Shabbat goy

A Shabbat goy, Shabbos goy or Shabbes goy (Yiddish: שבת גוי, Modern Hebrew: גוי של שבת "goy shel shabat") is an individual who regularly assists a Jewish individual or organization by performing certain acts for them on the Jewish Sabbath which are forbidden to Jews within Jewish law. The phrase is a combination of the word "Shabbos" (שבת), referring to the Jewish Sabbath, and "goy" (גוי), meaning "foreigner" or "non-Jew."

Orthodox Judaism prohibits certain types of work on the Jewish Sabbath. Within certain guidelines (as dictated by the Shulchan Aruch, the most authoritative Jewish code of law), a non-Jewish individual can perform certain acts which are beneficial for Jews but would be forbidden for them to perform. In certain households and synagogues a particular non-Jewish person (invariably not a member of the home/synagogue) may be designated as the Shabbos goy for that place. This individual is usually one who would be present regardless of this role, such as a babysitter or a synagogue maintenance crew member, and is typically paid for the work. Before the 20th century Shabbos goys most commonly lit (or re-lit) stoves in Jewish homes in the winter. In the 20th century Colin Powell and Mario Cuomo both assisted their Jewish neighbors in this way. ["Former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell and Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York State, each a former Shabbos goy, both share fond recollections of their youth, when they were uniquely qualified to lend a Jewish neighbor a hand." Fertig, Avi. [http://www.jewishpress.com/print.do/26175/Glatt_Kosher_Adventure_To_The_Land_Down_Under.html "Glatt Kosher Adventure To The Land Down Under"] , "The Jewish Press", November 21, 2007.] ["... [R] eaders follow General Powell all the way back from Gulf War strategist to South Bronx Shabbos goy, the lad who earned a quarter on Friday nights turning on and off the synagogue lights for Orthodox Jews." Clines, Francis X. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9402E1DF1539F932A35753C1A963958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all "The Co-Author of Gen. Powell's Book Is Given a Part as the Story Goes On"] , "The New York Times", October 1, 1995.] The artists Martin Scorsese [Chan, Sewell, [http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/white-ethnic-politics-irish-and-italian-catholics-and-jews-oh-my/?scp=1-b&sq=White+Ethnic+Politics%3A+I+&st=nyt "White Ethnic Politics: Irish and Italian Catholics and Jews, Oh, My!"] , "The New York Times," October 25, 2007] and the adolescent Elvis Presley [Sources give two different people for whom Elvis was a Shabbos goy. In [http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/droyal/Steve%20Stern%20Interview.pdf Tugging at Jewish Weeds: An Interview with Steve Stern] it was the Dubrovner family; to Alfred J. Kolatch, in his "Inside Judaism: The Concepts, Customs, and Celebrations of the Jewish People" (Pub. Jonathan David, 2006), p. 480, citing a secondary source, it is Rabbi Alfred Fruchter who is helped.] similarly helped neighbors.

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References

* Katz, Jacob (trans. Yoel Lerner). [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst;jsessionid=HwCSm1GrnyF1CDFJCYZJ3yZJJTb65GtLyS9kqGqJlyL1CmLyTFh5!867149249?a=o&d=1445473# The "Shabbes Goy": A Study in Halakhic Flexibility] , Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia/Jerusalem, 1989.
* [http://www.aish.com/jewishissues/jewishsociety/The_Shabbos_Goy.asp Velarde, Joe. The Shabbos Goy - That Was Me]