#99: Machshavah

The sefer HaShir V’haShevach (p. 5) tells a story about the first Chasidic Rebbe of Zvhil, Rav Moshe of Zvhil.

“When Rav Moshe [of Zvhil] was a young married man, he owned a salt shop. A neighbor of his also had a shop nearby. The neighbor noticed that when Rabbi Moshele would recite Kiddush, he would be ‘on fire’ [with excitement]. The neighbor once asked him ‘How is this? We both sit in our stores [during the week], so how did you get to the level of reciting Kiddush with such fervor and energy? Why is this not so for me?’ Rabbi Moshele responded, ‘The difference is that I think about Kiddush and look forward to it all week, while you, even while you are reciting Kiddush, are only thinking about the store.”

This message is an important one to internalize and reinforce. Every week, as Shabbat approaches, we should try to put aside all of our concerns related to our working and earning a living, trusting that Hashem will supply us with what we need. Since the Hamas attack on October 7th, 2023, there has been a spiritual reawakening of Jews across the world that has included renewed commitment to Shabbat observance. (For one example of this,https://aish.com/closing-our-store-on-shabbat-changed-our-lives/). Let us try to think about and look forward to Kiddush during the week rather than thinking about our mundane concerns and livelihood during Kiddush. May we all recognize the true Source for our sustenance in this world and use Shabbat to thank Hashem for everything that we have been given in life.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.