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Ask the Rabbi: What is a Shabbos Goy?

Written by Movement for Reform Judaism Thursday, 17 September 2009

Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain of Maidenhead Synagogue answers the question: "From time to time I hear of the 'Shabbos goy'. What is it?"

The Ten Commandments dictate that Jews are not allowed to work on the Sabbath. The nature of this work is not defined in the Bible, and so it is left to rabbinic interpretation as to what does and does not constitute work, which is then laid down in the Talmud. Amongst the various bans is that against lighting a fire. The original intention was doubtless to prohibit fires for agricultural or other work purposes, but the ban extended to fires in a domestic context too. It became particularly onerous for Jews living in cold climates in times before central heating, who were not allowed to light their wood or coal fire and who therefore had no heat on Shabbat. This was not only uncomfortable but also militated against the concept of 'oneg Shabbat' - Sabbath joy - that was supposed to characterise the day.

A solution that developed was to ask a non-Jew to light the fire. However, the Ten Commandments declares that the prohibition extends to non-Jewish servants, and so asking them outright was forbidden. The tradition was therefore to invite a non-Jew round and say something like "oh its cold" and for the person to take the hint and light the fire without the Jew asking directly. Sometimes this was done on a voluntary basis, othertimes local children were given a few pennies for performing the task each week. Hence the term 'Shabbos goy' i.e. a non-Jew who helped you on the Sabbath. Some Orthodox rabbis disapproved of  the practice, regarding it as a way of circumventing the law. Nowadays, the 'Shabbos goy' is a rarity as Orthodox Jews will use pre-set electrical timers for the heating to come on. Some might consider that equally unacceptable and that the whole issue illustrates what happens when tradition and common sense are at variance. For Reform Jews, the Sabbath does require effort and planning to make it special, but it is also important to retain the notion that the Sabbath should enhance one’s comfort and rest, not become a burden; nor should it lead to behaviour that brings Sabbath observance or Jewish tradition into disrepute.