Shabbos goy

[1] The word goy, which translates literally as "nation" in Biblical Hebrew,[2] has over time acquired the meaning of someone who is not Jewish.

In modern usage in English, the word goy is sometimes seen as derogatory, but this is a point of discussion in the Jewish community.

According to Adi Ophir and Ishay Rosen-Zvi, this usage started to take place from the first and second century onwards.

According to Ronald J. Eisenberg, "Today the proliferation of electronic timers has virtually eliminated the need for the Shabbos goy, who once played an important role, especially in the shtetls of Eastern Europe.

"[8] Notable examples include Maxim Gorky,[7] Thomas D'Alesandro Jr,[9] Floyd B. Olson,[10][11] Harry S. Truman,[12][13][14] Pete Hamill,[15] Colin Powell,[15][16][17] Mario Cuomo,[17] Martin Scorsese,[15] Ralph Branca (who did not know at the time that he was Jewish),[18] Tom Jones,[19] and the adolescent Elvis Presley,[15][20] all of whom assisted their Jewish neighbors in this way.