Can I ask a non-Jewish neighbor to turn off a light on Shabbat?

Here's what you need to know

You should not directly ask a non-Jewish neighbor to turn off a light on Shabbat, but you may hint at the problem. Saying something like "it is really bright in here" is the accepted way to raise it.

The specific rule is

You may hint to a non-Jewish neighbor that you need the light turned off, but you should not directly ask them to do it.

Step by step

• Consider if the light being on significantly affects your Shabbat experience.
• Hint to your neighbor that it would be helpful if the light were off.

Background

On Shabbat, directly asking a non-Jew to perform work (melacha) is generally prohibited. However, if the light being on significantly disrupts your Shabbat, you can indirectly hint to them about the situation. This is based on the principle of 'amira l'nochri' (speaking to a non-Jew), which allows for indirect requests in certain circumstances. The common case is a bedroom light left burning at night, where the brightness genuinely stops you sleeping. Stating the problem rather than making the request is what keeps it indirect.

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