Passover 5782

Ben Zoma said:Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30).

With regard to a Festival that occurs on Shabbat eve, one may not cook on the Festival with the initial intent to cook for Shabbat. However, he may cook on that day for the Festival itself, and if he left over any food, he left it over for Shabbat. The early Sages also instituted an ordinance: The joining of cooked foods [eiruv tavshilin], which the mishna explains. One may prepare a cooked dish designated for Shabbat on a Festival eve and rely on it to cook on the Festival for Shabbat. The tanna’im disagreed with regard to the details of this ordinance: Beit Shammai say: For the purpose of the joining of cooked foods one must prepare two cooked dishes, and Beit Hillel say: One dish is sufficient. And they both agree with regard to a fish and the egg that is fried on it that these are considered two dishes for this purpose. If one ate the food prepared before the Festival as an eiruv and none of it remained for Shabbat, or if it was lost, he may not rely on it and cook with the initial intent to cook for Shabbat. If he left any part of the eiruv, he may rely on it to cook for Shabbat.

The measure of an eruv tavshilin is not less than a kazayit (the mass of a large olive)—whether it is for one or for thousands. And we do not make this eruv with bread nor with groats, but rather with a dish which is an accompaniment (to the bread)—such as meat, fish, eggs and that which is similar to them. For an eruv tavshilin, one can even rely upon lentils at the bottom of the pot, and even upon the fat on the knife when he cuts the roast—he may rub it off [for this purpose], if there is a kazayit of it. The dish that they spoke about regarding this eruv can even be roasted, even boiled, even pickled or smoked. One may surely even rely upon small fish that were rinsed with hot water, and their rinsing is their cooking. And this eruv needs to be in existence until one bakes all that he needs to bake and to cook all that he needs to cook and heat all that he needs. But if the eruv was eaten or lost or burnt before he cooked or baked—such a one is surely forbidden to bake and to cook or to heat, except for that which he is eating on the holiday alone. [However,] if he started on his dough or his dish and the eruv got eaten or lost—such a one can surely finish [the task]. One who puts down an eruv tavshilin in order for him and others to rely upon it must have it acquired for them in the way that one has a Shabbat eruv acquired. And anyone who may acquire regrading a Shabbat eruv may acquire regarding an eruv tavshilin. And anyone who may not acquire regrading that eruv may not acquire regarding this. And he does not need to inform those for whom he acquired [it] from the eve of the holiday. But they must know that another person acquired [it] for them and made an eruv for them; and afterwards they may rely upon it and cook and bake—even though these [people] did not know until the holiday, they are surely permitted. And a person should make an eruv for the whole city and for all that are close to it within the perimeter; and on the morrow, he should announce [it] and say, "Anyone who did not put down an eruv tavshilin may rely upon my eruv. One who puts down an eruv tavshilin is obligated to recite [this] blessing: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us regarding the commandment of eruv." And [then] he says, "With this eruv is it permitted for me to bake and to cook from the holiday tomorrow for Shabbat." And if he acquired it for others, he should say, "for me and for x and for y" or "for all the people of the city together, to bake and to cook from the holiday for Shabbat."