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Preparing for Shabbat: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Friday.png|thumb|200px|right|Friday on a Jewish calendar]] | [[Image:Friday.png|thumb|200px|right|Friday on a Jewish calendar]] | ||
There is an entire array of laws and customs on how to maximize our Fridays in preparation for [[Shabbat]]. Even one who has servants at his disposal is obligated to personally tend to at least some of the [[Shabbat]] preparations himself. <ref>Rambam Hilchot [[Shabbat]] 30:6, Tur Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 250:1, Magen Avraham 250:2, Baer Heitiv 250:2, Pri Megadim Eshel Avraham 250:2, Chayei Adam [[Shabbat]] 1:3, Shulchan Aruch Harav 250:4, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:5, Mishna Brurah 250:4, Rivevot Ephraim 1:181, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). The gemara [[Shabbat]] 119a reports how many amoraim would exert themselves in preparing for [[shabbat]]. Orchot Rabbeinu 3: pg. 228 says that the Steipler used to sweep the house in honor of [[Shabbat]] </ref> | |||
==Obligation== | ==Obligation== | ||
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# One should endeavor to purchase flowers in honor of [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Shir Hashirim Rabba 2:9; Vayikra Rabba 23:6; Kaf Hachaim (Palagi) 36:2, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref> | # One should endeavor to purchase flowers in honor of [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Shir Hashirim Rabba 2:9; Vayikra Rabba 23:6; Kaf Hachaim (Palagi) 36:2, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref> | ||
# A person should try to review his deeds from the past week and resolve to correct his mistakes on Fridays. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:15 </ref> | # A person should try to review his deeds from the past week and resolve to correct his mistakes on Fridays. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:15 </ref> | ||
# Even if it means minimizing one's amount of Torah learning on Friday, one should still personally be involved in preparing for Shabbat.<ref>Rama 251:2</ref> | |||
==Buying food for Shabbat== | ==Buying food for Shabbat== | ||
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# It is considered a great a mitzva to taste the [[Shabbat]] food every Friday afternoon. <ref>Torat Menachem (Rav Menachem Mendel Shneerson, vol 18, pg 104) discusses the importance of this minhag as a symbol for the coming of Mashiach. </ref> in order to ensure that it is tasty and fit to be served at the [[Shabbat]] meal.<ref>Magen Avraham 250:1 writes that there's a righteous practice to taste the food for [[Shabbat]] on Friday in order to know whether it's spiced and tasty. This is quoted by the achronim including Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:3), Aruch Hashulchan, OC 250:4; Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:8; Mishna Brurah 250:2; Rivevot Ephraim 2:115:37. Mishna Brurah 250:2 writes that one should taste the [[Shabbat]] food on Friday in order to ensure that the is is tasty and fit for [[Shabbat]]. There's a number of source of this custom: | # It is considered a great a mitzva to taste the [[Shabbat]] food every Friday afternoon. <ref>Torat Menachem (Rav Menachem Mendel Shneerson, vol 18, pg 104) discusses the importance of this minhag as a symbol for the coming of Mashiach. </ref> in order to ensure that it is tasty and fit to be served at the [[Shabbat]] meal.<ref>Magen Avraham 250:1 writes that there's a righteous practice to taste the food for [[Shabbat]] on Friday in order to know whether it's spiced and tasty. This is quoted by the achronim including Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:3), Aruch Hashulchan, OC 250:4; Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:8; Mishna Brurah 250:2; Rivevot Ephraim 2:115:37. Mishna Brurah 250:2 writes that one should taste the [[Shabbat]] food on Friday in order to ensure that the is is tasty and fit for [[Shabbat]]. There's a number of source of this custom: | ||
* A hint for this custom can be found in the [[Shabbat]] [[Mussaf]] [[prayers]] which include the words "Those who taste it will merit long life". Although "taste it" in this context refers to [[Shabbat]] observance, poetic license allows these words to be interpreted as referring to the [[Shabbat]] foods, as well. There are those who take this teaching quite literally and insist that those who taste the [[Shabbat]] foods are assured a long life! (Machzor Vitri 181; Shibolei Haleket 82; Beit Yosef, OC 286, Elya Rabba 250:6) | * A hint for this custom can be found in the [[Shabbat]] [[Mussaf]] [[prayers]] which include the words "Those who taste it will merit long life". Although "taste it" in this context refers to [[Shabbat]] observance, poetic license allows these words to be interpreted as referring to the [[Shabbat]] foods, as well. There are those who take this teaching quite literally and insist that those who taste the [[Shabbat]] foods are assured a long life! (Machzor Vitri 181; Shibolei Haleket 82; Beit Yosef, OC 286, Elya Rabba 250:6) | ||
* Others suggest that the source for this custom derives from a mishna which enigmatically records that "Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai was given from the foods to taste". Some commentators suggest that this is a reference to the [[Shabbat]] foods which Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai would taste every Friday afternoon. ( Torah Chaim 250:2 based on Mishna Sukka 26b) | * Others suggest that the source for this custom derives from a mishna which enigmatically records that "Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai was given from the foods to taste". Some commentators suggest that this is a reference to the [[Shabbat]] foods which Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai would taste every Friday afternoon. (Torah Chaim 250:2 based on Mishna Sukka 26b) | ||
* It is interesting to note that according to the Zohar, the mitzva of tasting the [[Shabbat]] food applies on Friday night and not prior to [[Shabbat]], as most are accustomed to. According to this approach, the reason for tasting the food Friday night is to ensure that the daytime [[Shabbat]] foods are tasty.(Zohar, Bereishit 48b.) This opinion is puzzling, however, since once [[Shabbat]] has begun all further [[cooking]] is forbidden. In most cases it is not even permissible to add spices or do anything else to a food which is [[cooking]] on the fire. ([[Amot]] Shel Halacha by Rabbi Ari Enkin) | * It is interesting to note that according to the Zohar, the mitzva of tasting the [[Shabbat]] food applies on Friday night and not prior to [[Shabbat]], as most are accustomed to. According to this approach, the reason for tasting the food Friday night is to ensure that the daytime [[Shabbat]] foods are tasty.(Zohar, Bereishit 48b.) This opinion is puzzling, however, since once [[Shabbat]] has begun all further [[cooking]] is forbidden. In most cases it is not even permissible to add spices or do anything else to a food which is [[cooking]] on the fire. ([[Amot]] Shel Halacha by Rabbi Ari Enkin) | ||
* There is another, somewhat unfamiliar, explanation for the custom of tasting the [[Shabbat]] foods, as well. There are those who suggest that the custom derives from an ancient practice to fast every Friday until shortly before the arrival of [[Shabbat]]. As fasting on a Friday is generally forbidden, the custom of tasting the [[Shabbat]] foods close to the onset of [[Shabbat]] was born. In this way, through the requirement to taste the [[Shabbat]] foods Friday afternoon, those who were fasting could rest assured that their fast didn’t accidentally extend into [[Shabbat]], which would be forbidden. So too, it ensures that one will not enter [[Shabbat]] in a state of discomfort or outright hunger. In fact, in some communities this tasting ritual was known as the "boi kalla" meal. (Aseh Lecha Rav 3:14)</ref>It is noted that the custom of tasting the [[Shabbat]] foods on Friday afternoons is one which is quite widespread. <ref> Mateh Moshe 408. The kabbalists were especially diligent to taste the [[Shabbat]] food on Erev [[Shabbat]], comparing it to the exacting preparations one undertakes in order to properly prepare for the arrival of an important guest.(Shulchan Aruch Ha'arizal 260:5; Pri Eitz Chaim, Shaar 18:3; Shaar Hakavanot, Tevilat Erev [[Shabbat]])</ref> | * There is another, somewhat unfamiliar, explanation for the custom of tasting the [[Shabbat]] foods, as well. There are those who suggest that the custom derives from an ancient practice to fast every Friday until shortly before the arrival of [[Shabbat]]. As fasting on a Friday is generally forbidden, the custom of tasting the [[Shabbat]] foods close to the onset of [[Shabbat]] was born. In this way, through the requirement to taste the [[Shabbat]] foods Friday afternoon, those who were fasting could rest assured that their fast didn’t accidentally extend into [[Shabbat]], which would be forbidden. So too, it ensures that one will not enter [[Shabbat]] in a state of discomfort or outright hunger. In fact, in some communities this tasting ritual was known as the "boi kalla" meal. (Aseh Lecha Rav 3:14)</ref>It is noted that the custom of tasting the [[Shabbat]] foods on Friday afternoons is one which is quite widespread. <ref> Mateh Moshe 408. The kabbalists were especially diligent to taste the [[Shabbat]] food on Erev [[Shabbat]], comparing it to the exacting preparations one undertakes in order to properly prepare for the arrival of an important guest.(Shulchan Aruch Ha'arizal 260:5; Pri Eitz Chaim, Shaar 18:3; Shaar Hakavanot, Tevilat Erev [[Shabbat]])</ref> | ||
