One should hold the matsah and the cooked food, and recite the Beracha followed by the text of the Eruv:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּנוּ עַל מִצְוַת עֵרוּב.
בְּדֵין עֵרוּבָא, יְהֵא שָׁרֵי לָנָא לַאֲפוֹיֵי וּלְבַשּׁוֹלֵי וּלְאַטְמוֹנֵי וּלְאַדְלוֹקֵי שְׁרַגָּא וּלְמֶעְבַּד כָּל צָרְכָנָא, מִיּוֹם טוֹב לְשַׁבָּת.
It is important to understand what is being said. One who does not understand the Aramaic should recite the following 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.”
FAQs
Why do we make Eruv Tavshilin?
On Yom Tov, cooking is permitted only for the current day; preparing food for the following day is prohibited, regardless of whether it is a weekday or a holiday. However, when Yom Tov precedes Shabbat, the Hachamim instituted that one may cook for Shabbat provided they ‘started’ their preparations before Yom Tov began. We, therefore, make an Eruv Tavshilin, joining the cooking done prior to Yom Tov with the cooking being done on Yom Tov for Shabbat. This ensures that one will not mistakenly assume it is permitted to cook from one day of Yom Tov to the next.
When can I make the Eruv?
The Eruv should ideally be made on Erev Yom Tov (either Tuesday night or Wednesday) and not earlier in the week. If one mistakenly prepared the Eruv earlier, it remains valid; however, if the mistake is realized before Yom Tov begins, the Eruv should be redone. In this case, the text of the Eruv is recited without repeating the Beracha.
What foods should I use for the Eruv?
Most have the custom to use a hard-boiled egg, although some say that using a more ‘honorable’ dish, such as meat or fish, better fulfills the mitzvah. Please note that rice, potatoes, and similar items do not qualify as the primary cooked dish for the Eruv.
One should use a piece of matsah, preferably a whole one, and a cooked item at least the size of a k’zayit (approximately 1 oz.). Most have the custom to use a cooked egg, although some say, that using a more respectable dish like fish or meat is preferred, as this brings more honor to the mitzvah. Rice, potatoes, and the like may not be used for the cooked dish.
What should I do with the food from the Eruv?
The food should be labeled or placed somewhere where it will not be eaten before Shabbat, as this could potentially invalidate the Eruv.
It is commendable for the foods from the Eruv to be eaten by the Shabbat meal and the matsah to be used as one of the matsot for lehem mishneh. Once they were used for one mitsvah they are used for another.
If only the matsah was eaten prior to Shabbat, one may still cook and bake as needed, however, if the cooked food was eaten or lost prior to Shabbat, the Eruv is only valid if there is at least a k’zayit (~1 ounce) leftover. If less than a k’zayit is leftover, or if the Eruv was lost, or if one forgot to make the Eruv a Rabbi should be consulted.
When can I cook for Shabbat?
The Eruv only allows cooking on Friday (or on Thursday night once the second day of Yom Tov starts). It does not allow one to cook on Thursday for Shabbat.
When cooking on Friday, ideally, the food should be cooked early enough that it will at least be edible prior to Shabbat. However, if one forgot to do so, they can rely on the lenient opinion, and cook the food even if won’t be edible before Shabbat starts.
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, only the text of the Eruv is recited, however, not the beracha.
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 they are including all their guests.
Can I wash dishes on Yom Tov for Shabbat?
It is questionable whether the text of the Eruv - “ולמעבד כל צרכנא – and to do all of our needs” expands the Eruv to allow one to do other melachot, which are otherwise permissible on Yom Tov, in preparation for Shabbat, or only melachot which are related to preparation of food. Nevertheless, it would still be permitted to wash dishes on Yom Tov for Shabbat.[1]
The Eruv can also be used for things which are not an actual melacha but are only a matter of “hachana – preparing” (e.g., sweeping the floors or making the beds).
[1] On Shabbat or Yom Tov, one is not allowed to use a regular sponge when washing dishes, as this would violate the melacha of “sehita – squeezing”.
