Reminder: Make an Eruv Tavshilin

With the second day of Yom Tov falling on Shabbos, there is a need to make an Eruv Tavshilin, so that we may cook on Friday for Shabbos. Attached are pertinent halachos for the Eruv, compiled by Harav Yosef Braun.

With the second day of Yom Tov falling on Shabbos, there is a need to make an Eruv Tavshilin, so that we may cook on Friday for Shabbos. Attached are pertinent halachos for the Eruv, compiled by Harav Yosef Braun.

Eiruv Tavshilin

An eiruv becomes necessary when Yom Tov occurs on Thursday and Friday or on Friday and Shabbos. Don’t forget! Many overlook this important requirement, causing themselves great difficulties. It is highly recommended to schedule a personal electronic reminder via cell phone, email, or other method.

Prepare an Eiruv Tavshilin as described below. For more details, see the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch 527.

Even if you do not intend to cook food for Shabbos during Yom Tov you must nevertheless prepare an Eiruv Tavshilin and recite the appropriate blessing over it in order to be permitted to light Shabbos candles while it is still Yom Tov.94 Without an Eiruv Tavshilin,  you may not light candles during Yom Tov for the sake of the approaching Shabbos.

If you are being hosted as a guest during Yom Tov, ask a Rav regarding the permissibility of relying on your host’s Eiruv Tavshilin.

How do I Establish an Eiruv?

On erev Yom Tov, take: (1) a matzah (the size of kebeitza, the volume that would fit into two small matchboxes), that is benign set aside for Shabbos, and (2) a choshuv (presentable) prepared food such as fish or fowl (the size of kezayis, the volume that would fit into a small matchbox), and hand them both to a second person who will acquire the food on behalf of the entire community.

It is better that the second person not be a member of your own household. Even a non-family member who eats meals with you and is considered part of the family is preferable to an actual family member. You can also use your adult married son or daughter for this purpose, even if they still eat meals with your family. If no one but family members is available, you may designate your wife or an adult son or daughter who eats his or her meals at home with you.

When handing over the items, announce, “I hereby grant a share in this eiruv to whoever wishes to participate and depend on it.”

אני מזכה לכל מי שרוצה לזכות ולסמוך על עירוב זה

The second person acquires the food by raising it at least one tefach (3 to 3.5 inches). They then return it to you, and you recite the following:

ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על מצות עירוב.

Blessed … Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the mitzvah of eiruv.

(2)Through this, it shall be permissible for us to bake, cook, preserve the heat of a container of food, kindle a light, prepare and do all that is necessary on the holiday for Shabbos, for us and for all the Jews who dwell in this city.”

Those who understand Aramaic, recite in the original:

בְדֵין יְהֵי שָרָא לָנָא לַאֲפּויֵיּ ולְבַּׁשּולֵיּ ולְאַטְמּונֵיּ ולְאַדְלּוקֵי שְרַגָאּ ולְתַקָנָאּ ולְמֶּעְבַד כָל-צָרְכָנָא מִּיֹומָא טָבָא לְשַבַתָא לָנָאּ ולְכָל-יִשְרָאֵל הַדָרִים בָעִיר הַזֹּאת:

The matzah and cooked food are now set aside to be used as part of Seudas Shabbos.