5783-2023
Rabbi Hayim Asher Arking – Ohr Halacha
Rabbi Ezra Ghodsi – Ohr Halacha
WHY DO WE MAKE ERUV TAVSHILIN?
When Yom Tov precedes Shabbat, we make an Eruv Tavshilin, joining the cooking done on Yom Tov with the cooking that was started prior. On Yom Tov, one is only allowed to cook for that day of Yom Tov and not for the next day, regardless of whether it will be a weekday or Holiday. The Hachamim instituted that one may only cook for Shabbat if he already “started” his cooking before Yom Tov began. This is so that one will not mistakenly assume it is permitted to cook from one day of Yom Tov to the next.
WHAT FOODS SHOULD I USE FOR THE ERUV?
One should take bread, preferably the size of a k’betsah (~2 oz.), and a cooked item the size of a k’zayit (~1 oz.). Using a respectable dish of fish or meat brings more honor to the mitzvah and is preferred, however, a cooked egg will suffice. Rice, potatoes, and the like may not be used for the cooked dish.
HOW DO I MAKE THE ERUV?
One should hold the bread and the cooked food, and recite the Beracha followed by the text of the Eruv:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה, אֱלֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת עֵרוּב.
One should understand what they are saying.
If the Aramaic is not understood the following should be recited instead:
“With this Eruv, it will be permitted for us to cook, bake, insulate food, light candles, and attend to all our needs - from Yom Tov to Shabbat”.
WHAT DO I DO WITH THE FOODS FROM THE ERUV?
One should be careful that the foods of the eruv are not eaten before Shabbat, as this would invalidate the Eruv. The foods should be eaten at some point during Shabbat. It is customary to use the bread as one of the loaves for lehem mishneh on Shabbat.
WHEN SHOULD I COOK ON YOM TOV?
According to many opinions, one should cook the food early enough to ensure that it will be edible before Shabbat starts. It is therefore important for one using a slow cooker or crockpot to have the food set up early enough for it to be edible before sunset. If one forgot to do so, they can rely on the lenient opinion and it would still be permitted for them to cook closer to Shabbat even though it will not be edible.
WHAT IF I AM NOT PLANNING TO COOK ON YOM TOV FOR SHABBAT?
If one is not planning on cooking for Shabbat, for example, they will be eating out as a guest, they should still make an Eruv. There are other melachot the Eruv covers, and one may unexpectedly need to cook. In these situations, a beracha is not recited.
WHAT IF I AM A GUEST AT SOMEONE ELSE’S HOUSE?
Married children or other guests eating all their meals at their host can be part of the host’s Eruv and need not make their own. It is preferable for the host to verbalize before making the Eruv that he is including all his guests.
CAN I WASH DISHES ON YOM TOV FOR SHABBAT?
The text “צרכנא כל ולמעבד – and to do all of our needs” expands the Eruv to allow one to do other things in preparation for Shabbat, as long as they are permissible to do on Yom Tov. Therefore, one may wash dishes or do other things necessary for Shabbat.