TheHalachos of Eruv Tavshilin By Rav Asher Eisenberger When the first or second day of Yom Tov occurs on Friday, it is forbidden to cook and bake on Yom Tov for Shabbos unless an Eruv Tavshilin has been prepared on erev Yom Tov. The Eruv Tavshilin enables you to prepare food on Friday for Shabbos. If Yom Tov occurs on Thursday and Friday, one may not prepare on Thursday for Shabbos. Thursday evening after nightfall is considered the beginning of Friday. On erev Yom Tov the head of household or his designee should set aside a baked item and a cooked item for the Eruv Tavshilin. The eruv is held in the right hand and the bracha וצמ בורע ת לע ונוצו ויתוצמב ונשדק רשא is recited. After the bracha, an Aramaic proclamation found in the Siddur or Machzor, is recited. If one does not understand the Aramaic, he should recite the declaration in English, as follows: "By virtue of this eruv we shall be permitted to cook, bake, keep food warm, carry, light candles, and do all preparations on Yom Tov (i.e. Friday) for Shabbos.” The baked item used for Eruv Tavshilin, should be a whole challah or matzah, at least the size of a large egg (approximately 2 fl. oz.). Preferably, the cooked item used for the eruv should be cooked on erev Yom Tov. The cooked item may be anything usually eaten with bread, such as cooked fish or meat; it should be the size of an olive (approximately 1 fl. oz.). Many have the custom to use a hard boiled egg. Cooked cereals, rice or potatoes may not be used. Related to the mitzvah of Eruv Tavshilin, is the adage, “if a mitzvah is done with an item, one should attempt to use it for another mitzvah.” Therefore, there are those who use the loaf for הנשמ םחל Shabbos night and day, and then recite hamotzie on the loaf at seuda sh'lishis. The cooked item should be eaten on Shabbos as well. Continued on next page… 33
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