Conversation with Rabbi Soloveitchik on Using an Elevator Operated by a Gentile on Shabbat (1985)

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Memorandum Concerning Contract with Non-Jew to Ensure Sabbath Observance (1965)

The wholesale aspect of the business. If a non-Jewish employee works on a commission basis (either completely or in addition to a salary) then the following should be established in advance: the man must be told that he is to initiate no business on his own on Sabbath or Jewish Holidays. In other words, he should not solicit any business, either personally or by telephone, nor should he arrange, if possible, any business appointments on that day. However, he is completely free to answer any queries that he may receive either personally or through the telephone. In such case, no ”shtar mekhirah* is necessary.2• If a non-Jewish employee is not on a commission basis for the wholesale part of the business, then a ”shtar mekhirah’’ becomes necessary.3• In order for all the above to become effective, even through the use of a ״shtar mekhirah,” and allowing at the same time, for the Jewish name of the firm to be used for this new West-coast venture, it is highly important that the retail business be entirely in the hands of the non-Jew, such that all sales that he makes and all business that he procures will yield him direct benefit. He should not, in other words, be merely an agent for the Jewish firm in the retail aspect of the business. Even,if, for insurance or legal purposes, it is necessary that the retail business be incorporated under the name of the Jewish owners of the wholesale business, as long as it is clearly understood that all work done by the non-Jew is directly to his own benefit or loss in the retail area, which means that it is effectively his own business, then the venture may be entered without fear of the violation of the Sabbath. However, even in this case, it is imperative that every effort be made to supply a different name for the retail outlet. Even if one should be willing to keep, in small letters, the name of the Jewish owners, than at least one should add in bolder letters, both for the sign on the door…

Practical Halacha

Exchange with R. Felder about Halacha of Sending Publications to Subscribers on Shabbat (1969)

שלום רב וברכות לידידי הנעלה הרה"ג מוהרר"ג פעלדער שליט"א, אחדש"ת, שמחתי לראות פניו לפני שבועיים באספת הסתדרות הרבנים ולדרש בשלומו. יודע אני שמע"כ עמוס עבודה, עבודת הקודש, ומ"מ הנני מרשה לעצמי להוסיף עליו, כי הדבר נחוץ וכל הדבר הקשה בענינים כאלה יביאון אליו. השאלה הראשונה היא לענין מ"ע לבעלי כלכלה, אלה העוסקים ב"סטאקס". המ"ע יוצא מדי שבוע ושבוע, והוא נשלח בדואר מקנזס בכל שבת. כנראה שהמו"לים הם נכרים. השאלה – אם מותר להצטרף כקורא-קונה למ"ע זה. השעלה השני' היא ב

Practical Halacha

Exchange with R. Gifter about Birchat Kohanim for Shabbat Violators (1959)

מעלות כבודו הרב הנעלה מורנו הרב נחום לאם שליט״א, שלום וברכת מועדים לשמחה! קראתי בעניין את מאמרו בחוברת האחרונה של הדרום – אין דיני פסול כהונה לנסיעת כפיים, ואמרתי להעירו בדברים אחדים אשר לדעתי לא דק בהם, והדברים נוגעים למעשה: 1) כבוד תורתו הניח כיסוד דפסולו של עובר עבירה דנכרי – דמומר כנכרי לכל דבריו.

Practical Halacha