week, I was on the subway and a man (don’t know if he was a Yid or a goy) asked me about my tzitzis and if they confer on me, or are indicative of, “rabbi status” (his words). To which I replied that they have nothing to do with “rabbi status” but are intended to remind us about G-d.
I said this because I know that the gadol hador, Moreinu Harav Avigdor Miller, zatzal, was once walking on Ocean Parkway and an Italian worker asked him about his tzitzis. And the Rav zatzal replied that it was to remind us about – and he pointed at the sky. And the goy understood that it was to remind us about G-d.
One needs to tread very carefully, lest he teach Torah to a goy, which is forbidden. [E.g., at work – if asked about something Jewish]
Another example is when hinting to a goy to do something on Shabbos, you have to know how to do it the right way, without teaching Torah to the goy and without transgressing the issur of amira l’akum.
Lights are on in bedroom.
Me to goy on Shabbos: “Excuse me, sir. It is hard for me to sleep when the light is on.”
Goy: Why don’t you turn it off?
Me: Today is the Sabbath.
Goy: Would you like me to turn it off for you, then?
Me: I am not permitted to ask you to do that.
Goy: So what do you want from me?
People don’t need Google to be misinformed. Rav Miller was never the Gadol hador.
lesschumras: While he may not have been the Godol Hador, he certainly was one of the Gedolei Hador.
Iac, no disagreement
I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that included in Amira l’akum is not mentioning the melacha, even if it is not a direct request. so saying “I can’t turn off the light because it is shabbos” would be assur. The way mik5 said it would be ok because no melacha was mentioned.
MLK,
1. If it touches issues which he must keep (e.g. gezel) one may teach him.
2. There are situations where it is permissible to ask a goy to do something. There are also situations where it is not but one may ask a goy to ask another goy. You should ask a rav. You should also learn the halachot both tho know what you may and may not do and to know when you have a question and how to ask it.
Regarding the issue of lights, it is my understanding that you can ask him to skim through a book or magazine and tell you what he thinks. After he turns on the light for himself you can tell him not to turn it off. If the light is fluorescent it is easier as lighting it according to most opinions is d’rabbanan.
You should learn the halachos of teaching torah to a Non-Jew, and consult with a rav who knows these areas well.
You should learn the halachos of teaching torah to a Non-Jew, and consult with a rav who knows these areas well.
Again with Rabbi Google and people reading the news, When you are asked about some topic (Usually its in relation to some news story) . Telling them “I am going to ask my Rabbi” doesnt really work in that circumstance
A. Rav Miller was one of the Gedolei Hador.
B. “my light in my room is on and i cant turn it on.” HUH?
included in Amira l’akum is not mentioning the melacha, even if it is not a direct request. so saying “I can’t turn off the light because it is shabbos” would be assur.
Correct. (However, there are opinions that are lenient with this.)
Also forbidden would be to say, “Please do me a favor. Please help me out. The light is on and I cannot sleep.” Because in this case, you are asking him to do a action. But to simply make an observation (“It is a little too bright for sleeping in this room”) is OK. B’shas hadchak, you could even tell the goy directly to turn off the light for sleeping, because shvus d’shvus b’makom tzaar (turning off a light is not a “constructive melacha,” but merely removing an annoyance). But lechatchila, it is not allowed.
Regarding the issue of lights, it is my understanding that you can ask him to skim through a book or magazine and tell you what he thinks. After he turns on the light for himself you can tell him not to turn it off.
Interesting. But once he “hops” that you’re doing a trick and he is really turning on the light for you, not allowed (to do that again next Shabbos).
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