Are Shabbos Expenses Returned? Which Expenses Qualify
Question
Hi,
I would like to know whether, when I pay for someone else’s Shabbos expenses, that is also called my hotza’os Shabbos, which Hashem returns to me, or whether it applies only to the money one spends on his own Shabbos?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
The answer:
Yes, even money that one pays for other people’s Shabbos expenses is considered as your hotza’os Shabbos.
The answer explained:
The Tur (Orach Chaim, siman 419) and the Mishnah Berurah (siman 242, seif katan 4) write:
משנה ברורה על שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות שבת סימן רמב
כדי לכבד השבת - דבמזונות של שבת ויו"ט אם מוסיף מוסיפין לו וכמו שאחז"ל כל מזונותיו של אדם קצובין לו מר"ה ועד ר"ה
“…If a person spends more, more is provided for him. As our Sages taught, all of a person’s sustenance is allotted to him from Rosh Hashanah to Rosh Hashanah… The exceptions are the expenses of Shabbos and Yom Tov and the cost of his sons’ Torah education; if he spends more on these, more is given to him.” [Tur]
Hagaon Harav Fried shlita writes in Azamroh Lishmecha (issue #346), in the name of the Shittah Mekubetzes (Tractate Beitzah, page 16a, in the name of the Ritva; see also Tosafos there), that all expenses one incurs for mitzvos are added to the amount that was allotted to him on Rosh Hashanah.
Therefore, everything that one buys in honor of Shabbos or to enjoy on Shabbos (kavod or oneg Shabbos), and even for Melaveh Malkah, is added and given back to the person. This applies when a person spends what is considered a normal amount.
Based on this, the following are included, clothing or a suit bought for Shabbos, paying to go to mikveh on Erev Shabbos, ready-made salads, sweets, Kiddush for the people in shul, flowers, renting an apartment for Shabbos guests, travel for Shabbos (such as a taxi or petrol), and a generator for electricity.
However, items that are not specifically for kavod Shabbos, such as buying new furniture for the living room (even if it is used on Shabbos for the first time), are not considered hotza’os Shabbos.
As noted above, Shabbos expenses refers specifically to reasonable expenses in line with one’s financial standing. Overspending is not included. Each case needs to be analyzed to determine whether an expense is for Shabbos or counts as overspending, as every situation is different. This is learned from a few sources in Halcha that when mentioning kavod Shabbos, it always mentions the phrase kefi yecholto (according to his financial ability):
שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות שבת סימן רנ סעיף ב
ירבה בבשר ויין ומגדנות כפי יכלתו.
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, siman 250, seif 2
He should buy meat, wine, and delicacies according to his ability.
משנה ברורה סימן רצא ס"ק כב
וגם מצוה לכתחלה להרבות במעדנים כפי יכלתו [אחרונים]:
Mishnah Berurah, siman 291, seif katan 22
…. It is also a mitzvah, l’chatchilah, to add delicacies according to his ability. [Acharonim]”
שער הציון סימן רמב ס"ק יב
(יב) כן משמע מהגר"א, וכן כתב הב"ח, דאם יכול להשיג ממי ללות צריך ללות ויבטח בה' שהוא יעזרנו לשלם לו. ובעטרת זקנים משמע דלא ילוה אלא אם כן הוא משער שיהיה לו במה לפרוע, ונראה דהכל לפי הענין:
This is implied by the Gra, and the Bach likewise writes, that if a person can find someone to borrow from, he should borrow and trust in Hashem that He will help him repay. However, the Ateres Zekeinim implies that one should borrow only if he estimates that he will have the means to repay. It appears that it all depends on the circumstances.
Returning to your question, Hagaon Harav Fried shlita writes (ibid.) that even spending on others for their Shabbos needs is also considered tzorchei Shabbos, which is not part of the yearly sum that was allocated to a person, and is therefore returned to him.
Wishing you well.
