Is retail-selling included in this prohibition of working after mincha ketana?

In the previous shiur we learned that certain melachos and work may not be done after the time of mincha ketana, which is 2.5 provisional hours before sunset.

Regular selling and buying may be done after mincha ketana. However, one should make sure that one closes shop at least an hour before Shabbos. [1] The M”B warns us against closing shops too close to Shabbos as this can lead to violation of the Shabbos by the sellers and the buyers.

Are there any differences between erev Shabbos and erev Pesach?

Shabbos and Yom Tov share the same status and whatever applies to Shabbos applies to Yom Tov. However, Erev Pesach has a unique status being that the korban Pesach was sacrificed on Erev Pesach and therefore it is a mini Yom Tov in its own right, [2] even nowadays, when unfortunately we are not yet bringing the korban Pesach. Accordingly one may not work after chatzos – midday (not 12:00 noon, rather the provisional midday) on Erev Pesach.

Rashi says [3] that the reason one may not work after midday is because one must be available to prepare the matzos for the seder night and to dispose of all the chometz. [4]

What specifically is prohibited after midday on Erev Pesach?

One may not sew a new garment, even without pay, after midday as it is a complete melacha. One may however mend clothing, and therefore one may mend a hem, sew on a button, mend a tear etc. even for someone else, provided that it is without pay. [5] Doing the laundry is also a melacha and forbidden after midday.

One may take a haircut from a non-Jewish barber after midday but not from a Jew, and fingernails should be cut before midday, but if one forgot, then one may cut them after midday. [6]

May a gentile perform a melacha for me after midday on Erev Pesach?

Yes, the accepted custom is that a gentile may perform melacha for me after midday even in my home. One may also hand one’s laundry to a gentile after midday. [7] In general, Erev Pesach after midday is more lenient than Chol HaMoed, which is the basis for these leniencies.

May I start a wash in the washing machine or dryer before Shabbos?

Before we deal specifically with a washing machine we must ask whether one may begin anything before Shabbos knowing that the melacha will run into Shabbos.

The basis of this halacha is a machlokes between Beis Shamai and Beis Hillel in mesichta Shabbos, where Beis Shamai say that one’s keilim may not work on Shabbos and Beis Hillel hold that one’s keilim may work on Shabbos provided that one does not take part in the melacha.

Their dispute would manifest itself for example when placing garments on Friday in dye and they absorb the dye on Shabbos. [8] According to Beis Hillel it is permitted because one is not involved with the dyeing on Shabbos as it takes place automatically.

One may place food on the fire before Shabbos (in the permitted manner, i.e. on a hotplate or blech etc.) and it continues to cook or heat on Shabbos.

Why then would there be a problem with a washing machine?

There is a machlokes (dispute) between the Mechaber and the Rama in this matter. [9] The Mechaber holds that one may place wheat in the mill before Shabbos even though the mill will grind on Shabbos and everyone will be able to hear the grinding. The Mechaber is not concerned by the fact that people might say that one is grinding on Shabbos because everyone knows that it is possible that one placed the wheat in the receptacle before Shabbos.

The Rama is of the opinion that unless a loss is involved, we are afraid that people will say that one placed the wheat in the mill on Shabbos itself. In other words we are afraid of something called mar’is ayin – people might think that it is being done on Shabbos [10] or it is a degradation of the Shabbos. [11]

There is an opinion who holds that a washing machine can often be heard and would be subject to this issue. Accordingly one (Ashkenazim) should not operate one’s washing machine before Shabbos even though it turns itself off on Shabbos, [12] and yet others hold that it does not attract publicity like the mill does, and thus it is not prohibited. [13]