May one permit a gentile to vacuum the carpet on Shabbos?

In the previous shiur we learnt that a gentile may find a convenient way to carry out a request provided that the request can be carried out in a permitted manner. Based on that, we learnt that a gentile may use a dishwasher to wash dishes, as the dishes could be washed in a permitted manner.

Accordingly it would then seem that a gentile may use a vacuum cleaner to clean the carpets because similarly, it can be done in a permitted manner.

Before we answer the question we must briefly explain the issue of cleaning carpets on Shabbos.

The Rama [1] writes that one may not shake a garment on Shabbos in order to remove the dust thereon. The Mishna Berura [2] explains that the halacha is referring to dust absorbed into the garment and not to dust lying on top of the garment. The Mechaber, [3] on the other hand, says that one may not shake dew from a garment and does not prohibit the shaking of dust.

The Mishna Berura says [4] that one may permit a gentile to dust one’s clothing (relying on the Mechaber) especially when dusty clothes will cause embarrassment.

So up to this point it seems that vacuuming should be permitted by a gentile?

There is another issue involved called àååùà îéìúà – making noise.

The Rama [5] deals with the following issue: a person would fill the container of a water mill with wheat and the mill would then grind the wheat automatically. The Rama says that one may not fill the container close to Shabbos because the grinding may be heard outside and people might think that one was grinding on Shabbos.

The Rama continues that it is permitted though to wind a grandfather clock before Shabbos even though the ticking (and the chimes) will be heard on Shabbos as it is known that one winds a clock before Shabbos and the noise emitting from the clock is due to the initial winding.

The Mishna Berura [6] adds that it is prohibited to wind the clock on Shabbos and one may not ask a gentile to wind it either.

Accordingly, we would say that the gentile may not vacuum the carpet as it can be heard outside and people will suspect one of violating the Shabbos.

Does this prohibition apply to Sephardim as well?

The basis for this question is that the Mechaber [7] permits operating the mill before Shabbos and is not concerned with 'ivsha milsa'. [8] Accordingly it would seem that the Sephardim who follow the Mechaber may permit a gentile to use a vacuum cleaner when the carpet could be cleaned b’heter. The problem is however that a vacuum cleans far better than one can with one’s hands and therefore it may be forbidden for a gentile to use a vacuum. One should ask one’s rav for a p’sak in this matter.

May I hand money to a gentile before Shabbos with instructions to purchase something for me without specifying that I want it bought on Shabbos?

The Shulchan Aruch writes [9] that one may hand money to a gentile with instructions to make a purchase, provided that the request does not specify making the purchase on Shabbos. The Mishna Berura [10] cites the poskim saying that this only applies when the gentile is being paid for working, in which case it is considered as if it is being done for the gentile’s own benefit – to receive his pay. If the gentile is not paid or rewarded for working, when making the purchase on Shabbos,  we view it as if it is work being done for the Jew - and is forbidden.

Another stipulation is that it is possible to make this purchase on a day other than Shabbos. [11] If, for example, the purchase can only be made on Shabbos, or the only time you ask the gentile to make the purchase is Shabbos, then even without requesting that it be bought on Shabbos, it is prohibited. This would be similar to telling him to make the purchase on Shabbos.