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...
How Many Men Who Have Already Prayed May be Counted For a Minyan to Allow the Repetition of the Amida?
Should One Stand When Reciting “Nishmat Kol Hai” on Shabbat Morning?
Praying & Learning While at Work
Who Receives the First Aliya if There is No Kohen in the Synagogue?
May a Kohen Refuse the First Aliya?
Must One Stop His Learning To Help Complete A Minyan
Lending & Borrowing Tefilin
The Procedure for Taking Three Steps Back After the Amida
Torah Reading – If the Oleh Recites the Wrong Beracha
If A Minyan Becomes Less Than 10 During The Reading of Sefer Torah
The Prohibition Against Leaving the Synagogue During the Torah Reading
Reciting Kaddish After the Torah Reading
Which Daily Prayers Must a Woman Recite?
The Value of Praying Where One Learns, and Praying in the Synagogue
Can Someone be Counted Towards a Minyan if He is Sleeping?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found