Return to the CJSO Home Page
When the manna fell to the ground it remained fresh, for it was covered by a layer of dew below and above it. This is one of the reasons we place a board or plate or cloth underneath the challahs and a special napkin over them.
However, Shabbos is enriched not only with rest but with activity. This is alluded in the expressions:
Our Sages have said, "Great is the mitzvah of candle lighting, as it brings peace into the world." On one level this means that the light of the Shabbos candles brings peace by illuminating the house so that people do not stumble in the dark or bump into each other.
In a deeper sense, Chassidut teaches us that the Shabbos candles light up the house and every member of the family with the light of the Torah which guides them safely along the path of life that is full of dangerous pitfalls.
Every mitzvah of the Torah is likened to a candle: "Ki Ner Mitzvah v'Torah Or" (a mitzvah is a candle and Torah is a light [Proverbs 6:23]). Each mitzvah that a person does effects a physical and spiritual illumination. Each mitzvah---each light---tunes us in more closely to the sprituality latent in this world.
Candle lighting has always been a special and auspicious time, one of meditation and quiet prayer. The Jewish woman or girl stands before the kindled flames with eyes covered as she recites the blessing. The reason that the blessing must be said after, rather than before, lighting the candles is that if the blessing were to be recited first it would seem as if the woman has already "inaugurated Shabbos." In that case she would not be permitted to light the candles, since kindling of the lights on the Shabbos is forbidden.
At this moment, when the family is gathered together, she has traditionally offered a silent or verbal prayer on behalf of her husband and children. In generations past, personal prayers in Yiddish called "techinos" were commonly said by Jewish women before doing a mitzvah and on special occasions.
A minimum of two candles are lit corresponding to the two expressions of Shabbos mentioned preveiously: "Zochor" (remember) and "Shomor" (guard), that are mentioned in the Ten Commandments. Some women add an additional light with the birth of each child and continue lighting it throughout the years. The lights are symbolic of the cheerfulness and serenity which distinguishes the Shabbos.
It is customary to bless children of all ages, either in the synagogue after leaving services or on returning home. The beginning of Shabbos is a particularly appropriate time. Both hands are laid on the head of the child to symbolize a blessing imparted with complete generosity of spirit.
For a girl: May G-d make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
For both: May Hashem bless you and protect you. May Hashem cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May Hashem raise His face to you and establish peace for you.
For a boy: May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menashe.
This beautiful custom links the generations in a mutual loyalty and affection.
Little girls from the age of three should light a candle of their own. (It is recommended that the daughter light first, so her mother could assist her if necessary.) Even our young daughters sense a certain warmth and inner happiness as they help usher in Shabbos with their candles.
This poem, the title of which translates as "A Woman of Excellence," describes the perfect wife who is trusted by her husband, obeyed by her servants, and admired by other people. Kind to the poor and gentle to all, she is self-respecting and dignified. Husband and children praise her as the source of their happiness. Her goal in life is to foster the growth of Torah knowledge and good deeds in her husband and children---her ultimate accomplishment.
Our sages have given the poem "Eishes Chayil" many allegorical interpretations in addition to its literal meaning as praising the Jewish woman; some say Solomon's mother. Others interpret it as referring to the Torah itself, G-d's Holy Presence, etc.
Our sages teach us that the Sechinah (Divine Presence) doe not rest on a person sunk in sadness or laziness, but comes only with the joy of mitzvah performance. Therefore, when a Jew prepares to invite Hashem's presence to his Shabbos table, he must first be able to declare that he has prepared himself for it by elevating himself to the level of spiritual joy which can be done only by means of holy pursuits, such as praising G-d, study of Torah, and performance of good deeds.
Some of the songs (zmiros) sung at the Shabbos meals are from the Siddur (prayer book), some from the psalms, and some from other Holy writings, while other nigunim (tunes) are wordless. All are full of the feeling of joy and faith which fills our hearts on special holy days. According to the Rabbis, food can be sanctified by holy utterances pronounced at the table, and a food thus hallowed becomes a "food of healing."
Women, too, are obliged to hear Kiddush. When necessary, a woman above the age of twelve can make Kiddush for herself and other women present.
The Friday night Kiddush testifies that G-d, the Creator of the world, rested on the seventh day, declared it holy, and gave us, the Jewish people, this gift, this holy day to observe. The Kiddush on Shabbos afternoon speaks about observing the Shabbos as a sign, a bond between us and G-d forever.
After Kiddush, everyone washes hands in the prescribed ritual manner, and pronounces the appropriate blessing. The head of the household then recites the blessing "Hamotzi" over the two Challahs and everyone responds "Amen." Just before saying the brochah, he lightly draws the knife across the Challah to indicate the place for cutting, then raises the Challahs to recite the blessing. He cuts a piece of Challah for himslef, and dips it in salt nd eats it so that there is no unnecessary lapse of time between the blessing and the act of eating. Two loaves of Challah must be set at each Shabbos meal, because the Jews gathered double portions of the manna in the desert on Friday, as mentioned above. However only one of these loaves is broken at a time.
It enhances the mitzvah of Shabbos enjoyment to have wine, fish and chicken on Shabbos, and so our meals are usually planned around these foods. It is customary to eat fish to remind us of the mercies of G-d. Fish have no eyelids, so that their eyes are never closed; so too are the eyes of the L-rd open at all times to watch over those who fear Him. There is also a custom of eating some kind of kugel ([usually noodle] pudding) on Shabbos.
During the first two meals of the day we are actually hungry and eat with particular enjoyment. By the time of the third meal we may no longer be hungry, but we sit down to partake with song and rejoicing in order to fulfill G-d's commandment that we eat at least three meals on Shabbos. It is not the food which draws us to the table, but the desire to carry out His precepts.
After Shabbos ends, Havdalah is said to mark the distinction between the "holy and the profane," between the Shabbos that has ended and the ordinary days of the week that have begun.
The Havdalah prayer is said over a cup of wine, with a blessing. However, grape juice, beer, and certain other liquids may be used instead. In addition, two other blessings are also recited. The first blessing is said over the smelling of spices. Sweet. smelling spices have the ability to revive broken spirits, and now that Shabbos is over and our added spiritual soul has departed, our mood needs to be uplifted and revived.
The second is a blessing for fire, said over the light of a Havdalah candle (a special candle made by combining several wicks or by joining the flame of two candles). One reason for this blessing is a remembrance for the light (fire) Adam made by rubbing two stones together when he first experienced darkness, which was on Saturday night. After the blessing, we hold our nails to the light to see the difference between dark and light reflected on our hands. The order of the blessings is wine, spice, flame, havdalah (acknowledgment of the separation).
Return to the CJSO Home Page