9.It is permissible to place food in front of a Gentile in a house or in a courtyard [on Shabbos], even if one knows the Gentile will take it outside (into the public domain), provided that one does not place it directly into his hand; doing so would be considered performing the "akirah" (1). The above applies (2) only when the Gentile has permission to eat the food [in the Jew's property]. However, if he has not been granted such permission, or if he was given a large amount of food that he could not possibly finish eating there, or if he was given other objects that obviously will be taken outside, it is forbidden, because it appears that he was given the objects with the intention that he take them outside (3).

FOOTNOTES:

(1) As we saw in HY 82:3, lifting an article from its resting position is called "akirah"; placing it down is called "hanacha." Not only is it forbidden for a person to perform the "akirah" in one domain and then the "hanacha" in a different domain, but it is also forbidden to perform the "akirah" in one domain, without being the one to perform the "hanachah" in a different domain, or to perform the "hanacha" and not the "akirah."

There is an opinion among the authorities which states that only when the Gentile is standing outside the courtyard and stretching his hand inside to receive the object, would it be considered an "akirah" on the part of the Jew to pick up the object and place it into the Gentile's hand. However, if the Gentile is standing fully inside the courtyard (or house), picking something up and placing it into his hands, would not be considered an "akirah." The Mishna Berura 325:3 rules that one can be lenient and follow that opinion.

(2) That is, the permission to place food in front of a Gentile in a private domain6 on Shabbos.

(3) It is forbidden to ask a Gentile to perform a task that would be forbidden for Jew to perform.

	Paragraph 8	Paragraph 10
Table of Contents

Halacha-Yomi, Copyright (c) 2002 Project Genesis, Inc.