Preparing for Shabbat

From Halachipedia
Friday on a Jewish calendar

This is not an article on how to properly observe Shabbat. Rather, it is a chapter on how to properly observe Erev Shabbat, Friday. Indeed, there is an entire array of laws and customs on how to maximize our Fridays in preparation for Shabbat. Even one who has servants at his disposal is obligated to personally tend to at least some of the Shabbat preparations himself. [1]

Obligation

  1. Work should be minimized on Fridays in order to allow for plenty of time to properly prepare for Shabbat. [2]
  2. It is the husband's job to ensure that the Shabbat candles are in place and ready for lighting each week. [3]
  3. Even if one had many helpers or family members preparing for Shabbat one should make an effort to personally be involved in preparing for Shabbat. [4]
  4. One should endeavor to purchase flowers in honor of Shabbat. [5]
  5. Some great Rabbis have the practice to honor Shabbat by ensuring that the Shabbat table is set early in the day and some even set it on Thursday nights. [6]

Buying food for Shabbat

  1. One should begin one's Shabbat preparations as early as possible on Friday. [7]
  2. One should make sure to buy one's food for Shabbat on Friday and not before unless one feels that one won't be able to find those items if one only goes to the store on Friday. [8]
  3. One must pray before going to buy one's food for Shabbat and if one regularly learns one should not change one's practice and only buy the food afterwards unless there's a fear that one will loose the opportunity to buy the food in which case one should delay one's learning.[9]
  4. If there's a fear that if one waits until after davening one may loose the opportunity to buy one's food for Shabbat before prayer but one should at least say Shema beforehand. [10]
  5. When buying food for Shabbat, it is praiseworthy to verbally state to oneself that the food is for such purpose. [11]
  6. Indeed, one should endeavor to do something every day of the week in honor of Shabbat, as did Shammai. Whenever Shammai would go shopping and come across a tasty piece of meat, he would purchase it in honor of Shabbat. If later in the week he came across an even more attractive piece of meat, he would eat the first one and save the nicer one in honor of Shabbat. [12]

Tasting the food in preparation of Shabbat

  1. It is considered a great a mitzva to taste the Shabbat food every Friday afternoon. [13] in order to ensure that it is tasty and fit to be served at the Shabbat meal.[14]It is noted that the custom of tasting the Shabbat foods on Friday afternoons is one which is quite widespread. [15]
  2. Similarly, there are those who suggest that in the event that one knows exactly how the Shabbat foods taste (i.e. the same recipe and results week after week) there is no obligation to do so. [16] Nevertheless, in order to satisfy most opinions one should be sure to taste at least one dish in honor of Shabbat every Friday afternoon.[17]

Which foods should be tasted?

  1. Some authorities suggest that the mitzva of tasting the Shabbat food pertains specifically to the chulent[18] though most others insist that it applies equally to all the foods which one will be eating throughout Shabbat.[19]

Who should taste the food?

  1. There are a number of authorities who maintain that one is not obligated to taste every single Shabbat dish. It suffices for the lady of the house to taste the food in the course of her cooking to ensure that all the Shabbat foods are tasty.[20]

Eating on Friday

Having a festive meal

  1. On Friday, even in the morning, one may not make a large meal which one normally wouldn't have during the week. [21]

Normal meals

  1. Strict halacha permits one to eat an amount that’s normal for a weekday meal, however, one should refrain from beginning a meal which is normal for a weekday meal from the 9th hour (Shaot Zmaniot) in the day. [22]
  2. In the winter months when the Shaot Zmaniot (halachic hours) are short one should refrain from having a meal too close to Shabbat so that if one has a meal one will still have an appetite going into Shabbat. [23]

Snacks

  1. It’s totally permissible to have a snack the entire day of Friday and there’s no preference not to eat after 9 hours. [24]

Drinks

  1. Past the 9th hour, one shouldn’t drink so much that one won’t be hungry for the Shabbat meal. [25]

Preparation for Shabbat in Thought, and Word

  1. We learn from the Ari ZL that preparations for Shabbat should be made in thought and word, as well as in deed. One fulfills his obligation to prepare for Shabbat in thought and word by learning the daily portion set out in Chok Leyisrael. [26]

Brit Milah or Pidyon HaBen on Friday

  1. One may have the festive meal of a Brit Milah or Pidyon HaBen on Friday.[27] However, it is preferable to make the meal in the morning (before Chatzot, halachic midday). [28]

Wedding on Friday

  1. Similarly, a wedding which took place on Friday may be accompanied by a feast. However, it's preferable to push off the feast until Shabbat or another day. [29]

Engagement party on Friday

  1. One should not make a feast for an engagement party on Friday. [30]

Fasting on Friday

  1. There have even been individuals who would fast each and every Friday in order to ensure that they would have an appetite for the Shabbat meal. [31] While such a practice is simply not possible for the masses, it is recommended, however, that one not eat an actual meal (but rather a light meal or a snack) on Friday, especially during the winter months when Shabbat arrives early. [32]

Showering for Shabbat

  1. It is also a big mitzva to shower on Fridays, in honor of Shabbat, preferably late in the day. [33]
  2. The mitzva of showering can only be fulfilled with warm to hot water. [34]
  3. The order of what to wash first when showering is as follows: head, face, chest, right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg.[35]

Brushing one's hair

  1. One should brush one's hair nicely in honor of Shabbat. [36]

Cutting one's nails

  1. One should arrange for one's hair and nails to be cut on Erev Shabbat. [37]
  2. See also the Laws of cutting one's nails.

Going to Mikvah

  1. It is also meritorious to immerse in a mikva, if possible. [38]

Getting dressed for Shabbat

  1. One is required to inspect one's Shabbat clothes before the onset of Shabbat to ensure that there is nothing muktza in the pockets. This is especially crucial for one who lives in a place without an Eruv in which case it is forbidden to go outside on Shabbat with anything at all in one's pockets. [39]
  2. One should don one's Shabbat clothes late Friday afternoon in honor of Shabbat.[40]
  3. One should wear these clothes until at least after Havdalla on Saturday night.[41]

Traveling on Friday

  1. One should avoid all unnecessary travel on Erev Shabbat especially if it means travelling out of town. [42]
  2. If one plans on being a guest at someone’s home over Shabbat, one must be sure to arrive early enough on Friday to ensure that one's hosts will be able to properly prepare for one's Shabbat needs. [43]
  3. For the topic of boarding a boarding a boat on Friday see Taking a cruise over Shabbat.
  4. For the topic of boarding an airplane on Friday see Transportation_on_Shabbat#Airplane.

References

  1. ↑ Rivevot Ephraim 1:181, S"A OC 250:1, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  2. ↑ Mishna Berura 25:1-4, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin), Sefer Chassidim 121, 122. See also the Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:5; Shaarei Teshuva 250:2.who write that the sweat one emits while preparing for Shabbat is said to erase one's sins from the Heavenly record.
  3. ↑ Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin), Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:9.
  4. ↑ S"A 250:1
  5. ↑ Shir Hashirim Rabba 2:9; Vayikra Rabba 23:6; Kaf Hachaim (Palagi) 36:2, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  6. ↑ Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  7. ↑ Shabbat 117b; Tur, OC 250; OC 250:1, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  8. ↑ Gemara Shabbat 117b writes that a pperson should get up early on Friday to prepare for Shabbat. So rules S"A 250:1. Mishna Brurah 250:2 explains that the reason is that by purchasing food for Shabbat on Friday it's more recognizable that one is preparing for Shabbat than if one were to buy the food on Thursday. He adds that if there's a fear that one won't be able to buy one's food on Friday then one may do so on Thursday. So rules Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1).
  9. ↑ Mishna Brurah 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1)
  10. ↑ Mishna Brurah 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1)
  11. ↑ Mishna Berura 250:2
  12. ↑ Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) quoting Beitza 16a. See also Pesikta Rabati 23.
  13. ↑ Torat Menachem (Rav Menachem Mendel Shneerson, vol 18, pg 104) discusses the importance of this minhag as a symbol for the coming of Mashiach.
  14. ↑ Magan Avraham 250:1 writes that there's a righteous practice to taste the food for Shabbat on Friday in order to know whether it's spiced and tasty. This is quoted by the achronim including Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:3), Aruch Hashulchan, OC 250:4; Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:8; Mishna Berura 250:2; Rivevot Ephraim 2:115:37. Mishna Berura 250:2 writes that one should taste the Shabbat food on Friday in order to ensure that the is is tasty and fit for Shabbat. There's a number of source of this custom:
    • A hint for this custom can be found in the Shabbat Mussaf prayers which include the words "Those who taste it will merit long life". Although "taste it" in this context refers to Shabbat observance, poetic license allows these words to be interpreted as referring to the Shabbat foods, as well. There are those who take this teaching quite literally and insist that those who taste the Shabbat foods are assured a long life! (Machzor Vitri 181; Shibolei Haleket 82; Beit Yosef, OC 286, Elya Rabba 250:6)
    • Others suggest that the source for this custom derives from a mishna which enigmatically records that "Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai was given from the foods to taste". Some commentators suggest that this is a reference to the Shabbat foods which Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai would taste every Friday afternoon. ( Torah Chaim 250:2 based on Mishna Sukka 26b)
    • It is interesting to note that according to the Zohar, the mitzva of tasting the Shabbat food applies on Friday night and not prior to Shabbat, as most are accustomed to. According to this approach, the reason for tasting the food Friday night is to ensure that the daytime Shabbat foods are tasty.(Zohar, Bereishit 48b.) This opinion is puzzling, however, since once Shabbat has begun all further cooking is forbidden. In most cases it is not even permissible to add spices or do anything else to a food which is cooking on the fire. (Amot Shel Halacha by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
    • There is another, somewhat unfamiliar, explanation for the custom of tasting the Shabbat foods, as well. There are those who suggest that the custom derives from an ancient practice to fast every Friday until shortly before the arrival of Shabbat. As fasting on a Friday is generally forbidden, the custom of tasting the Shabbat foods close to the onset of Shabbat was born. In this way, through the requirement to taste the Shabbat foods Friday afternoon, those who were fasting could rest assured that their fast didn’t accidentally extend into Shabbat, which would be forbidden. So too, it ensures that one will not enter Shabbat in a state of discomfort or outright hunger. In fact, in some communities this tasting ritual was known as the "boi kalla" meal. (Aseh Lecha Rav 3:14)
  15. ↑ Mateh Moshe 408. The kabbalists were especially diligent to taste the Shabbat food on Erev Shabbat, comparing it to the exacting preparations one undertakes in order to properly prepare for the arrival of an important guest.(Shulchan Aruch Ha'arizal 260:5; Pri Eitz Chaim, Shaar 18:3; Shaar Hakavanot, Tevilat Erev Shabbat)
  16. ↑ In fact, it might be a greater display of honor to Shabbat not to taste such food beforehand and to rather save the gastronomic pleasure exclusively for Shabbat itself.
  17. ↑ Nimukei Orach Chaim 250
  18. ↑ Yosef Ometz, Minhagei Frankfurt 576
  19. ↑ Magen Avraham, OC 250:1; Shulchan Aruch Harav, OC 250:8
  20. ↑ Piskei Teshuvot 250:1
  21. ↑ S"A 249:2, Aruch HaShulchan 249:4, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). The Shulchan Aruch explains that the reason is so that a festive meal on Friday doesn't take away from one's appetite for the Shabbat meal and this is included in Kavod Shabbat. The Mishna Brurah 249:10 quotes another reason; if one is involved in preparing a festive meal it'll prevent one from preparing for Shabbat.
  22. ↑ S”A 249:2 writes that halachically it’s permissible to have a meal the whole day because we hold like Rabbi Yose in Pesachim 98b. However, even Rabbi Yose agrees that establishing a meal is forbidden after 9 hours.
  23. ↑ Mishna Brurah 249:16
  24. ↑ S”A 249:2 who writes that one can have a snack the whole day and preferably one shouldn’t have a normal meal after 9 hours. Mishna Brurah 249:15 writes this explicitly that a snack is permitted the whole day.
  25. ↑ Mishna Brurah 249:14 writes that the permit to have snacks the whole day doesn’t include drinks. He concludes that one should at least be careful from 9 hours and on not to have too much that one won’t be hungry for the Shabbat meal.
  26. ↑ Halachot of the Ben Ish Hai (Chacham Yosef Chaim) Shana Sheniya, Parashat Lech Lecha, 9.
  27. ↑ Rama 249:2 writes that if the meal of a mitzvah that has a set time such as Brit Milah and Pidyon HaBen one can have the meal even on Friday. Mishna Brurah 249:12 adds that even if the Brit Milah was delayed because the child was sick or a Pidyon HaBen which was not performed on the 30th day, nonetheless the feast may be held on Friday. Yalkut Yosef (Shabbat vol 1 pg 531) agrees.
  28. ↑ Mishna Brurah 249:13, Yalkut Yosef (Shabbat vol 1 pg 62)
  29. ↑ Mishna Brurah 249:9
  30. ↑ S"A 249:2 writes that one should not make a feast even for an engagement which is a seudat mitzvah. However, the Mishna Brurah 249:9 writes that this is only true if the engagement took place on a different day however, if the engagement actually took place on Friday the feast may be held. Nonetheless, the Mishna Brurah concludes that the engagements that we perform nowadays are not halachically binding as they were in the times of the gemara and so it's not considered a seudat mitzvah which would permit a feast on Friday.
  31. ↑ Yerushalmi Ta'anit 2:12; S"A OC 249:3, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  32. ↑ Aruch HaShulchan 249:6, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  33. ↑ Mishna Brurah 260:1, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). The Elya Rabba 262:6 explains that the reason that one should shower later rather than earlier is because we are taught that the pleasure one derives from a shower and being clean is only appreciated an hour or so afterwards. Delaying the shower closer to Shabbat will ensure that one enjoys this pleasure on Shabbat itself.
  34. ↑ S"A OC 260:1; Biur Halacha 260 s.v. “Bechamin” and "Lechof Harosh". But see Devar Chevron 2:229
  35. ↑ Shabbat 61a; Mishna Berura 2:7, 260:1; Be'er Moshe 3:1; Ben Ish Chai (Vayishlach 17), Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). The Ta’amei Haminhagim 249 writes that this pre-Shabbat wash is known in kabbalistic circles to assist in removing sins from one’s soul.
  36. ↑ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:12, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). See also Yosef Ometz 565
  37. ↑ S"A 260:1
  38. ↑ Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin), Mekor Chaim (Chavot Ya'ir) 260
  39. ↑ S"A OC 252:7; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:23; Aruch Hashulchan, S"A OC 252:18, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  40. ↑ S"A OC 262:2 and 3, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  41. ↑ Mishna Berura 262:8, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  42. ↑ S"A OC 249:1, Yabia Omer, OC 2:14:6, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
  43. ↑ Mishna Brurah 249:7, Amot Shel Halacha (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)
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