If I need five dishes for Shabbos day, may I rinse all ten that were used on Friday night?

This ha­lacha engages in the problems of hachana – preparing on Shabbos for after Shabbos.

It is imperative to know that several poskim [1] explain that the basis of hachana is ‘toiling’ on Shabbos for after Shabbos. One may not perform an action when the total benefit is for after Shabbos (or on Yom Tov for after Yom Tov).

The Mechaber writes [2] that one may not bake or cook on Yom Tov for after Yom Tov, even if the next day is Shabbos. The Magen Avraham adds [3] that even an action that does not involve performing a melacha is prohibited: e.g. one may not wash dishes or fetch wine [4]  from the cellar on Yom Tov for the next day.

So to answer the question…

First we will examine the halacha of washing dishes. The Shulchan Aruch writes [5] “one may wash dishes that are needed for Shabbos, for example, if needed for another meal. However, after seudah sh’lishis they may not be washed. Drinking vessels may be washed all day because one drinks the entire day”. [6]

We see from the last sentence that it is not necessary to definitely know that glasses will be needed; a probability suffices. The understanding being that if an action is not categorized as being done for after Shabbos or Yom Tov it is permitted. Indeed the Mishna Berura [7] writes that if one knows that glasses will not be used later in the day, they may not be washed.

It would therefore seem that if one needs five plates for the Shabbos meal and ten dishes were used during the Friday night meal, one may only wash five.

However, the Magen Avraham writes [8] that if one cup or glass is needed one may wash ten cups.

What is the reason for this?

The Magen Avraham explains [9] that since a glass is needed and in principle any one can be used, one may wash them all. Similarly, beds may not be made for sleeping on Shabbos if they are not going to be slept in on Shabbos. One may prepare ten beds on Shabbos if one of the beds is going to be used. [10] This is true even if one does not need more than a single bed. [11]

As stated, hachana does not necessarily involve a melacha. The fact that one is ‘working’ or occupied for after Shabbos is what is prohibited.

Does that mean that one may not make beds on Shabbos morning?

If the purpose is to make the room tidy it is permitted. The Magen Avraham [12] writes that if one uses the bedroom one may make the beds because a messy state is disturbing. This is considered a Shabbos necessity and not preparing for after Shabbos.

On a similar note, one may not remove dishes and food from the seudah sh’lishis table because it is preparing for after Shabbos. If however people continue sitting around the table after eating and the sight of dirty plates or food is disturbing, they may be removed and placed in the kitchen. This too is ‘for Shabbos’ and not for after Shabbos.

What if dishes in the sink are disturbing?

By the same token one might argue that a housewife who “can’t stand” dirty dishes in the sink should be permitted to wash them for her state of mind and it is not preparing for after Shabbos.

We must say that it is an invalid argument. For example, we mentioned that one may not bring wine from the cellar on Shabbos for havdalah [13] on account of hachana (or working on Shabbos for after Shabbos). What if the lord of the manor is very meticulous and for his peace of mind he wants to know that havdalah will be ready when he comes home from shul after ma’ariv and bringing the wine from the cellar will provide him with peace of mind? It is obvious that it cannot be allowed because he really is preparing for after Shabbos.

We can say that making beds is accepted to be necessary to tidy the room but washing dishes is not accepted as being necessary for Shabbos, even though some individuals might regard it as necessary for them.

Actions may be taken to avoid a mess, such as placing dirty pots in the oven or in the pantry or placing a sink cover over the used dishes.

May the gabai roll the sefer torah on Shabbos for reading after Shabbos?

This is forbidden even if it is for Yom Tov after Shabbos, on account of hachana on Shabbos for after Shabbos. [14] The ba’al koreh (person who reads the torah) may learn and rehearse on Shabbos for the Yom Tov leining because he is learning torah, which is an immediate benefit. The Oruch haShulchan says [15] that if the gabai reads several pesukim in the sefer torah it is permitted to roll it to the required place because he is learning and not ‘preparing’.