From the Rav’s Desk: Giving counseling sessions on Erev Shabbos in afternoon

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  1. Question: [Thursday, 9th Adar 1, 5782]

I work as a therapist, and I would like to know if I may schedule counseling sessions for Friday afternoon. I am asking because I understood that ideally you are not supposed to work on Friday afternoon. Is this type of work also included in the prohibition?

 

Answer:

It is permitted for you to schedule counseling sessions for Friday afternoon even in exchange for payment, so long as you make sure that this will not compromise on any of the preparations that need to be done for Shabbos.

Explanation: It is true that the sages prohibited doing Melacha on Friday afternoon past the time of Mincha [Ketana, and some even say Gedola] in order so one be free for the Shabbos preparations. However, this prohibition only refers to laborious activity which takes up much of one’s time. However, activities which do not take any time, or are not laborious in nature and do not require any physical exertion, are permitted to be done even initially. Thus, we find that it is ruled that it is permitted to engage in business, buying and selling, until close to the start of Shabbos. Accordingly, being that counseling sessions simply involve speaking and does not entail any physical exertion [in contrast to mental and emotional exertion], therefore, you may do so.

Sources: See Admur 251:1-3; Magen Avraham 251:1; Michaber 251:1; Aruch Hashulchan 251:4; Ketzos Hashulchan 69:6; Sefer Chasidim 122; Kaf Hachaim 251:4

 

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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