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...
It Is Permissible To Invest In A Company That Is Open On Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Replace A Door Knob On Shabbat That Fell Off The Door
Removing a Pasul Talit On Shabbat In The Public Domain
On Shabbat, Should One Wear New Clothes That Do Not Fit Well or Old Clothes That Fit Better
If One Forgot to Add "Ritze Ve'hachalitzenu" in Birkat Ha'mazon on Shabbat
Hitting Children & Causing Bleeding on Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Use Perfume as Besamim in Havdallah
Is It Permissible To Add Water To A Vase Of Hadasim or Flowers On Shabbat
Is Pushing A Stroller On Shabbat In An Area Witth An Eruv Forbidden Based On The Prohibition of Plowing
Cutting Nails and Combing Hair In Preparation For Mikveh On Shabbat
Is It Permissible To Eat Before Musaf On Shabbat
Playing Games on Shabbat
Is It Permissible On Shabbat To Remove Dry Skin or A Wart
Is It Permissible On Shabbat To Use A Salt Shaker That Contains Rice Or Is It Considered Sifting Which Is Prohibited On Shabbat
Issues Concerning Forbidden Speech on Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found