INSIGHT FOR SHABBOS – Shabbos – Shalom!

Bs"d

The First Experiential Level of Shabbos – "Shalom"

As Shabbos enters, the first mitzvah that Chazal have instructed us is to light candles. This is not required anywhere in the Torah, so why did Chazal see it necessary to make such a requirement?

Contrary to what it may seem , that Shabbos remains at one consistent level from beginning to end, Shabbos is really an experience that is constantly changing levels. From its onset at the time of kabolas Shabbos ,until its completion on Motzei Shabbos, Shabbos is constantly ascending levels, until it reaches its highest point at the end of the day – the time of Shalosh Seudos.

The entire Sefer Sidduro Shel Shabbos , written by Rabi Chaim of Tchernovitz zy"a, takes us through a description of each of the changing levels throughout Shabbos. These levels are not decided by guesswork, but are really passed down to us clearly through the Zohar Hakadosh and the writings of the Ari z"l. By knowing and being aware of the changing levels throughout Shabbos, we become equipped to relate appropriately to what is actually taking place on the spiritual plane, during the varying times of Shabbos.

The first spiritual level that we experience as Shabbos enters is called "the level of Shalom".

Continue reading »

INSIGHT FOR SHABBOS – Greeting the King

Bs"d

Participate in Bringing On Shabbos

Like every experience in the world, the quality of the awaited experience is directly dependent upon the amount of thought and preparation that was invested to make it happen. So too, our experience on Shabbos is directly dependent upon the amount of preparation that we invest in before Shabbos comes, to prepare for Shabbos.

Part of this preparation is the addition of "Tosfos Shabbos" that is a halachic requirement cited in Shulchan Aruch¹  - we sanctify a little bit of Erev Shabbos to be like Shabbos, by accepting kedushas Shabbos upon ourselves even before the skiyah.

The Sidduro Shel Shabbos explains what our intent should be when we accept upon ourselves "Tosfos Shabbos". Along with the realization that the kedusha of Shabbos does not really have to do with us – it is a "gift" to us from Hashem² – comes also our desire to give something "back" to Hashem. The way that we do this, is by "participating" in bringing on the kedusha of Shabbos, by us accepting the Shabbos upon ourselves even before its actual time of arrival. This allows us to show Hashem how much we love this mitzva³.

But there is yet another amazing chidush that the Siddoro Shel Shabbos points out.

Continue reading »

INSIGHT FOR SHABBOS – Tosfos Shabbos

The King is Approaching

Bs"d
 
It is a mitzvah from the Torah to add a little bit from the day of Erev Shabbos (Friday afternoon before Shabbos actually enters) and to sanctify it with the sanctity of Shabbos (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, siman 261 – 2).
 
It is brought in Siddur HaAri z"l in the kavanos of Mincha for Erev Shabbos, that the idea of Tosfos Shabbos is based upon making a spiritual preparation for Shabbos within oneself before the advent of Shabbos. Although the kedusha of Shabbos is so great that it takes place even without any of our doing, notwithstanding, the amount of kedusha that each person merits is directly dependent on how much he has previously invested in his spiritual and internal preparation.
 
The Sidduro Shel Shabbos (Shoresh Rishon, anaf gimel, aleh beis) brings an amazing parable to illustrate this principle:
The king had in mind to visit a certain city in one of his provinces, and he sent out his personal entourage to find him a place to stay. The special entourage set out before the appointed day, and upon arriving in the city where the king was to visit, chose [two] homes to be prepared appropriately for the king’s stay.
 
 
The first home owner acted wisely, and as soon as he was chosen said to himself: "At first I will focus on the cleanliness of the house, and make sure that it be sparkling and clean, as is appropriate for the honor of the king". He began his work of beautifying his home with all types of adornments and filling it with good scented smells, so that the king would immediately experience a pleasant atmosphere upon his arrival. This was his main focus during his days of preparation. He didn’t even invest time in preparing food for the king, because he understood that wherever a king travels, he travels together with whatever he needs. Even if the king would find some specific food missing that he desiredat his royal meal, there is nothing that can stop the king from acquiring what he needs.
The second home owner, as soon as he was chosen, said to himself: "Now has come the time for me to make a little money from this, since the king will be coming to my house". During the few days prior to the king’s visit, he spent all his time preparing various types of food and drink that the king would need, so that he could make money off of their sale. In the midst of all his busy preparations, he didn’t even have enough time to properly prepare the cleanup of his house. As the time was getting closer, he still needed to clean up all the dirt and dust from the house and to make the rooms as beautiful as they could be. Although he tried somewhat to clean off the surface dirt – because obviously he had to do something – it wasn’t nearly enough to be appropriate for the visit of a king. Such preparation would be considered small even for one of the king’s officers, most certainly for the king himself.
When the king finally arrived at the city on the appointed day, the officers who precede his coming came to check the first house before the king would make his entry. What the home owner did was good in their eyes, especially considering that he did a lot more than he was able to. They allowed the king to make his royal entery, and at the same time they prepared everything in royal fashion that the king would need to eat. The wise king, upon entering and recognizing how much this home owner did for the king’s honor – much more than what was within his ability – decided to award him with the unique privilege of eating the private meal with the king. At the meal, the king showed the home owner a shining countenance and smiling face, and inquired about his life and his needs – and as a result, whatever the owner needed personally was fulfilled by decree of the king, and he received a bounty of good and experienced no more lacking.
When the time came for the king to go to the house of the second home owner, the officers came to check the house before the king would make his entry. What they discovered was startling. Not only was the house not cleaned satisfactorily for a king, it wasn’t even cleaned satisfactorily enough for one of the officers themselves. They began to yell at him and strike him, saying: "How could it be that the king’s honor is lacking such importance in your eyes, that you didn’t even put in the effort to prepare your home with the appropriate cleanliness". None of the king’s officers heard his cries – even though he claimed that he did prepare for the king – since they could not find a place in his house that was appropriate even for the kingto sit down.
 
Although the King’s presence comes to dwell among us on Shabbos (when we greet the Kallah at the entrance of Shabbos, we are really greeting our individual experience of Hashem’s presence – [see explanation of the level of the Schinah in "Rosh Chodesh Nisan" (April 22/09)]), the relationship with the King and the benefit of the meeting with Him, is directly dependent upon how much one has previously prepared his house (i.e. his neshama) where the King is to dwell, before Shabbos.
 
This is the mitzvah of Tosfos Shabbos: The extra time that the Torah requires us to add preceding Shabbos, is for the purpose of preparing and cleaning our inner homes before the entrance of the King – Melech Malchei HaMelachim HaKadosh Baruch Hu – with Whom we may merit to eat a private meal with – and as a result all of our other needs will be completely filled.

With blessings for a Git and Gebentched Shabbos to all.