Ger & Shabbat

The question of how a ger (who "made kabbalah") should observe Shabbat could get quite controversial and it can be a source of confusion for many, Jews and Gerim. The Talmud states that a non-Jew who keeps Shabbat is liable for the death penalty (Sanhedrin 58b), which has led some to assume that gerim should not keep a Shabbat, or else risk severe punishment. However, this is not true.

According to Keritot 9a, there are three ways in which a ger may observe Shabbat. The first is to keep it like a Jew would on an ordinary weekday, by remembering the day as a Shabbat but otherwise carrying on with normal activities. In other words doing malachot (the 39 forbidden creative activities for Jews on Shabbat) for him/herself on Shabbat. The second is to keep it like a Jew would on intermediate days of a festival, by toning down usual activities but still doing malachot for him/herself that would otherwise be forbidden on Shabbat for Jews. The third way is to keep Shabbat in the same way as a Jew would on a Festival. The last one, for some reason, which we will not be going into now, is not followed.

Gerim are explicitly not permitted to perform a melacha (any of the 39 forbidden creative activities) for a Jew on Shabbat, whereas a non-Jewish Shabbat goy (nochri) "may be permitted to do so". The concept of Shabbat Goy is actually just to distinguish between ger and nochri and not to be applied by a Jew even though the concept exists.

The distinction between a ger and a non-Jewish Shabbat goy is extremely important to know, as it reflects the different levels of obligation and coordinate that exist between these two groups (ger and nochri). A ger has chosen to ''make kabbalah'', whereas a non-Jewish so called Shabbat goy (nochri) has not. Therefore, while a ger is not required to keep Shabbat in the same way as a Jew, the keeping of Shabbat serves as witness that they have rejected idolarty (shituf in our day and age).

How would a ger then desecrate the Shabbat? The answer is; by doing malacha for a Jew.

To which goy is it then refering to as being liable for the death penalty (from Heaven that is) if he/she keeps Shabbat? The answer is, the nochri. In other words the one from the nations who hasn't made kabbalah, who is not ger. The chiddush (novel idea) is that the nochri can trans to ger should he/she wish to. The path is open to all humanity.





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