Chapter 6. Laws of the Festival of Shavuot That Falls on Friday

For the laws of eruv tavshilin, see below in the laws of eruv tavshilin.

The Time for the Festival Meal
38. One should eat the festival meal before the tenth hour, and if one was delayed and did not eat, he should eat a meal afterward. [1]

Wearing Shabbat Clothing
39. One should not change from Yom Tov clothing into Shabbat clothing at the onset of Shabbat, because this is a slight to Shabbat [since Yom Tov clothing is more distinguished than Shabbat clothing, [2] but on Shabbat morning one may wear Shabbat clothing.

Lighting Shabbat Candles
40. Shabbat candles are lit by transferring a flame from one candle to another, and if it is difficult for him to transfer from candle to candle, he may transfer the flame with a match, [3] and leave it to go out on its own. The candles may be lit from plag haminchah until the time of accepting Shabbat.

Turning Off the Electric Lights
41. Some are meticulous to set the “Shabbat clock” so that the electric light will turn off at the time of candle lighting or afterward, thereby providing benefit through the candle lighting. However, most people are not concerned about this.

Removing the Wicks from the Cups
42. Although according to the strict law it is permitted to remove the wicks on Yom Tov for the purpose of lighting, since the prohibition of muktzeh was permitted for the sake of ochel nefesh, [4] nevertheless, in our times, when there is electric lighting, it is difficult to regard the candles as a need of ochel nefesh, and especially since the lighting is for the sake of Shabbat, it should not be viewed as a need of Yom Tov. Therefore, one should remove it with a spoon
or a fork, [5] and it is preferable to add oil and a wick to the cup without removing the old wick. [6]

Accepting Shabbat
43. The common custom among Ashkenazim is that in Kabbalat Shabbat one says only “Mizmor Shir LeYom HaShabbat” and “Hashem Malach,” but not “Lechu Neranenah” or “Bameh Madlikin.”

Shalom Aleichem
44. Likewise, it is not customary to recite “Shalom Aleichem” on this Shabbat. [7]

[1] Shulchan Aruch (siman 529, se’if 1) and Mishnah Berurah (se’if katan 8).
[2] As explained in Shulchan Aruch (siman 529, se’if 1): “And Yom Tov clothing should be better than Shabbat clothing.”
[3] See Shulchan Aruch (siman 514, se’if 5), and whenever it is difficult for him to transfer from candle to candle, the match is not considered an unnecessary candle.
[4] Gilyon Rabbi Akiva Eiger (end of siman 501, on the Taz there, se’if katan 7).
[5] In accordance with the opinion of the Mishnah Berurah (siman 302, se’if katan 15).
[6] In accordance with the opinion of Shulchan Aruch HaRav (siman 308) and the Chazon Ish (siman 47, se’if katan 4). It should further be considered that the cup itself may become a base for a prohibited item, and consequently it would be forbidden to hold it; see Mishnah Berurah (siman 266, se’if katan 26, and siman 310, se’if katan 37) and Biur Halachah (siman 308, se’if 27, s.v. “mena’er”).
[7] See Rav Pe’alim (part 1, Sod Yesharim, siman 13), Vayaged Moshe (siman 13), Luach Eretz Yisrael.