I am, b'ezrash HaShem, going to tell you why you don't need an eiruv tavshilin when rosh chodesh or Purim fall on erev Shabbos. Personally, I think the answer will be more meaning full if I first tell you why you would even think such a thing in the first place. After all, you are probably just now wondering that. In case, though, you've been wondering about this for eons I don't want to increase your distress by making you wait even another two paragraphs. Hmm... ok:
--- SPOILER ALERT ---
Because there is no chiyuv s'uda (rosh chodesh), and we don't make g'zeiros on g'zeiros (Purim)
--- END SPOILER ALERT ---
For those of you who are left... The Shulchan Aruch 525:14, says that you should make the eiruv tavshilin mamash erev Yom Tov, but you are fine even if you make the eiruv tavshilin on one Yom Tov for a later Yom Tov (as long as the eiruv is still good to eat after all that time; smoked fish or whatnot). The Mishna Brura explains that there are two reasons given as to the purpose of the eiruv tavshilin. Rav Ashi says it is so your preparations on yom tov sheini are a continuation of the preparations done before the holiday started. Rava says it is so you choose something nice for Shabbos before you get so wrapped up in simchas yom tov that you eat up all the goodies. We pasken like Rav Ashi, so that's why you can make an eiruv tavshilin any time before the holiday. L'chat'chila, however, we like to cover our bases and perform the mitzvah in such a way that Rava's reason is also covered; that, of course, is the reason to make the eiruv tavshilin mamash erev Yom Tov.
Now comes the fun part. According to Rava's reason, the issur malacha is irrelevant (a red herring, if you will). The problem he is addressing is related to you getting all wrapped up in the simcha and eating... which happens also with rosh chodesh and Purim. Cool, eh? We pasken like Rav Ashi, but why wouldn't Rava have required an eiruv tavshilin in those cases. And since the Shulchan Aruch wants us to be choshess for Rava l'chatchila. So what gives?
The Sha'agas Aryeh addresses the rosh chodesh issue. Namely, while there is an issur to fast on rosh chodesh, there is no chiyuv s'uda per se. Given that the chiyuv is not there, we are not worried about forgetting Shabbos. It seems we are only worried about forgetting Shabbos when we are involved with fulfilling another mitzvah; just stahm eating a nice meal won't make us forget Shabbos. That doesn't explain Purim, however. Others want to say that since you can do malacha on Rosh Chodesh, Chazal weren't worried about forgetting Shabbos... you could always make something or run out to the store before Shabbos starts. That, of course, also explains Purim.
How would the Sha'agas Aryeh explain Rava's not requiring an eiruv tavshilin before Purim that falls on erev Shabbos? One could say, Chazal did not add decrees to decrees -- ein gozrin g'zeira l'g'zeira. That's my value added... so it's particularly chaviv to me.
--- SPOILER ALERT ---
Because there is no chiyuv s'uda (rosh chodesh), and we don't make g'zeiros on g'zeiros (Purim)
--- END SPOILER ALERT ---
For those of you who are left... The Shulchan Aruch 525:14, says that you should make the eiruv tavshilin mamash erev Yom Tov, but you are fine even if you make the eiruv tavshilin on one Yom Tov for a later Yom Tov (as long as the eiruv is still good to eat after all that time; smoked fish or whatnot). The Mishna Brura explains that there are two reasons given as to the purpose of the eiruv tavshilin. Rav Ashi says it is so your preparations on yom tov sheini are a continuation of the preparations done before the holiday started. Rava says it is so you choose something nice for Shabbos before you get so wrapped up in simchas yom tov that you eat up all the goodies. We pasken like Rav Ashi, so that's why you can make an eiruv tavshilin any time before the holiday. L'chat'chila, however, we like to cover our bases and perform the mitzvah in such a way that Rava's reason is also covered; that, of course, is the reason to make the eiruv tavshilin mamash erev Yom Tov.
Now comes the fun part. According to Rava's reason, the issur malacha is irrelevant (a red herring, if you will). The problem he is addressing is related to you getting all wrapped up in the simcha and eating... which happens also with rosh chodesh and Purim. Cool, eh? We pasken like Rav Ashi, but why wouldn't Rava have required an eiruv tavshilin in those cases. And since the Shulchan Aruch wants us to be choshess for Rava l'chatchila. So what gives?
The Sha'agas Aryeh addresses the rosh chodesh issue. Namely, while there is an issur to fast on rosh chodesh, there is no chiyuv s'uda per se. Given that the chiyuv is not there, we are not worried about forgetting Shabbos. It seems we are only worried about forgetting Shabbos when we are involved with fulfilling another mitzvah; just stahm eating a nice meal won't make us forget Shabbos. That doesn't explain Purim, however. Others want to say that since you can do malacha on Rosh Chodesh, Chazal weren't worried about forgetting Shabbos... you could always make something or run out to the store before Shabbos starts. That, of course, also explains Purim.
How would the Sha'agas Aryeh explain Rava's not requiring an eiruv tavshilin before Purim that falls on erev Shabbos? One could say, Chazal did not add decrees to decrees -- ein gozrin g'zeira l'g'zeira. That's my value added... so it's particularly chaviv to me.
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