Can a Non-Jew Sin for You?
The prohibition of asking non-Jews to do what halacha prohibits us from doing applies through the length and breadth of Torah. Just as we cannot sterilize or neuter animals, we cannot ask non-Jews to neuter our farm animals or household pets. Just as we cannot violate the sanctity of Shabbat and Yom Tov, we cannot ask a non-Jew to perform prohibited actions for us. In this series join Rabbi Dovid Fink as he examines the parameters of this prohibition and learn under what circumstances the great rabbis have been lenient and permit asking non-Jews to act for us.
Can a Non-Jew Sin for You?: Lesson 1
Is it ethical to ask a non-Jew to do what the Torah prohibits us? Most of the commandments of the Torah apply only to the Jewish people. For example, we are not permitted to muzzle an ox while it is threshing our grain (Devarim 25:4). Although we have no interest in imposing our religion on non-Jews, can we ethically ask a non-Jew to do what the Torah prohibits us from doing?
In addition to being one of Rabbi Brovender's first students, Rabbi Dovid Fink is an outstanding expertﾠand teacher of Halacha. Rabbi Fink received his Rabbinic ordination from ITRI and the Mir and was awarded his Ph.D in Semitic Languages and Linguistics from Yale University. Rav Fink has taught thousands of students from all over the world for over 35 years.