Many are familiar with the famous Midrash where Shabbat ‘spoke’ to Hashem asking Him who will be my partner. The response from Hashem was, “The bride is the collective souls of Ahm Yisrael.” We down here below are the partner of Shabbat Kodesh and if we observe it properly we will merit to be its companion in the World to Come, B’H. We must prepare ourselves and our home to honor Shabbat and bring joy to the Guest who will join us. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai ztk”l teaches that when Ahm Yisrael brings in Shabbat Kodesh with the tefillot of erev Shabbat a Heavenly voice emanates proclaiming, “Happy are you, Ahm Yisrael, for you offer your blessings below so that the holy camps may be blessed on high. Happy are you in this world and in the World-to-Come!” On erev Shabbat a sukkah of peace spreads over Klal Yisrael and over Yerushalayim just as a mother bird protects her little ones. Shabbat symbolizes the seven spheres; She is everything and everything is in Her. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai sheds a fascinating light onto the well-known teaching of what occurs when the husband returns home from shul erev Shabbat: “When one returns home from synagogue on Shabbat eve, he is accompanied by angels on either side, with the Shechinah arching over all, like a mother bird encompassing her children. At that moment, “a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not reach you. Only with your eyes shall you see and witness the recompense of the wicked. Because you too Hashem, my Refuge, the Most High as your haven, no harm will befall you, no disease touch your tent.” All this is true when one joyously returns to his home and receives his Guest in joy.” At this point the Shechinah sees the candles lit and the table set and the family in joy and she says, “This household is mine.” All of our weeks’ blessings flow from Shabbat Kodesh. When the table is adorned with scrumptious food and delicacies on erev Shabbat and Shabbat day the table receives bracha every day of the week as well. The AriZal brings down that whoever partakes in all three meals feeds himself with complete emuna.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Jul 2013 12:04:59 +0000
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