The Shabbes Goy: A Study in Halakhic Flexibility

by Jacob Katz, Yoel Lerner (Translator)

From the Babylonian period to the twentieth century, strictly observant Jews have depended on a non-Jew, or “shabbes goy” to perform work that was forbidden on the Sabbath. The author traces the role of the “shabbes goy” through the centuries. Katz affords the “shabbes goy” the central role in this fascinating case study on the larger question of the adaptability of halakhah to the ever-changing circumstances of life.

264 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Omri Flicker]

The sub-title says it all. A study in halakhic flexibility.

This is a really important work studying the twists and turns in the development of Jewish law by examining developments in one area over almost 2,000 years of Jewish legal writing.

[John Minster]

Wide spanning but extremely dry. Still srives home a central and important point about the nature of halacha however.

[Steve Gross]

A fascinating topic but a very poorly written book. This was translated from the Hebrew but I am told that the Hebrew version is just as dry. You can skip most of the book and simply read the last appendix.