Amera L'Akum

Question:

Can I tell a gentile to do a Melacha for me on Shabbos?

Part I

Discussion:

A Jew may not benefit from a Melacha which a gentile does on behalf of a Jew. This includes a Melacha the gentile did whether he was asked to do it for the Jew, was hinted to do it, or did it on his own initiative. If it was done for your benefit you may not derive benefit from it (we will see that in certain situations one may hint to a gentile to perform a Melacha. However, there are many details as to when and how that is permitted).

If the benefit is an indirect outcome of the Melacha it would not be prohibited. For example, if one wishes to sleep in a room where the light was left on and the gentile turns off the light there would be no problem sleeping there. However, one is still not permitted to instruct the gentile to turn off the light. We will discuss in a future week how one may hint to a gentile (Magen Avrohom 332:27).

If the benefit is a direct outcome of the Melacha then one is prohibited from using that benefit. For example, if the room is completely dark and one wishes to read he may not ask or hint to a gentile to turn on the light. If the gentile turns the light on for the Jew without being asked one still would not be permitted to use the room. However, If the gentile turns on the light for himself, the room may be used(Shmeras Shabbos Khilchasa 30:36). In this situation, one ma request that the light be left on even after the gentile is finished with the room. The reason for this is there is not additional melacha done by not turning the light off (Shmeras Shabbos Khilchasa pg.411 note 172).

Note: The laws of Amera L’Akum are very complicated and a slight variation in the scenario can change the Halacha. One should be very thorough when asking a rav in these matters.