Q. My third question is: How far can this go? We know that when someone is going through the process of giyur, they are supposed to begin observing all of hilchos Shabbos, but still have to do one melacha or shvus privately each week until they finish their giyur. Is it possible for Bnai Noach who are very serious about Hashem and following the Sheva Mitzvos to voluntarily accept upon themselves to abstain from melacha on Shabbos, as long as they don't fully avoid doing melacha? Meaning, they would be m'chalel Shabbos at least once each Shabbos.
A. To avoid the prohibition of keeping Shabbos for a Gentile in the process of conversion, a number of suggestions have been proposed; such as wearing a Taalis in a street that has no Eiruv on Shabbos, or to do work immediately after the end of Shabbos, (Since in the Gentile’s day, the night follows the day). If we are to follow the reason for prohibiting a Gentile to keep Shabbos given by the Talmud (ibid.) that “they should not rest”, both the Rambam (Shabbos 21,1 ) and the Ramban (Beginning of p. Kedoishim) consider even a Rabbinic infringement of Shabbos (a shvus), as a breach in the Biblically ordained resting of Shabbos.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is indeed that it suffices to do a issur d’rabbonon.”
It must be mentioned, that even for someone who is learned and knowing of the Chalachos of Shabbos, may easily transgress them, if he does not constantly revise and review them, since they are numerous and complicated. Besides, in our technologically changing times, new items and processes are constantly appearing and they require further attention and learning.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
