Thinking regulations on Shabbos – May one think of business smatters, finances, future plans, spiritual failures, and stressful subjects

Thinking regulations on Shabbos – May one think of business smatters, finances, future plans, spiritual failures, and stressful subjects:[1]

[The speech regulation of Mimtzo Cheftzecha and Daber Davar do not apply to one’s thoughts.] It is hence permitted for one to think of one’s business dealings on Shabbos.[2] One may even think of how to perform even complete Melachos after Shabbos is over.[3] [This however is only permitted so long as the thoughts do not cause one worry and stress, as will be explained below, and is with exception to accounting money.] Nevertheless, due to the Mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos, it is a Mitzvah[4] not to think at all about business matters[5] on any Shabbos [even if they cause him no distress], and one should rather consider as if all his work is already done, and that there is nothing more he needs to do.[6] There is no greater Oneg Shabbos than this.[7]

• Example: A mother is having a bar mitzvah for her son that week. She may think on Shabbos of all the arrangements that need to be done, including the cooking, baking, places she will need to drive to, and so on and so forth.

Stressful and disturbing matters:[8] It is only permitted for one to think of matters that do not cause stress and worry of the heart. However, all thoughts that lead one to feel disturbed stressed and worried, are forbidden on Shabbos.[9] [This applies even to spiritual matters, such as thinking of one’s sins and spiritual failures.[10] Furthermore, some Poskim[11] add that even if the current topic is not stressful, if it is a topic that generally leads to worry and stress, such as finances, then is forbidden to think about it at all on Shabbos. This prohibition is not due to the prohibition of Mimtzo Cheftzecha and Daber Davar, but rather due to the obligation of Oneg Shabbos, and it is forbidden for one to actively uproot his Oneg Shabbos.[12]]

Accounting: From the letter of the law, it is implied from the Poskim, including Admur, that it is permitted for one to think on Shabbos of even money related matters, including accounting of one’s finances, as only speaking of such matters was forbidden on Shabbos due to a decree that one may come to write.[13] However, elsewhere Admur and other Poskim rule that even thinking of monetary matters of accounting is forbidden on Shabbos.[14] [Certainly, if thinking of one’s accounting and financial state brings one joy and pleasure, and not stress, then it is permitted to think of it on Shabbos.[15]]

Sad and painful thoughts:^[16] It is forbidden on Shabbos to speak of matters which brings one pain, such as the death of a close friend, [a loss of money] and the like. [Based on the above prohibition against entertaining stressful thoughts, seemingly, the same would apply regarding sad and painful thoughts, that it is forbidden to entertain them on Shabbos.]

Therapeutic sadness and worry: One who receives pleasure from crying, may cry on Shabbos.^[17] Thus, if one is saddened by a certain matter, and by crying over the matter it will release the pain, then it is permitted to cry on Shabbos.^[18] [Accordingly, it would seem that the above prohibition against entertaining sad or stressful thoughts is only against bringing up the subject to begin with. If, however, one is already in a state of stress or sadness, and thinking over the matter can remove and release the stress and pain, then on the contrary, one should do so.]

[1] See Admur 306:21 “It is permitted to think about one’s business on Shabbos, even how to perform complete tasks after Shabbos since they only forbade mere speech, as the verse states “Daber Davar,” indicating that speech is forbidden while thoughts are permitted. Nonetheless, if any disturbance of the heart or wavering anxiety arises from that reflection, it is forbidden. Furthermore, due to Oneg Sabbath, it is a Mitzvah not to think of one’s affairs at all, but rather to regard them as if all one’s work were already complete. This is what is written: “For six days you shall work and accomplish all your labors,” yet no person can finish all his work in one week. Instead, one should consider every Shabbos as though all his work were complete—and there is no greater delight than that.”; 301 Kuntrus Achron 2; Ben Ish Chaiy Vayishlach 19; Ketzos Hashulchan 107:28; SSH”K 29:67; Piskeiy Teshuvos 306:27

[2] Admur ibid; Michaber 306:8; Tur 306; Rambam Shabbos 24:1; Raba Bar Bar Chana in name of Rebbe Yochanon Shabbos 150a

[3] Admur ibid; Rambam ibid

The reason: As the Sages only forbade speech, as it says [Yeshaya 58:13]: “and speaking a matter,” from which we learn that speech [of business related matters which are forbidden to do on Shabbos] is forbidden while thought [of such matters] are permitted. [Admur ibid; Beis Yosef 306; Rambam ibid; Shabbos ibid]

[4] See Admur 301 Kuntrus Achron 2 that this is a mere Mitzvah and not letter of the law prohibition; See Admur 249:9 that there is a Mitzvah to abstain from matters that do not contain letter of the law prohibitions; See also 249:10; 250 Kuntrus Achron 2; See also Tehila Ledavid 85:1 that this is a mere Mitzvah and not prohibition, and he hence questions the ruling of Admur in 85:1

[5] See Tehila Ledavid 85:1 that this Mitzvah applies specifically to not think of ones future needs, and not regarding past events.

[6] Admur ibid; Admur 301 Kuntrus Achron 2 “The Tur added [to Rabbeinu Yonas Issur] that one should not think at all of one’s business dealings, even though it is not forbidden from the letter of the law”; Michaber ibid; Tur ibid; Mechilta Shemos [Parshas Yisro] 20:9 [Chapter 7:9]; Rashi Shemos ibid; ; Ketzos Hashulchan 107:28

The reason: As the verse [Shemos 20:9; Devarim 5:13] states: “For six days you shall work and accomplish all your labors,” yet no person can finish all his work in one week. Hence [in order to at least figuratively fulfill this verse], one should consider every Shabbos as though all his work were complete, and there is no greater delight than this. [Admur ibid; Tur ibid; Mechilta Shemos ibid; ; Kaf Hachaim 306:73; See Likkutei Sichos 11 p. 301] Thus, the reason is in order to not come to nullify Oneg Shabbos [Levush 306]

[7] Admur ibid; Tur ibid; Semak Mitzvah 280; See Likkutei Sichos 11 p. 311

[8] Admur 306:21 “Nevertheless, thoughts which cause one worry of the heart or stress and worry are forbidden.”; Admur 301 Kuntrus Achron 2 “The Rabbi, Rabbeinu Yona, only forbade [thoughts of] business dealings that contain disturbance of the heart and worry and stress.”; Ateres Zekeinim 306:3; Beis Yosef 306 [although omitted from Michaber and Tur ibid]; Rabbeinu Yona in Igeres Hateshuvah Derush 2:35 Yom Hei “It is forbidden for one to be disturbed by his business dealings on Shabbos”; Hagahos Hasemeh on Michaber ibid; Aruch Hashulchan 306:1; Kaf Hachaim 306:71; Ketzos Hashulchan 107:28; SSH”K 29:67; Piskeiy Teshuvos 306:27

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that while certainly one is to abstain from thinking of stressful matters it is not an actual prohibition. [Implication of M”B 306:38; Implication of Tur and Michaber who omit Rabbeinu Yonas ruling; See also Ben Ish Chaiy Vayishlach 19 who does not write Lashon Issur but rather Mitzvah]

Opinion of Tur: The Tur does not record the opinion of Rabbeinu Yona which implies that he does not hold that there is ever a prohibition involved in entertaining even disturbing thoughts on Shabbos. So is also implied from the wording of the Tur “Mitzvah” and not “Issur” However, from the commentary of the Beis Yosef ibid who sources the statement of the Tur in Rabbeinu Yona it is implied that he understood the Tur to be ruling that it is an actual prohibition, or at least that he agrees with Rabbeinu Yona. From Admur 301 Kuntrus Achron 2 it is implied that the Tur not only agrees with Rabbeinu Yona but is simply adding a further stringency to his words. Vetzaruch Iyun. See Pesach Hadvir 306:16 who explains similar to Admur in KU”A ibid that according to the Beis Yosef the Tur agrees with Rabbeinu Yona, and is simply adding that there is a mitzvah to abstain from thinking from all matters that can lead to worry and stress even if there is no current stress apparent

Opinion of Michaber: Tzaruch Iyun why the Michaber in his Shulchan Aruch completely omitted the ruling of Rabbeinu Yona which he himself quoted in the Beis Yosef, that there is an actual prohibition involved to entertain disturbing thoughts.

[9] The source: This is based on the Mechilta ibid and Tefilas Shabbos which includes the words “Menucha Shalom, Hashket, Betach” and Birchas Hamazon which includes the words “Shelo Tihei Tzarah Veyagon Beyom Menuchaseinu.” [Rabbeinu Yonah ibid, brought in Beis Yosef ibid]

[10] Ashel Avraham Butchach Tinyana 306

[11] Pesach Hadvir 306:16 that so is proven from Tur and Michaber; Kaf Hachaim 306:71; see also there 306:72 in name of Levush

[12] Implication of all Poskim ibid who base it on Mechilta ibid; Aruch Hashulchan 306:1; See Kuntrus Or Eliyahu p. 194

[13] Implication of Admur 307:13; Admur 301 Kuntrus Achron 2; Rambam 23:18; See Michaber 307:6; Shabbos 150a; See Tehila Ledavid 85:1 who questions the ruling of Admur in 85:1 and states that not only is there no prohibition to think of ones accounting, but perhaps its not even a Mitzvah to abstain from it, as the Mitzvah is specifically to not think of ones future needs, and not past events; So likewise questions Beis Oved 306 on Rav Meir Paparish in or Yashar Or Havoda 16, brought in Pesach Hadvir 306:16

[14] Admur 85:1 “On Shabbos, being that it is forbidden for one to think of his business accounting, one should picture in his mind interesting structures and sculptures and the like, which attract one’s mind and will divert it from coming to think of holy matters.”; Shlah p. 81; Elya Raba 85:2; Reishis Chochmah brought in Kaf Hachaim 3:6; Soles Belula 3:1; Beis Oved 306 in name of Rav Meir Paparish in or Yashar Or Havoda 16; See Pesach Hadvir 306:16 who explains that there is an actual prohibition to think of any matter that can lead to worry and stress, and since matters of finances and accounting can lead to stress therefore one may not think of it at all on Shabbos

[15] Yifei Laleiv 306:4; Kaf Hachaim 306:72

[16] Admur 307:5; M”A 307; Sefer Chassidim 110

[17] Rama 288:2; Iggur in name of Shibulei Haleket; Midrash brought in Taz 288:1 that the students of Rebbe Akiva once found him crying on Shabbos and asked him why he is crying and he answered that it is a pleasure for him to cry. Vetzaruch Iyun as to why this ruling was omitted by Admur

[18] Rama ibid; Elya Raba 288:3; Tosefes Shabbos 288:3; Mateh Yehuda 288:10; P”M 288 M”Z 2; Aruch Hashulchan 288:6; M”B 288:4; Kaf Hachaim 288:9; Piskeiy Teshuvos 288:2

The source: As it states in the Midrash and Yerushalmi that Rebbe Akiva was crying due to sadness, due to the passing of his son. [Tosefes Shabbos ibid]

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is forbidden to cry out of sadness on Shabbos, even if one desires to do so in order to release the pain. [Taz ibid]