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Could someone point me to the right direction (halacha) regarding the validity of being served by a Jew working at the hotel where I reside during shabbat?

Basically I'm making him "work" on shabbat when I ask to clean the table or to refill an empty bowl... I know people explains this by comparing with being invited at someone's house shabbat but still I would like to understand it more.

Furthermore, I know for sure it's "allowed" since they have a "kosher lamehadrin" certificate on the door but still it disturbs me and I would like to take a look at the halachot on this subject.

EDIT: Here is a link (Hebrew) to the Rabanut HaRashit in Israel concerning the kashrut in hotel (pages 7/8/9 for Shabbat)

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There is a concept in halacha called "havla'ah"; lit. swallowing up. Although it is forbidden to pay someone for work they did for you on Shabbos, if you are paying a weekly rate and Shabbos happens to be one of the seven days, it's permitted. In the hotel case, the Jewish waiters must work a little before or after Shabbos and be paid for the entire job together.

Source: Shulchan Aruch OC 306:4.

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  • Thank you for the source, but what if he shows up only on shabbat ? How could I know, haRabanut in Israel doesn't control when a worker will check-in to work and yet they obtain a kosher lamehadrin certificate.
    – user1854
    Commented Sep 10, 2012 at 13:59
  • Is the hechsher certifying that the food is kosher, or that everything related to the function was done in accordance with halacha? If the latter, the rav hamachshir must ensure that.
    – Michoel
    Commented Sep 10, 2012 at 14:02
  • rabanut.gov.il this link points to a pdf concerning what should be controlled in hotels in order to be ready for shabbat. page 7/8 concern shabbat directly the rest are general rules regarding kosher food. There is nothing regarding workers check-in/check-out
    – user1854
    Commented Sep 10, 2012 at 14:18
  • Isn't the correct transliteration 'havla'ah'?
    – Oliver
    Commented Oct 29, 2017 at 0:30

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