Surprising 'Shabbos Goi' Revelation Shocks New Square

By Idy Perl

An interesting story is taking place in New Square, where unexpected revelations are taking place. 

For the past 15 years, New Square had a dedicated Shabbos goy who would help all New Square residents when they needed something on Shabbos. He had previously served as a police officer in NYC, and later held a security post during the week and would work in New Square every Shabbos. 

“He was extremely devoted and always did a great job, he was with us for 15 years!” one New Square village employee shared. 

Recently, he started talking with New Square residents, and mentioned offhandedly that he has some Jewish ancestors. The Dayan of skver, R’ Yosef Yisroel Eisenberger, threw himself into the task of tracing the man’s history, until he was able to confirm that his mother, and in turn the Shabbos “goy”, was a kosher Jew.  

The man insisted that he had converted and was now a Catholic, and local askanim explained to him that since according to halacha he is a kosher Jew, they can’t ask him to do muktzah on Shabbos. 

This past Shabbos he was still in Skver, even though he was now unable to do any muktzah. One New Square family invited him in for the seuda and sent him off challah and wine and a taste of Shabbos.