@ Sailrox and Chatsworth:
Thank you for both your comments: Chatsworth pointed out an error I made in my post in that Sailrox was only trying to be a sensitive and gracious guest. In my reply (and I guess because its an assumption in this long thread) I just assumed that mukzah and carrying on Shabbat in places without an Erev and even unwrapping a gift on Shabbat were known to all. But Sailrox specifically asked because s/he did NOT know. My bad.
So here it is: Chatsworth is correct: Foods and things not used directly for Shabbat can not be gifted on Shabbat or even unwrapped. Again my assumption (and its in the thread) is that you bring it over before Shabbat.
I apologize because I can foresee some really awkward moments if someone takes your wrapped gift and drops it in a corner with no explanation. Or doesn't accept it at all. Hopefully they won't start lecturing you on the halacha of what to you was a kind and thoughtful gift.
Then again perhaps its an appropriate action for a green Etrog havdalah candle gifted on Simchat Torah (which by the way WAS brought over early.)
↧