Hi Rabbi Simon,
I wanted to clarify the issue of inviting non-Jewish guests on Yom Tov. My understanding is that it is allowed to invite people who are already formally engaged in the conversion process. However, it is less clear to me for partners/friends of a Jewish person or people who are not yet part of the Beth Din program. Some of whom may already be renting a room in a Jewish family home and/or have serious intentions to start the process ASAP.
Even though all food is already cooked before Yom Tov and it is very unlikely any additional food will be cooked on the day, how strict/lenient should/can one be in inviting a non-Jew or a Jew asking to come with a non-Jewish partner/friend?
Is there a difference of opinion between Ashkenazim and Sephardim?
Thank you in advance for explaining the best halachic practice.
Best wishes
Gershon
Hi Gershon
Thank you for your question.
The Talmud and Sh”‘A forbid inviting a nokhri [gentile] for a Yom Tov meal, due to the possibility that the guest may request more soup (for example) and the householder may quickly prepare this for him, in the manner of a gracious host. For this reason, one who is a member of the household (such as a lodger, housekeeper, etc) may eat at the Y”T table, since s/he has not been invited per se and the host will not feel the same motivation to provide hot food specifically for him (but rather as a member of the household generally).
Some say this may even apply to a paid customer: He receives what he paid for; not an all-you-can-eat proposition.
This may even apply to one who “rocks up” uninvited, since the rabbinic prohibition is extending the invitation itself. (Of course, actually cooking specifically for the non-Jewish guest is strictly forbidden, and may well be a Torah prohibition, since the permission in the Torah to cook on Y”T is in order to enjoy the festival–for those who have a mitzvah to celebrate Y”T. A gentile has no such mitzvah, therefor the permission granted in the Torah for cooking–known in the Talmud as okhel nefesh–does not apply.)
The heter to invite a conversion candidate is a novel leniency which is limited to one who is actually on the conversion programme under the auspices of a Beth Din. In my view, one who merely expresses curiosity, interest, or even intent “to start ASAP” is not sufficient.
For this reason, one should not invite a Jewish guest together with his or her non-Jewish friend or partner on Yom Tov, unless the partner is actually a bona fide candidate for conversion. When Y”T and Shabbos coincide, of course, you may invite them all. (We had three such couples on Shabbat Hol ha-Mo’ed recently.)
There are some who have suggested contrived and awkward solutions, but these are often unrealistic. In a specific instance of need, let me know and we can explore possibilities.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes and kind regards
Rabbi Rashi Simon