Giving presents to a gentile-Part 1

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Giving presents to a gentile:

A. May one give a present to a gentile?[1]

It is forbidden to give a free present to a gentile who one is not acquainted with.[2] This applies even if the gentile is not an idolater, such as a Muslim.[3] If, however, one is acquainted with the gentile, he may give him a free present, as certainly the gentile will repay him for the favor.[4] Regarding if one may give a gentile acquaintance a present in honor of his Holiday-See Halacha C!

 

B. Giving Charity to a gentile:

Coming up soon!

 

C. May one give a present to a gentile in honor of his Holiday, such as chr–tmas and New Years?

Coming up soon!

 

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[1] Michaber Y.D. 151:11; Avoda Zara 20

[2] Michaber ibid

The reason: As this brings closeness amongst the Jews and gentiles, and can cause him to learn from his ways. [Chinuch Mitzvah 426]

[3] Shach 151:18

Ger Toshev: It however does not apply to a Ger Toshev [Shach ibid], who are those gentiles that have accepted the seven Nohadite laws. [Chinuch 426]

[4] Taz 151:8

The reason: Being that the Gentile will repay him, it is thus not considered like a present at all, but rather like a sale. [ibid]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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