Is it permissible to study for a test on Shabbos?

Chazal prohibited preparing on Shabbos for after Shabbos (hachana), even when both the activity and its result involve things that are otherwise permitted on Shabbos. Classic examples include rolling the Sefer Torah for a future reading, washing dishes that will not be needed again on Shabbos, or bringing a bottle of wine from the cellar specifically for havdala.¹

A preparation is allowed when it serves a genuine current Shabbos need, even if it also happens to prepare for after Shabbos. For example, making one’s bed on Shabbos morning is permitted if one will spend time in that room on Shabbos and the made bed enhances the room’s tidiness. Similarly, clearing the table after the Shabbos day meal is permitted if the table will be needed later on Shabbos, or if the messy appearance of the room is bothersome.²

Studying for a test in limudei kodesh is permitted because the learning itself fulfills the mitzva of Torah study, a present Shabbos need, and the knowledge gained is an immediate benefit, even though it also helps for the test.³ However, explicitly stating that one is learning now to do well on a post-Shabbos exam is problematic, since it’s verbalizing a weekday-oriented intention on Shabbos.⁴

Studying secular subjects for the sole purpose of passing a test with no interest in the material itself is a weekday-oriented preparation that constitutes hachana. But if one is also inherently interested in the knowledge, it would be categorized as an immediate benefit.⁵

The Alter Rebbe cites an opinion that forbids reading any secular wisdom on Shabbos under the rabbinic decree against shtarei hedyotos (“ordinary documents”), a category of weekday-type writings whose reading is restricted. He then records the common practice to rely on the more lenient view that allows reading books of wisdom and medical knowledge, because such works will not be confused with ordinary business documents.⁶

At the same time, the Alter Rebbe emphasizes that Shabbos and Yom Tov were given to the Jewish people primarily so that they could dedicate these days to Torah study.⁷

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