Question: Is it permissible to instruct a non-Jew to turn on and off our lights on Shabbat?
Answer: Our Sages prohibited a Jew to instruct a non-Jew to do forbidden work for him on Shabbat, even though non-Jews are not commanded to keep Shabbat. The Sages supported this based on the verse regarding Shabbat and holiday observance, “No work may be performed on them,” as opposed to saying, “You may not perform work,” meaning that neither you nor your non-Jewish friend may perform your work on Shabbat.
A Torah Prohibition?
The Poskim disagree regarding whether this prohibition is biblical or rabbinic. Some say that the expounding of the above verse is absolute and is therefore a Torah prohibition while others say it is merely a hint to the rabbinic prohibition. Halachically speaking, we rule that this prohibition is only rabbinic, not biblical.
Why Instructing Non-Jews was Prohibited
The Rishonim list several reasons why instructing a non-Jew to do work on Shabbat is prohibited:
The Rambam writes that the reason is so that one will not treat Shabbat lightly and thereby eventually come to do work on one’s own on Shabbat. This means that were we to spend the entire Shabbat telling a non-Jew to turn on the light for us, Shabbat observance would fall apart and even Jews would begin to desecrate Shabbat.
Rashi, on the other hand, states a different reason. He writes that when a Jew asks a non-Jew to do work for him on Shabbat, the non-Jew becomes an agent of the Jew and according to the rule that “one’s emissary is like himself,” it is like the Jew is doing the forbidden work himself on Shabbat. (Even according to Rashi though, this prohibition is only rabbinic.)
The Poskim list several other reasons for this prohibition as well.
Instructing a Non-Jew to Move Muktzeh
The prohibition to instruct a non-Jew to do work for us on Shabbat extends to rabbinic injunctions as well. For instance, one may not instruct a non-Jew to move a Muktzeh object on Shabbat although Muktzeh is not a biblical prohibition.
There are nevertheless many detailed laws regarding instructing non-Jews to do work on Shabbat. Therefore, those who live among non-Jews (like those living outside of Israel) or those who are elderly or infirm and have non-Jewish aids must make sure to know the halachic ramifications of how to deal with them on Shabbat.
In our generation, there are several works authored specifically regarding these extensive laws written in clear, easy-to-understand language, for instance, Maran zt”l’s Chazon Ovadia, Hagaon Rabbeinu Yitzchak Yosef Shlit”a’s Yalkut Yosef, and Halichot Shabbat, among others. One should make sure to own at least one of these books so that one can quickly reference these laws as needed.
Summary: In general, it is forbidden to instruct a non-Jew to do work, such as turning on the lights, for us on Shabbat.
