#127: Oneg Shabbat and Foods to Eat at the Shabbat Meals (Part 1)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. The mitzvah of oneg Shabbat (enjoying Shabbat) includes serving delicious foods and drinks to eat at the Shabbat meal that one especially enjoys (Rambam, Shabbat 30:7). One should make a concerted effort to fulfill this mitzvah even if this involves spending more money (Shulchan Aruch 242:1). One should bear in mind that according to Chazal, money spent on Shabbat and Yom Tov expenses is outside the predetermined yearly income Hashem allocates for a person (Beitzah 16a; Shulchan Aruch HaRav 242:3).
  2. One should ideally serve chicken or meat on Shabbat to fulfill the mitzvah of Oneg Shabbat (Shulchan Aruch 250:2). In addition, it is appropriate to serve fish at the Shabbat meals (Mishnah Berurah 242:2). However, those who do not enjoy the consumption of chicken, meat, or fish, or those who are vegetarian may eat whatever foods they enjoy (Ibid.; R. Bleich, Contemporary Halakhic Problems, Vol.6, at https://www.sefaria.org/Contemporary_Halakhic_Problems,_Vol_III,_Part_II,_Chapter_X_Vegetarianism_and_Judaism).

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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.