Non-Jew Turning On a Keurig on Yom Tov

Cooking is allowed on Yom Tov, but only by using a fire that already exists. Creating a new fire is not allowed. The Mishnah in Beitzah and the Shulchan Aruch rule that “one may not produce fire” from wood, stones, earth or water. The Rambam explains that the Sages permitted kindling “only from an existing flame.” Producing a new fire is forbidden “because it is possible to ignite the fire before the holiday.” Turning on a Keurig starts a new heating element, so it falls under this prohibition.

Since the Jew may not do this himself, he may not have a non-Jew do it for him either. The Shulchan Aruch states that “everything that one is forbidden to do, it is forbidden to tell a Gentile to do.”

• Gemara Beitzah 33a (Mishnah) — one may not bring out fire on Yom Tov from wood, stones, earth, tiles or water
• Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 502:1 — one may not produce fire on Yom Tov from wood, stones, earth or water
• Rambam Hilchot Shevitat Yom Tov 4:1 — on Yom Tov one may kindle only from an existing flame; creating a new fire is forbidden because it could have been done before the holiday
• Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 307:2 — whatever a Jew is forbidden to do, he is forbidden to tell a non-Jew to do