Preparing for Shabbat: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Friday.png|thumb|200px|right|Friday on a Jewish calendar]]

==Obligation==

# 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>

==Buying food for Shabbat==

# 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)

* 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>

# Similarly, there are those who suggest that in the event that one knows exactly how the [[Shabbat]] foods taste (i.e. the same recipe and results week after week) there is no obligation to do so.  <ref> In fact, it might be a greater display of honor to [[Shabbat]] not to taste such food beforehand and to rather save the gastronomic pleasure exclusively for [[Shabbat]] itself. </ref> Nevertheless, in order to satisfy most opinions one should be sure to taste at least one dish in honor of [[Shabbat]] every Friday afternoon.<ref> Nimukei Orach Chaim 250 </ref>

==Which foods should be tasted?==

# The mitzva of showering can only be fulfilled with warm to hot water. <ref>Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 260:1; Beiur Halacha 260 s.v. “Bechamin” and "Lechof Harosh". But see Devar Chevron 2:229 </ref>

# The order of what to wash first when showering is as follows: head, face, chest, right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg.<ref>[[Shabbat]] 61a; Mishna Brurah 2:7, 260:1; Be'er Moshe 3:1; Ben Ish Chai (Vayishlach 17), [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 Ta’amei Haminhagim 249 writes that this pre-[[Shabbat]] wash is known in kabbalistic circles to assist in removing sins from one’s soul. </ref>

==Cutting one's nails==

# One should arrange for one's hair and nails to be cut on Erev [[Shabbat]]. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 260:1 </ref>

# For the topic of boarding a boarding a boat on Friday see [[Taking a cruise over Shabbat]].

# For the topic of boarding an airplane on Friday see [[Transportation_on_Shabbat#Airplane]].

==Credits==

# Special thanks to Rabbi Ari Enkin author of the [[Amot]] Shel Halacha series for his contribution to this article. If you would like to purchase his books please [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 click here].