DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 406 KB)
Talking or Thinking About One's Business on Shabbat

The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat (150) establishes the prohibition against speaking about one's business operations on Shabbat. This prohibition is derived from a verse in the Book of Yeshayahu (58:13), where the prophet speaks about refraining on Shabbat "Mi'metzo Cheftzecha Ve'daber Davar" ("from pursuing your needs and speaking of matters"), which is interpreted as referring to speaking of one's professional and commercial pursuits.

Accordingly, the Shulchan Aruch rules (306:8) that one may not speak of business-related matters on Shabbat. Thinking about such matters in one's mind, he adds, is, strictly speaking, permissible, though due to the obligation of Oneg Shabbat (enjoying oneself on Shabbat) it is a Mitzva to avoid even thinking about one's business on Shabbat. The Shulchan Aruch writes that on Shabbat one should feel as though all his work has been completed and he has no lingering or outstanding responsibilities that should concern him. The Torah instructs, "Six days shall you labor and perform all your work" (Shemot 20:9). As the Midrash notes, a person can never be said to have performed "all his work"; one always has more work that he can do. The Midrash explains that the Torah here demands that on Shabbat one look upon his work as having been completed, and he should therefore not even think about any of his professional responsibilities. Particularly, if thinking of one's business causes stress and anxiety, he must avoid thinking of such matters on Shabbat.

Summary: Halacha forbids speaking of business-related matters on Shabbat. Thinking about such matters is technically allowed, though it is a Mitzva to feel on Shabbat as though all his work is completed, especially if thinking of his business will cause him anxiety.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Pesah – The Time for Bedikat Hames
Pesah- The Procedure for Bedikat Hamez
Pesah – Must One Search for Hames in the Areas Containing the Hames That He Sells?
The Special Reading on the First Thirteen Days of Nissan
Pesah – Is it Permissible to Eat Egg Masa on Pesah
Passover- Ve'higadeta Le'bincha - Sitting Next To One's Father-Son During The Hagaddah
Must One Perform Bedikat Hametz if He Goes Away for Pesah?
Pesah – Reciting Me’en Sheba on Pesah Night When it Falls on Shabbat
The Reasons for the Custom of Ta'anit Bechorim
Passover- Avoiding The Problem of A Drop of Hametz In Kosher for Pesach Food
Shabbat Hagadol
Pesah – Selling Hametz in a Case Where One Spends Pesah in a Different Time Zone
Pesah – The Second of the Four Cups of Wine
Laws and Customs of Ereb Pesah
Kimha De’pischa – Donating Charity to the Poor Before Pesah
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found