Hello to you, dear and important ladies!
And here we are, G-d, in another journal, recharging ourselves in the service of Hashem in general, and Shabbat in particular.
All the sanctity of Shabbat, its effects and blessings, begin at the time of Kabbalat Shabbat The Rambam writes (Hilkhot Shabbat chapter 30): Two things were said on Shabbat from the words of the scribes, and they were interpreted by the prophets: Honor and pleasure, as it is said, “And you shall call Shabbat a pleasure, and the Holy of God’s name is honored.”
How do we honor? They said that it is a mitzvah for a person to wash his face, hands and feet in hot water on the eve of Shabbat because of the honor of Shabbat, he should wrap himself in tzitzit and sit with dignity, wishing to welcome Shabbat just as one goes out to meet the king. The early Sages would gather their students and wrap themselves and say, “Let’s go out to meet the king’s Shabbat.”
Shabbat is a living reality, we go out to greet her and also accompany her when she leaves and it is difficult to say goodbye! And it is the only mitzvah that we bless and welcome, chanting Come Bride, Come Bride, Come Bride! Unlike Shabbat, we do not welcome the sukkah, lulav or matza, and the other mitzvot in the form of “Boachem LeShalom.”
Shabbat should be longed for like a mother who goes to meet her son after not seeing him for a long time. She prepares cakes and pastries, arranges his room, makes his bed, gets excited and even occasionally wipes away a tear of longing and excitement for his arrival, preparing dishes that her son very much loves. Here comes the day, everything is ready and she is also preparing herself, wearing a special garment for this day and making signs on the door and sitting and waiting for him with great excitement, “when will my beloved son arrive?”
This is how we have to prepare for Shabbat. Every day we will prepare something so that on Friday, God willing, we will be calm for the arrival of the Queen. So far for this newsletter, with God’s help, in the next newsletter we will learn together how to reduce work during the week in preparation for Quen Shabbat. Comments and comments are welcome, beautiful photos of your Shabbat table will win you a prize.
My deep appreciation,
Miriam Yacobi
