Eiruv Tavshilin

A woman can make the Eiruv Tavshilin for her household (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 102:6; assumed in Mishna Berura 527:56).

Here’s some background on what that means:

It is permissible to cook on Yom Tov for the purposes of that Yom Tov (Shemot 12:16). On a Torah level, when Yom Tov falls out on a Friday, it is permissible to cook for Shabbat on that Yom Tov as well (Pesachim 46b). Out of concern that people might come to cook on any Yom Tov for the following weekday, our sages prohibited cooking on a Friday Yom Tov for Shabbat unless one makes an Eiruv Tavshilin, combining a bit of our Shabbat cooking with our Yom Tov cooking before Yom Tov (Mishna Beitza 2:1, Pesachim 46b and Rashi there). According to many opinions, the Eiruv Tavshilin also enables us to light Shabbat candles on Yom Tov (Mishna Berura 527:55).

Shulchan Aruch and Rema OC 527 lay out the practical laws: Though making an egg and setting it aside together with an egg-sized (ke-beitza) or bigger roll of bread (or piece of matza) is customary, using an olive’s-size (ke-zayit) amount of any cooked (or fermented) dish for Shabbat will do. Just prepare, take it in hand and recite the beracha “al mitzvat eiruv” before setting it aside, and state that: “With this eiruv it will be permissible for me to bake and cook and light candles and fulfill all our needs for Shabbat on Yom Tov.” One should eat from the Eiruv Tavshilin over Shabbat.

Each household, including guests, needs only one Eiruv Tavshilin. A community’s rabbi typically makes an Eiruv Tavshilin for the whole community, as a back up in case someone forgets.

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