Shabbos

Our Sages have said, "Great is the mitzvah of candle lighting, as it brings peace into the
world." On one level this means that the light of the Shabbos candles brings peace by
illuminating the house so that people do not stumble in the dark or bump into each
other.

In a deeper sense, Chassidut teaches us that the Shabbos candles light up the house
and every member of the family with the light of the Torah which guides them safely
along the path of life that is full of dangerous pitfalls.

Every mitzvah of the Torah is likened to a candle: "Ki Ner Mitzvah v'Torah Or" (a mitzvah
is a candle and Torah is a light [Mishle-Proverbs 6:23]). Each mitzvah that a person does
effects a physical and spiritual illumination. Each mitzvah---each light---tunes us in
more closely to the sprituality latent in this world.

Candle lighting has always been a special and auspicious time, one of meditation and
quiet prayer. The Jewish woman or girl stands before the kindled flames with eyes
covered as she recites the blessing. The reason that the blessing must be said after,
rather than before, lighting the candles is that if the blessing were to be recited first it
would seem as if the woman has already "inaugurated Shabbos." In that case she would
not be permitted to light the candles, since kindling of the lights on the Shabbos is
forbidden.

At this moment, when the family is gathered together, she has traditionally offered a
silent or verbal prayer on behalf of her husband and children. In generations past,
personal prayers in Yiddish called "techinos" were commonly said by Jewish women
before doing a mitzvah and on special occasions.

A minimum of two candles are lit corresponding to the two expressions of Shabbos
mentioned preveiously: "Zochor" (remember) and "Shomor" (guard), that are mentioned
in the Ten Commandments. Some women add an additional light with the birth of each
child and continue lighting it throughout the years. The lights are symbolic of the
cheerfulness and serenity which distinguishes the Shabbos.

It is customary to bless children of all ages, either in the synagogue after leaving
services or on returning home. The beginning of Shabbos is a particularly appropriate
time. Both hands are laid on the head of the child to symbolize a blessing imparted
with complete generosity of spirit.

For a boy: May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menashe.

For a girl: May G-d make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

For both: May Hashem bless you and protect you. May Hashem cause His face to shine
upon you and be gracious to you. May Hashem raise His face to you and establish peace
for you.

This beautiful custom links the generations in a mutual loyalty and affection.

Little girls from the age of three should light a candle of their own. (It is recommended
that the daughter light first, so her mother could assist her if necessary.) Even our
young daughters sense a certain warmth and inner happiness as they help usher in
Shabbos with their candles.

Shalom Aleichem

This song of praise, sung on Friday evening is based on the Talmudic passage which
teaches that a good angel and an evil angel accompany every man home from synagogue
on Friday evening. If they find the house in good order with the Shabbos table set
festively bedecked with glowing candles and the family dressed in their best, the good
angel says, "May the next Shabbos be as this one," and the evil one must respon,
"Amen, may it be so." In on the other hand, they find the reverse, the house is not fit
for the welcoming of royalty (the Shabbos is likened to a queen), the evil angel says
"May the next Shabbos be as this one," and the good angel must unfortunately answer,
"Amen."

Eishes Chayil
"Eishes Chayil," from the last chapter in the book of Proverbs, is an acrostic poem with
each verse beginning with the corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It is
recited by the husband when he returns from synagogue Shabbos evening. Rabbi
Yitzchak ben Nechemiah says in Yalkut Mishlei: "Just as G-d gave the Torah to Israel by
means of the 22 letters of the aleph-bais, so He praises the righteous woman by means
of the 22 letters."

This poem, the title of which translates as "A Woman of Excellence," describes the
perfect wife who is trusted by her husband, obeyed by her servants, and admired by
other people. Kind to the poor and gentle to all, she is self-respecting and dignified.
Husband and children praise her as the source of their happiness. Her goal in life is to
foster the growth of Torah knowledge and good deeds in her husband and
children---her ultimate accomplishment.

Our sages have given the poem "Eishes Chayil" many allegorical interpretations in
addition to its literal meaning as praising the Jewish woman; some say Solomon's
mother. Others interpret it as referring to the Torah itself, G-d's Holy Presence, etc.

Shabbos Table
Some special ingredients at the Shabbos table, where the meal is more leisurely joyful
and elaborate, and where all family members are present, are the Torah talks (whch are
more detailed than at the weekday table) the songs and guests.

Our sages teach us that the Sechinah (Divine Presence) doe not rest on a person sunk
in sadness or laziness, but comes only with the joy of mitzvah performance. Therefore,
when a Jew prepares to invite Hashem's presence to his Shabbos table, he must first
be able to declare that he has prepared himself for it by elevating himself to the level
of spiritual joy which can be done only by means of holy pursuits, such as praising G-d,
study of Torah, and performance of good deeds.

Some of the songs (zmiros) sung at the Shabbos meals are from the Siddur (prayer
book), some from the psalms, and some from other Holy writings, while other nigunim
(tunes) are wordless. All are full of the feeling of joy and faith which fills our hearts on
special holy days. According to the Rabbis, food can be sanctified by holy utterances
pronounced at the table, and a food thus hallowed becomes a "food of healing."

Kiddush
Shabbos meals begin with the recitation of the Kiddush, which is said by the head of
the household or any male over thirteen. Our Rabbis ordained that Shabbos should be
sanctified with wine. Usually a silver cup holding a minimum of four ounces is reserved
for this purpose. The one reciting the Kiddush drinks at least two ounces, and then
distributes the rest among those who are included in the Kiddush. Kiddush is prefaced
with the words, "Savri Maranan" (By your leave, gentleman) to call the family and guests
to attention so that they will not have to recite the blessing for themselves. Many
people, however, have the custom that all male members over the age of thirteen
recite the Kiddush.

Women, too, are obliged to hear Kiddush. When necessary, a woman above the age of
twelve can make Kiddush for herself and other women present.

The Friday night Kiddush testifies that G-d, the Creator of the world, rested on the
seventh day, declared it holy, and gave us, the Jewish people, this gift, this holy day
to observe. The Kiddush on Shabbos afternoon speaks about observing the Shabbos as
a sign, a bond between us and G-d forever.

After Kiddush, everyone washes hands in the prescribed ritual manner, and pronounces
the appropriate blessing. The head of the household then recites the blessing
"Hamotzi" over the two Challahs and everyone responds "Amen." Just before saying the
brochah, he lightly draws the knife across the Challah to indicate the place for cutting,
then raises the Challahs to recite the blessing. He cuts a piece of Challah for himslef,
and dips it in salt nd eats it so that there is no unnecessary lapse of time between the
blessing and the act of eating. Two loaves of Challah must be set at each Shabbos meal,
because the Jews gathered double portions of the manna in the desert on Friday, as
mentioned above. However only one of these loaves is broken at a time.

It enhances the mitzvah of Shabbos enjoyment to have wine, fish and chicken on
Shabbos, and so our meals are usually planned around these foods. It is customary to
eat fish to remind us of the mercies of G-d. Fish have no eyelids, so that their eyes are
never closed; so too are the eyes of the L-rd open at all times to watch over those who
fear Him. There is also a custom of eating some kind of kugel ([usually noodle] pudding)
on Shabbos.

Shalosh Seudos
The third meal of Shabbos is called either Shalosh Seudos of Seudah Shlishis. The
Talmud says that the person who fulfills the obligation of three meals on Shabbos will
merit a "good judgment" in the World to Come for he has shown good judgment in not
overeating during the first two Shabbos meals so he could fulfill the mitzvah of eating a
third meal in honor of the holy day. As with other Shabbos meals, shalosh seudos is
accompanied by zmiros or Shabbos songs.

During the first two meals of the day we are actually hungry and eat with particular
enjoyment. By the time of the third meal we may no longer be hungry, but we sit down
to partake with song and rejoicing in order to fulfill G-d's commandment that we eat at
least three meals on Shabbos. It is not the food which draws us to the table, but the
desire to carry out His precepts.

Havdalah
When Shabbos first entered on Friday evening we received her with much honor and
joy. For approximately 25 hours we were bestowed with an additional Shabbos soul and
the unique Shabbos spirit; now that it is time for her to leave we cannot let her go
unnoticed. Her departure, like her entrance, must be announced with wine and
blessings.

After Shabbos ends, Havdalah is said to mark the distinction between the "holy and the
profane," between the Shabbos that has ended and the ordinary days of the week that
have begun.

The Havdalah prayer is said over a cup of wine, with a blessing. However, grape juice,
beer, and certain other liquids may be used instead. In addition, two other blessings
are also recited. The first blessing is said over the smelling of spices. Sweet. smelling
spices have the ability to revive broken spirits, and now that Shabbos is over and our
added spiritual soul has departed, our mood needs to be uplifted and revived.

The second is a blessing for fire, said over the light of a Havdalah candle (a special
candle made by combining several wicks or by joining the flame of two candles). One
reason for this blessing is a remembrance for the light (fire) Adam made by rubbing two
stones together when he first experienced darkness, which was on Saturday night.
After the blessing, we hold our nails to the light to see the difference between dark
and light reflected on our hands. The order of the blessings is wine, spice, flame,
havdalah (acknowledgment of the separation).

"If you will obseve the kindling of the Sabbath lights you will merit to see the lights of
the redemption of the Jewish people."

From Chabad House
2101 Nueces
Austin, TX 78705