Is dishwashing permitted on Shabbos? Is there any difference between plates and cups? What can be done when the sink full of dirty dishes becomes a bug-attracting eyesore? Is making beds permitted on Shabbos? Is the halacha different if one intends to leave the house for the rest of the day? Is laundry folding permitted on Shabbos? How should a tallis be folded after shul on Shabbos? Is returning perishables to the refrigerator or freezer permitted, even if they will only be used after Shabbos? Can a gabbai put up the "VeTen Beracha" sign together with the "Morid HaTal" sign on the first day of Pesach?
These and other related questions will be explored in this week’s article.
Torah Sources
In this week’s prasha we learn how the Jews gathered mohn in the wilderness (Shemos 16:5): "And it shall be on the sixth day, they shall prepare what they bring."
This pasuk teaches us several halachic principles regarding preparation for Shabbos, and from Shabbos to a weekday. One of the key lessons is that preparations for Shabbos must be done specifically on a weekday, not even on a Yom Tov. The Gemara (Pesachim 46b) discusses whether the prohibition is Torah-based or a rabbinic injunction. The Eruv Tavshilin which we make in order to cook for Shabbos on Yom Tov is born of this halacha.
The Sages expanded the prohibition beyond cooking. Even actions that do not constitute a Torah-prohibition are forbidden if they are performed on Shabbos for a weekday. This prohibition is known as "hachono" (preparing), which will be the focus of this week’s article.
The Shulchan Aruch lists many examples of activities prohibited due to hachono, including dishwashing, bedmaking, and folding clothes.
Dishwashing
Washing dishes on Shabbos that will clearly not be used on Shabbos is prohibited (Shulchan Aruch, OC 323:6; Mishnah Berurah). For example, washing dishes after Seudah Shlishis (while it is still Shabbos) is forbidden, since no more meals will be eaten.
However, washing cups is permissible, because people often need a drink after the meal. Additionally, if even one plate will be used again, all the plates of that size may be washed. On the other hand, for one who is certain he will not be drinking again (for instance, if he is leaving the house and will not return until Shabbos is over) washing the dishes is forbidden.
Nevertheless, if sitting in a kitchen near a sink full of dirty dishes is unpleasant, attracts flies, or emits a bad odor, washing them is permitted in order to preserve the day’s honor.
Making Beds
Making the beds neatly on Shabbos falls under the prohibition of hachono if the purpose is to prepare for the next day (Mishna Brura 30:19). However, if there is a possibility that a bed or couch will still be used on Shabbos—or even if there are multiple beds in the house but only one person may decide to nap without having chosen a specific bed, make all the beds in the house is permitted.
Similarly, even if no one will use any of the beds or sofas again on Shabbos, but the messy house is unpleasant to be in, tidying up is permitted.
When the family leaves the house on Shabbos morning without planning to return, making beds in order to return to a neat home after Shabbos is forbidden.
Another solution is to stay in the house for a few minutes after tidying up to enjoy the neat house before leaving.
Folding Clothes
Folding laundry on Shabbos is forbidden (OC 302:3, Mushan Brura) for a number of reasons: first, because folding clothing refreshes the garment’s appearance and is considered like fixing it. This restriction applies all the time, and does not depend on when the clothing is going to be used.
Chazal permitted folding clothing under the following four conditions:
- A new garment that has never been washed before: A garment that has never been washed does not benefit from folding. Therefore, this prohibition does not apply.
- A white garment, not colored.
- One person folds it while holding the garment in the air. Folding together with another person, or on a surface such as a table or bench, is prohibited.
- The person has no other Shabbos clothing to wear.
If any of these four conditions are not met, folding clothes on Shabbos is forbidden. Since having all four conditions is relatively uncommon, the accepted custom is to avoid folding clothes on Shabbos.
Not folding on the original creases is not considered an act of repair, and therefore permitted.
Even when folding is permitted, an additional prohibition applies to folding laundry -- preparation for a weekday. When the clothing is folded and stored for a weekday, doing so is forbidden. For example, folding and putting away a tallis after shul on Shabbos is forbidden, even if all four conditions are met, unless it is folded differently from its usual creases. Since folding is intended to ensure that the tallis remains neat and ready for Sunday morning’s weekday prayer, it is classified as preparing for a weekday on Shabbos, which is forbidden.
Some people have a special Shabbos tallis, used exclusively for davening on Shabbos. Is folding after shul on Shabbos permitted because it is a preparation for another Shabbos, or is it prohibited since it involves unnecessary effort that could easily be done on a weekday?
Answering this question depends on several factors which will be explained below.
Returning Items to the Fridge or Freezer
When Yom Tov falls on Friday, is it permissible to wash dishes or make beds for Shabbos? Can a tallis be folded after shul on Yom Tov in preparation for Shabbos?
The Mishnah Berura (302:17,19) rules that an Eruv Tavshilin, which allows cooking for Shabbos as well as other forms of preparation, also permits folding a tallis.
The Achronim are disputed regarding one who did not make an Eruv Tavshilin: The Eliyah Rabbah (302:8) rules that it is forbidden to prepare in any way for Shabbos. However, Rabbi Akiva Eiger (comments on Magen Avraham, Siman 302:6, Yerushalmi Beitzah 3:1) in one place holds that it is permitted, even without an Eruv Tavshilin.
This issue is particularly relevant for those spending Yom Tov at someone else’s house who do not make their own Eruv Tavshilin, assuming they do not need it since they are not cooking (This is not advisable anyway because one should make an eiruv tavshilin without a brocho in order to light candles on Friday afternoon.). Since they may still need to prepare their accommodation for Shabbos on Friday, it is advisable to either make an eiruv tavshilin or join their host’s, ensuring they are able, even according to the Eliyah Rabbah, to prepare for Shabbos.
Preparing for the Second Day of Yom Tov
May one wash dishes, make a bed, clear a table, or fold a tallis on the first day of Yom Tov in preparation for the second day?
The Magen Avraham (503, introduction) explicitly rules that this is forbidden. The Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham) adds that even preparing the Torah scroll on Yom Tov for the second day’s reading is prohibited.
Returning Food to the Refrigerator or Freezer
If preparing on Shabbos for a weekday is prohibited, would returning food items to a refrigerator or freezer also be prohibited?
Contemporary halachic authorities explain that this is permissible for several reasons, one of which is because it is similar to moving permitted-use utensils, which may be moved even to just protecting them from theft or damage.
While different halachic justifications exist for this ruling, they all support the conclusion that placing perishable items back into a refrigerator or freezer on Shabbos is permitted.
No Effort
Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchaso (28:89; and footnote 201) cites Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach that any action that is not a melacha, not rabbinically prohibited, and does not involve effort, and is part of a normal routine many be done on Shabbos—even if it ultimately benefits a weekday—provided one does not explicitly state it is for a weekday purpose.
He cites two examples of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach’s ruling that are based on this reasoning:
- Storing perishables in the refrigerator close to Motza’ei Shabbos.
- Hanging the "Morid HaTal" sign along with the sign for "VeTen Beracha", and replacing the Omer count sign in preparation for the next day’s counting.
Since these are effortless tasks performed routinely without explicitly intending them to be preparation for the following day, doing so on Shabbos is permitted.
Preparation That Cannot Be Done on a Weekday
The Maharshag (1:61) introduced a distinction regarding the prohibition of hachana. According to his view, the prohibition only applies when the purpose is to save time later, meaning that one takes advantage of their free time on Shabbos to take care of things that they prefer not to do on a weekday. For example, making the beds, or organizing a room that will not be used on Shabbos, simply because one has free time on Shabbos and would rather avoid doing it after Shabbos. However, a task that must be done at that moment, and cannot be postponed until after Shabbos is not prohibited.
Therefore, returning food to the freezer, which if not done now will be impossible later (as it would spoil) does not involve the prohibition of hachana.
The Maharshag applies this logic to several practical scenarios:
After shul on Yom Tov, one is permitted to bring back his machzor, shofar, lulav and esrog home, even if it is absolutely clear that these items will not be used on Yom Tov. This because the action is not done it to save time later, but rather to prevent them from being lost.
Contemporary halachic authorities dispute whether this ruling should be accepted. While the Minchas Yitzchak (8:24) ruled in favor of the Maharshag's opinion, accepting it as practical halacha, the Machazeh Eliyahu (54:3) disagrees, rejecting this approach.
Preventing Loss
Another justification for permitting preparation on Shabbos is the prevention of financial or material loss. In certain cases, where failure to act would result in irreparable damage, Chazal did not impose restrictions.
One such example is the halachic ruling regarding meat that has not been salted within three days of slaughter. Once this time frame elapses, the meat can no longer be koshered through salting and may only be eaten roasted. The Tehillah LeDavid (321:6) examines the case where this three-day period ends on Shabbos. While the Magen Avraham rules that one may not salt the meat on Shabbos, the Tehillah LeDavid challenges this ruling, arguing that there is no prohibition against exerting effort on Shabbos to prevent financial loss.
As proof, he cites the halacha that permits covering an egg that was laid on Shabbos—even though it is muktza and will only be used on a weekday—simply to protect it from breaking. If preventing loss is permissible in that case, he argues, why should salting meat be forbidden?
He concludes that the Magen Avraham’s prohibition applies only when the loss is minor—in this case, since the meat remains edible if roasted, it is not considered a total loss. However, in situations of complete financial loss, Chazal did not impose any prohibition.
Along similar lines, the Machazeh Eliyahu (54) expands on this principle, explaining that this is why moving a utensil designated for permitted use, or returning food to a refrigerator or freezer is allowed on Shabbos. Since failure to act would cause spoilage or loss, such actions are permitted even if the primary benefit occurs after Shabbos.
Summary
Putting things back in their place on Shabbos is permitted: returning perishables to the refrigerator or freezer, and taking a machzor, shofar, or arba minim home from shul if necessary. However, it is preferable to have in mind that they might still be needed on Shabbos or Yom Tov—for example, if an unexpected hungry guest arrives, or if someone has not yet performed the mitzvah and needs the machzor or the shofar.
Additionally, one should be careful not to explicitly state the purpose of the action as preparation for after Shabbos or Yom Tov. For example, one should not say: "Put the ice cream back in the freezer so it will still be ice cream tomorrow, and not a melted mess." Rather, one should say: "Put the ice cream back in the freezer—maybe someone will still want some this Shabbos," or, simply: "Ice cream belongs in the freezer."
