Chapter 30
General Rules Relating to Actions Performed by a Non-Jew on Shabbath and Yom Tov
TELLING A NON-JEW TO DO AN ACT WHICH IS FORBIDDEN BY A RABBINICAL PROHIBITION
15.a. One may tell a non-Jew to save movable property from a fire,
1) even if the property includes items which are muktzeh and
2) even if the property will have to be taken through a place where there is no eiruv (and carrying objects about is forbidden), as long as that place is not actually a reshuth ha-rabbim, as defined in Chapter 17, paragraph 3.
15.b. One may not tell him to extinguish the fire where
1) there is clearly no danger to human life,
2) there are not three or more people in the vicinity who may be exposed to the risk of bodily injury and
3) there are no mezuzoth or other sacred writings which are liable to be burned.
16.a. One may tell a non-Jew to bring
1) food that is essential for a Shabbath meal (or for any other meal which it is a mitzva to eat) or
2) hot food prepared for a Shabbath meal,
even through a place where there is no eiruv, so long as he will not have to take it through an actual reshuth ha-rabbim, as defined in Chapter 17, paragraph 3.
16.b. When there is no eiruv, however, one should not put the food into, or take it out of, the non-Jew’s hand, but should ask him to pick it up and put it down himself.
