As the “Early Shabbos Season” is once again back in full swing, let us explore one aspect of Early Shabbos.”
The Gemara in Rosh Hashana (9a) and Yoma (81b) discusses the requirement of adding on to the Shabbos and Yom Tov. In regards to Yom Kippur, the Torah tells us that one must start fasting on the eve of the ninth day of Tishrei. Yet, we know that the fast commences on the tenth. The Gemara deduces from this expression that one must actually start the fast at the end of the ninth day, even before the tenth of Tishrei has arrived. The Gemara continues that, in addition to starting the fast on the ninth, one must also continue to fast into the next day – the beginning of the eleventh. This is known as Tosfos Yom Kippur, adding on to the fast – both at the beginning of the fast, as well as at the end. The Gemara then applies this requirement to all aspects of Yom Kippur, such as stopping to do melachah, as well as to Shabbos and Yom Tov.
Another source for this mitzvah is found in the Mechilta in Parshas Yisro (Perek 7): “Zachor m’lifanav, Shamor m’li’achraav,” which means that one must remember Shabbos properly by adding on before Shabbos and watching Shabbos carefully, by adding on after Shabbos.
Although the prohibition to do melachah on Shabbos is a mitzvas lo sasei, a negative commandment, and is punishable by death; this requirement, to add on to the Shabbos, is a mitzvas asei, a positive commandment.
According to most Rishonim (the Bahag, the Rif, the Ramban, the Ritva, the Ran, among others) this is a Scriptural requirement, known as Tosfos Shabbos and Tosfos Yom Tov, meaning that one is required to add on a few minutes of keeping Shabbos, both at the commencement of Shabbos, as well as at its conclusion. This means that one must stop doing melachah even a few minutes before shkia. In addition, after Shabbos one must still refrain from melachah for a few minutes, even after the time of nightfall.
The Rambam, however, does not mention this requirement. In Hilchos Shabbos (5:3-4), he writes that one must light the Shabbos candles before sunset, because one cannot do melachah on Shabbos, or even during bein hashmashos. He does not stipulate any requirement of lighting even earlier, in order to add on to the Shabbos. Seemingly, the Rambam would have no problem with someone lighting candles right before shkia.
The Magid Mishna explains that the Rambam is of the opinion that this requirement to add on does not apply to stopping to do melachah before Shabbos, or even before Yom Kippur. The only requirement of adding on is in regards to starting to fast a little bit before Yom Kippur and ending it a little after nightfall. He adds that the Rambam seems to follow the other opinion in the Gemara, who uses the aforementioned pasuk for something else.
The Beis Yosef points out that, when it comes to Shabbos and Yom Tov, the Rambam makes no mention of adding on, it would seem that he holds that there is no requirement to add on to Shabbos, at all, even midrabanan. He adds that this seems to be the opinion of the Tur, as well, who makes no mention of this requirement. However, the Biur Halachah quotes others who maintain that, even according to the Rambam, there is, in fact, a rabbinical requirement to add on a few minutes to the Shabbos.
The Shulchan Aruch writes that “yeish omrim” – some hold that one must add on to the Shabbos. The Mishna Berura points out that, as we have seen, this applies both before and after Shabbos. The Biur Halacha adds that the Beis Yosef used the expression “some hold,” because the Rambam does not agree that this is a requirement. The Gra also concurs with the opinion of the Rambam. However, the Biur Halacha concludes, quoting the Eliyahu Raba, that the consensus of the poskim is to follow the majority of the Rishonim, and adding on to Shabbos is a requirement.
In Summary
According to most Rishonim, there is a Scriptural mitzvah to add on to every Shabbos and Yom Tov – at the beginning and the end – known as Tosfos Shabbos and Tosfos Yom Tov. This means that one must refrain from melachah a few minutes before shkia and a few minutes after nightfall.
Rabbi Scheiner
