Jewish guide for dealing with Gentiles
A very interesting text outlining what favors are forbidden to be shown to gentiles, prepared by Kof-K, one of the "big 4" kosher supervision agencies. This is where the kosher tax goes.
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Highlights:
>The Torah tells us that it is forbidden to show certain favors to the goyim. The Chinuch explains the reason is so that we should distance ourselves from the goyim, and not learn from their ways. Some poskim say that this issur only applies to those who worship idols. However, most poskim maintain that it applies to all nations.
>One is forbidden to give a goy a free gift. However, if one is going to benefit from giving the goy a present, it is permitted. Based on this, it is customary to give one’s mailman a present during their holiday season. This present is to show appreciation for the work that he has done for you, so that in return the mailman will do his work more efficiently for you in the future. Additionally the poskim say if one has a personal relationship with the goy one may give him a present even if the yid will not have any benefit from it in return.
>One is prohibited from giving presents to a goyish acquaintance if his sole intention is to create feelings of friendship. One is permitted to give a goyish employee a bonus since it will encourage the employee to continue to work hard for him. Paying a goyish worker for days that he does not work is permitted since these payments are considered mandatory. It is permitted to say that a worker is a good worker to someone else, since the other person benefits from knowing if the worker is qualified to work for someone else.
>One is permitted to give blood at a blood drive run by goyim. The reason is because of the intense eivah [animosity] that is generated by the refusal of yidden to participate in health drives. Furthermore, it could be that a yid will receive the blood.
>If one sees a goy standing on the side of the road and he is stranded it would be correct al pi din [according to the law] to charge him something for a ride to avoid lo si’cha’neim, but in most cases it would make the yid appear too avaricious. Furthermore, if one sees a goy on the side of the road, and he is in need of a boost etc, there is no inyun for one to stop and help him out; unless it is at such a late hour that it might be that no one else beside yourself is available.
>It is permitted for a yid to give charity to a goy to promote peace between the yid and the goy. This applies even if goyim come by themselves without any poor yiden, since not giving them charity might cause hatred between the yiddin and the goyim. One is also permitted to eulogize them, bury their dead and comfort their mourners in order to promote peace. The poskim mention that it is preferable to avoid the aforementioned activities if one can do so without causing any ill feelings. One is permitted to say good morning or have a nice day to a goy. This is not considered a special blessing; but an example of proper behavior. When a goy that did you favors dies, one is permitted to say zochreinu l’veracha when referring to him.
>One is not allowed to praise a goy and say how nice he is. It goes without saying that one may not mention how great of a person he is. However, if one is doing so to give praise to Hashem then it is permitted.
>If one is not collecting sport cards for the face on the card, but rather in order to trade them for something else it is permitted. However, to collect them for the picture, meaning because he admires the person, who is on the card, is forbidden. It is a sign of maturity when one grows out of this childish practice.
>One is permitted to make a goy a guest of honor at a dinner and even give him an award if it is to benefit a Jewish organization.
