Is it Permissible to Work on Friday?

Shalom and blessings

It is prohibited to perform any work on Friday afternoon [and on the eve of a festival] starting from six and a half hours of the day and onward, so that one can attend to the needs of Shabbat. One who works in the afternoon from the time of Mincha (the afternoon prayer) and onward does not see a sign of blessing from that work, as even if they gain now, they will lose elsewhere. This 6.5 hours is calculated from the beginning of the day until sunset using variable hours. This applies when the work is done regularly, but it is permissible to perform work in a temporary manner, such as writing a letter to a friend, sewing a button onto a garment, or repairing and stitching their own garment or a new one, and so forth. However, a *sofer soferim* (scribe) writing a Torah scroll or tefillin and mezuzot is not permitted to write on Friday afternoon after the time of Mincha, unless it is urgent for the needs of Shabbat. It is permissible to correct the Torah scroll that is read in the community on Shabbat and to fix any errors found in it, even after the time of Mincha.

Additionally, it is permissible to write Torah thoughts for one's study. There is no difference whether one writes by hand, on a typewriter, or on a computer, as long as it is for the purpose of his learning, it is permissible to write on Friday afternoon until just before the onset of Shabbat. This especially applies when refraining from writing would lead to neglecting Torah study.[Yalkut Yosef, Shabbat Vol. 1, p. 145]

Some say that specifically work is forbidden to do on the eve of Shabbat, but trade [buying and selling] is permissible. Others disagree. The custom is to be lenient regarding trade and commerce until the time of lighting the candles, which is twenty minutes before sunset. They have something to rely upon. However, stores should close earlier before Shabbat, so that sellers can return home and prepare for Shabbat.

Best wishes,

Binyamin Shmueli