Skip to main content
Meaning in Mitzvot -
Lesson 118

Shavuot - Eiruv Tavshilin

21.09.2014

 

When Yom Tov falls on Friday, we have to make an eiruv tavshilin (lit. "mingling of cooked foods") on erev chag (the eve of the Yom Tov).  Although normally it is forbidden to prepare food on Yom Tov for the purpose of the following day, cooking on Yom Tov for Shabbat is permitted by specially designating some cooked dish before the holiday enters.

 

Although eiruv tavshilin is a Rabbinical mitzvah, our Sages based it on two different verses from the Torah, which relate to the two distinct aspects of this mitzvah.

 

One aspect of the eiruv tavshilin is for the honor of Shabbat.  Athough on a normal Friday everyone is busy preparing for Shabbat, when Friday is Yom Tov we are occupied with enjoying the holiday, and there is a danger we will neglect Shabbat preparations.  We overcome this danger by setting a side a bit of cooked food on Thursday afternoon, and designating it as the beginning of our Shabbat preparations.  Then "well begun is half done" and we are sure to continue and complete our Shabbat preparations on Yom Tov itself.

 

This aspect is based on the commandment to  "Remember the Sabbath day" (Shemot 20:8) - we need to remember it when we are likely to forget it.

 

The other aspect of eiruv tavshilin is the opposite - for the honor of Yom Tov.  Preparing for Shabbat in the normal way would constitute a neglect of Yom Tov, as well as a seeming abuse of the special permission to cook on Yom Tov, permission that is primarily intended to augment the enjoyment of Yom Tov itself.  By "mingling" our Shabbat meals with those of Yom Tov (this is the literal meaning of "eiruv"), each dish is partially designated for the honor of Yom Tov as well, and in this way there is no disrespect for the holiday.

 

This aspect is based on the directive "What you will bake, bake; and what you will cook, cook" (Shemot 15:23) regarding the manna in the desert - bake on Yom Tov for Shabbat only what you have already begun to bake beforehand (Beitza 15b.) This mitzva was given to the Jews in the desert when we found a double portion of manna on erev Shabbat - which was the twenty-second of Iyar (Shabbat 87b.) When erev Shabbat was a holiday, then a triple portion would fall on Thursday; the verse hints that in this case preparations need to begin on Thursday, and not be delayed until Yom Tov.

 

This dual aspect of eiruv tavshilin, independently safeguarding the honor of Shabbat and that of Yom Tov, sensitizes us to the subtle differences between these two holy days.  (Reciting "hamavdil bein kodesh lekodesh" (the blessing "He who separates between the holy and the holy") when Yom Tov falls after Shabbat has a similar effect.)

 

The sanctity of Shabbat is mainly inner and private, exemplified by the "neshama yeteira", the extra soul we receive on that day (Beitza 16a); that of Yom Tov is more external and public, exemplified by the particular emphasis on sharing with others on holidays (See Zohar Yitro, II:88b and Rambam Yom Tov 6:18.)  While rejoicing together with others is an important value in Judaism, we also have to leave sufficient time for private spiritual growth, which requires proper preparation.  Conversely, a person shouldn't become so absorbed in his private spiritual growth that he neglects the more public and social aspects of serving God.

 

The Gemara tells us that Avraham Avinu kept the entire Torah - even including eiruv tavshilin! (Yoma 28b.)  Avraham's spiritual journey was in some ways a very lonely one, and at its beginning he was the only person in the world to acknowledge God (Bereshit Rabba beginning of Lekh Lekha.)  But he never forgot the importance of public kiddush Hashem, (sanctifying God's name) and his tent was always open to the four winds to receive guests and invite them to join in God's service (See Iyun Ya'akov in the Ein Ya'akov on Yoma 28b, Igrot Rayah 110.)

This website is constantly being improved. We would appreciate hearing from you. Questions and comments on the classes are welcome, as is help in tagging, categorizing, and creating brief summaries of the classes. Thank you for being part of the Torat Har Etzion community!