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"I have a precious gift in
my treasure house, said G-d to
Moses, 'Sabbath' is its name; go
and tell Israel I wish to present
it to them."
Challah
On Friday, we bake our
indispensable challahs, the
special loaves of Shabbos bread,
usually braided. To give honor to
Shabbos we say blessings over
whole loaves. The whole loaves
are placed on the table at each
Shabbos meal to remind us of the
double portion of manna that
descended from Heaven every
Friday for the forty years the
Jewish people wandered in the
desert before they reached the
Holy Land. If anyone tried to
save some manna from one day to
the next, it rotted and attracted
worms, but the double Friday
portion stayed fresh and
delicious over Shabbos. Thus were
we first taught that it is G-d
who provides for all our needs,
on Shabbos, as well as weekdays.
Our own efforts are not the true
source of our means; the true
Provider is the Al-mighty.
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.
Zochor and Shomor
There is an undercurrent of
excitement and joyful
anticipation as the family
eagerly prepares for Shabbos and
another visit from the Shabbos
Queen. An atmospher of
tranquility and family unity
descends upon the house. Shabbos
is indeed a day of
rest---physically and
emotionally. All grief, care, and
sorrow are forbidden and indeed,
with ourselves.
However, Shabbos is enriched
not only with rest but with
activity. This is alluded in the
expressions:
- Zochor:
- "Remember the Shabbath to
sanctify it (Exodus
20:7:), by licht benching
(candle lighting), reciting
Kiddush, dining festively,
dressing in special clothes,
praying, listening to Torah
reading in Shul, and learning
and discussing portions of
Torah.
- Shomor:
- Refers to guarding oneself
from any of the forbidden 39
categories of work (melacha)
as well as others which may be
halachically permitted but are
not fitting or appropriate on
this special day.
Candle
Lighting
Every Jewish home should
contain pushkas, containers
designed for Jewish charities,
shuls and yeshivas. Money, even a
few coins, should be put in these
every day. Before lighting the
Shabbos candles is an especially
appropriate time to fulfill the
mitzvah of tzedakah. We cannot
begin too early to teach our
childeren the importance of
tzedakah.
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 boy: May G-d make
you like Ephraim and
Menashe.
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.
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.
Shalom Aleichem
This song of praise, sung on
Friday evening is based on the
Talmudic passage which teaches
that a good angel and an evil
angel accompany every man home
from synagogue on Friday evening.
If they find the house in good
order with the Shabbos table set
festively bedecked with glowing
candles and the family dressed in
their best, the good angel says,
"May the next Shabbos be as this
one," and the evil one must
respon, "Amen, may it be so." In
on the other hand, they find the
reverse, the house is not fit for
the welcoming of royalty (the
Shabbos is likened to a queen),
the evil angel says "May the next
Shabbos be as this one," and the
good angel must unfortunately
answer, "Amen."
Eishes Chayil
"Eishes Chayil," from the
last
chapter in the book of
Proverbs, is an acrostic poem
with each verse beginning with
the corresponding letter of the
Hebrew alphabet. It is recited by
the husband when he returns from
synagogue Shabbos evening. Rabbi
Yitzchak ben Nechemiah says in
Yalkut Mishlei: "Just as G-d gave
the Torah to Israel by means of
the 22 letters of the aleph-bais,
so He praises the righteous woman
by means of the 22 letters."
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.
Shabbos Table
Some special ingredients at
the Shabbos table, where the meal
is more leisurely joyful and
elaborate, and where all family
members are present, are the
Torah talks (whch are more
detailed than at the weekday
table) the songs and guests.
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."
Kiddush
Shabbos meals begin with the
recitation of the Kiddush, which
is said by the head of the
household or any male over
thirteen. Our Rabbis ordained
that Shabbos should be sanctified
with wine. Usually a silver cup
holding a minimum of four ounces
is reserved for this purpose. The
one reciting the Kiddush drinks
at least two ounces, and then
distributes the rest among those
who are included in the Kiddush.
Kiddush is prefaced with the
words, "Savri Maranan" (By your
leave, gentleman) to call the
family and guests to attention so
that they will not have to recite
the blessing for themselves. Many
people, however, have the custom
that all male members over the
age of thirteen recite the
Kiddush.
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.
Shalosh Seudos
The third meal of Shabbos is
called either Shalosh Seudos of
Seudah Shlishis. The Talmud says
that the person who fulfills the
obligation of three meals on
Shabbos will merit a "goood
judgment" in the World to Come
for he has shown good judgment in
not overeating during the first
two Shabbos meals so he could
fulfill the mitzvah of eating a
third meal in honor of the holy
day. As with other Shabbos meals,
shalosh seudos is accompanied by
zmiros or Shabbos songs.
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.
Havdalah
When Shabbos first entered on
Friday evening we received her
with much honor and joy. For
approximately 25 hours we were
bestowed with an additional
Shabbos soul and the unique
Shabbos spirit; now that it is
time for her to leave we cannot
let her go unnoticed. Her
departure, like her entrance,
must be announced with wine and
blessings.
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).
"If you will obseve
the kindling of the Sabbath
lights you will merit to see the
lights of the redemption of the
Jewish people."
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