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Tuesday, 16 Shevat, 5786
  |  February 3, 2026

Beis Shmuel’s Shabbos Goy

Mishpacha Magazine brings the story of Richardo Virgil Virgo who serves as the intuitive "shabbos goy" of Congregation Beis Shmuel in Crown Heights. Full Story

Setting the Record Straight

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R. Shemtov to Farbreng 19 Kislev

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Jonathon and Anne!
November 21, 2013 1:34 am

You inspire us all the time!
COL readers: You can’t imagine how amazing it is after Jonathon has driven over an hour ONE WAY to bring food to someone who got stuck in Timbuktu on the way home for Shabbos to hear him THANK the person for giving him the opportunity to serve him and the opportunity to be blessed. This is the message he gives over EVERY SINGLE TIME he helps someone! And Anne is equally gracious and giving. The Dyruds are definitely Chasidi Umos Haolam and an inspiration to us all!

Limud zchus
November 19, 2013 7:16 pm

First off CH isn’t a RH
Acc th AR in SHA there are no RH anymore
Tzoirech Gogol is for a rov to decide not you
There are countless respected Lubavitch tabs mom that give a heter to have a goy push even across very busy streets (4 Shluchim for sure)
Don’t be so quick to judge.

To # 3
November 19, 2013 7:07 pm

There are some Rabonim who will tell you that Oneg Shabbos for the mother is a Mitzvah. ( Not to be stuck in the house the entire Shabbos particularly in the summer) So therefore it is Shevus Dishvus Bimkoim Mitzvah. Act according to your Rov.

wonderful
November 19, 2013 6:57 pm

This article is absolutely beautiful!

The comments, awful!

Strollers on Shabbos
November 19, 2013 5:52 pm

Please assume that if a goy is pushing a stroller on Shabbos that the circumstances warrant it and that a Rav has been consulted, unless you know otherwise. Don l’chav schus! You may not have any idea of the issues involved.

Number 3 is wrong.
November 19, 2013 3:57 pm

Please explain how having a gentile push a stroller on Shabbos, (the Malacha of Tiltul), fits the criteria of Shvus D’Shvus Bimokoim Mitzva/Tzoirech Godol. And that is assuming there is no other issues of Schar Shabbes etc.

how fortunate are we
November 19, 2013 3:25 pm

what a kiddush hashem yidden should learn from goim about love and add in their ahavas yisroel

Minnesota
November 19, 2013 2:06 pm

Jonathan and Ann are a blessing to our extended community!
Always ready and happy to help. He is knowledgeable about what can be said or what he should figure out.
He and his wife most certainly are from the Chasidi Umos Haolam. May G-D bless you!

Jonathan and Ann!
November 19, 2013 1:26 pm

You are the best!

Inspector
November 19, 2013 12:43 pm

Please inspect the process to see what, when and how everything is done, before “paskening”.
In other words- come daven with us at Bais Shmuel!

There is a boss
November 19, 2013 12:00 pm

There is nothing wrong with a non Jew picking up sealed cases of wine and sealed boxes of food all of the stores do that.

Its allowed by every Halachik authority.

Mevushal
November 19, 2013 11:58 am

He never puts the wine in the warmer. The wine is already always Mevushal.
On a more serious note, Ayn Bishul Achar Bishul, and the food is sealed by the caterers.

Bless the righteous
November 19, 2013 11:38 am

Thank you to Jonathan and Ann who have helped yidden countless times!!!

to number 1 - disgrace is on you
November 19, 2013 11:28 am

the wine is mevushal and sealed so whats the problem?
food is sealed and warmer turned on by a yid so whats your issue with that?? as long as you’re quick to jump in and criticize. To #2, about the stroller pushing, you are correct

your not allowed
November 19, 2013 11:05 am

your not allowed to ask a goy to put food on a warmer!!
even if ur saying to a guy to do it with a hint

Apparently #2 is ignorant
November 19, 2013 10:49 am

Unfortunately you’re ignorant, go learn hilchos shabbos.

Menachem
November 19, 2013 9:36 am

Having Goyim push your stroller on your behalf, on Shabbos is Assur.
Unfortunately many residents are either ignorant or choose to ignore this Halacha

Disgrace
November 19, 2013 9:13 am

Nice to know that some one does the work but which rabbi allowed the goy to get the wine and food and the set it in the warmer

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