Halacha for Thursday 14 Sivan 5784 June 20 2024

A Meal on Erev Shabbat

Question: At what point does it become forbidden to eat a meal on Friday?

Answer: There are several variables related to this question, which we shall now discuss.

The Prohibition to Eat on Erev Shabbat
There are certain kinds of meals which our Sages decreed may not be held on Friday, so that one does not enter Shabbat overly satiated and unable to eat the Shabbat night meal with appetite.

Three Kinds of Meals
There are three kinds of meals: One is a meal one is accustomed to eating every weekday, such as bread with some cheese for breakfast. Another type of meal is one that one does not usually eat during the week. The third is not really a meal at all, such as some fruit or meat, without bread.

A meal one is accustomed to eating during the week may be eaten anytime on Friday; according to the letter of the law, it is even permissible to eat such a meal during the afternoon hours. For instance, if one usually eats bread and salad every day at 2:00 PM, one may do so on Friday afternoon as well.

A meal one does not usually have on weekdays, such as if one does not eat bread during the week at all, may not be held anytime on Friday. This kind of meal is already forbidden from Friday morning.

A meal of an unsettled character, such as rice with some vegetables or meat (without bread) may be eaten on Friday, however, one should take care not to eat it at such a late hour that it will impinge on one’s appetite for the Shabbat night meal.

The Mitzvah to Abstain from Having a Meal Close to Shabbat
There is a Mitzvah to abstain from eating a meal, even one that one is accustomed to during the week, beginning from three seasonal hours before the onset of Shabbat. There are several details regarding these laws that we cannot delve into at this point, however, the main idea is that one should not eat a lot, even without bread, within three hours of the onset of Shabbat.

We should point out that there are families where it is customary that the children and grandchildren gather in the grandparents’ house on Friday and eat a large meal cooked by the grandmother. This is an inappropriate custom and constitutes an affront to Shabbat. The Gemara states that there was a prominent family in Jerusalem that was completely eradicated and left without any continuation because they sat down to heavy meals on Erev Shabbat. It is therefore proper to abolish this custom and to merely taste the foods in a way that the family members wish to enter Shabbat with an appetite for the meal.

The Kaf Ha’Chaim writes that one should not drink alcoholic beverages on Erev Shabbat (not referring to just tasting a sip; rather, actual drinking) so that one can enter Shabbat sober and with a clear head. Entering Shabbat intoxicated is obviously disrespectful to Shabbat and can likewise prevent one from eating the Shabbat night properly.

8 Halachot Most Popular

Parashat Ki Tetze

Gathered from the teachings of Maran Rebbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztzvk”l (from the years 5744-5772) (written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) Ellul is the Time to Engage in Battle Against the Yetzer Hara, ......

Read Halacha

Eating and Washing Oneself on Yom Kippur

Regarding the custom of Kapparot, we have discussed in the past that this custom may be fulfilled through money. A bill is taken ($10, $20, etc.) and circled around the head of the atoned party three times, and the following text is recited: “This money is in your stead, your substitute, and y......

Read Halacha

Eating Cake on Shabbat Morning

Today's Halacha is dedicated for the merit and protection of All Our Dear Soldiers May Hashem give them strength and courage to vanquish our enemies and may they return home safe and sound amid health and joy. May Hashem protect all the captives and have mercy upon them so that no harm befalls......

Read Halacha

The Laws of Blood Found in Eggs

Blood in Eggs Blood found in eggs is forbidden for consumption, for this blood indicates the beginning of the embryotic development of the chick and this chick has the halachic status of “fowl” whose blood is forbidden for consumption by Torah law; thus, the opinion of the Rosh and Tosa......

Read Halacha


 The “Shehecheyanu” Blessing

Our Sages teach us (Eruvin 40b) that one should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing upon seeing a new fruit that renews once a year. Even if one sees this fruit in the hands of another person or on the tree, one should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing. Nevertheless, the P......

Read Halacha

Parashat Terumah

From HaGaon Rav Zevadia HaCohen Shlit”a, The Head of the Batei Din in Tel Aviv (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) The Difference Between Moshe and Betzalel [Understanding Why Betzalel Was Able to Make the Menorah, Whilst Moshe Couldn’t] This Sh......

Read Halacha

The Holiday of Sukkot

The Gemara (Sukkah 11b) explains that the Mitzvah of Sukkah is in commemoration of the clouds of glory that surrounded our ancestors when they left Egypt. The Gemara (Ta’anit 9a) states: “Three great leaders arose for the Jewish nation: Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam. Hashem gave the Jewis......

Read Halacha

So that We May Refrain from the Injustice of Our Hands

During the Ne’ilah prayer, the prayer that culminates all the Days of Awe recited towards the conclusion of Yom Kippur, we state: “And You, Hashem our G-d, have given us this Yom Kippur etc. for pardon, forgiveness, and atonement so that we may refrain from the injustice of our hands and......

Read Halacha