Shabbos Delivery - Next Day Option

Q. In the previous Halacha Yomis we wrote that one cannot send a package with UPS or FedEx on Friday and select “next day delivery.” Is there any basis for leniency in cases of necessity?

A. The Minchas Yitzchak (6:18) writes that in instances of great need one may be lenient, since the sender does not speak directly with the mailman who will be delivering the package. At most one gives the package to a clerk who passes it along to a series of employees until it reaches its intended destination. This is known as amira l’amira (asking one non-Jew to ask another non-Jew to do melacha) which is the subject of a major dispute among poskim. The Chavos Yair opined that amira l’amira is similar to a shevus d'shevus (a double d'rabbanan), and is permitted for a d'var mitzvah or in cases of financial loss, while Avodas Hagershuni maintained it is forbidden. The Mishnah Berurah (307:24) rules that one may rely on the lenient opinion in situations of significant financial loss.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.