It’s a Big Deal
לזכר נשמות לאה שושנה בת אהרן ריעדער מורינו ר׳ צבי הערש בן ר׳ ניסן חיים מורינו ר׳ ישעי בן ר׳ משה ר׳ יעקב בן ר׳ שמואל יוסף מ׳ חוה רבקה בת ר׳ שמעון ריעדער
Based on Nefesh Shimshon by Rav Shimshon Pincus, zt”l
It’s not a mitzvah to remember Pesach every other day of the year. Only the days of the actual yom tov. But Shabbos we have the mitzvah to remember it for the six days preceding, as we recite in the shir shel yom every single day.
Imagine every Wednesday we’d say, “Wow, in two days it will be Shabbos.” Now imagine we said it out loud, to our family members within earshot. When we pass a store selling something delicious, we can remark, “I’ll come back to buy that for Shabbos!”
After all, the King Himself will be arriving. We will be in the Kodesh Kedoshim, as if in the Beis Hamikdash!
Starting Friday morning, we should be focused on Shabbos and Shabbos alone. Allow the young people in your home to assist with preparations — they can measure out the flour or sprinkle the salt.
And how much more special it is if we can begin Shabbos preparations along with the shir shel yoms: at the beginning of the new week.
It is said about Shammai: When he found a choice animal, he would say “this one is for Shabbos.” When he found a better one, he’d eat the first one and save the second one.
And though it says we usually follow Beis Hillel, in regards to preparing for Shabbos, we strive to follow in Shammai’s footsteps.
Rav Pincus brings a mashal from making an aufruf for his son. They were expecting 100 people at the simchah, and therefore did not begin preparations Friday morning, but rather two weeks before.
And when Shabbos finally arrives, there should be nothing left to do. All that’s left is zachor es Shabbos, remember that it is Shabbos.
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Let’s Reflect:
How can we bring Shabbos prep into our weekly schedule? Maybe head to your favorite butcher earlier in the week and fill your freezer with Shabbos treats. Mondays can be for discussing with your children what desserts should be made for that Shabbos. It may seem stilted at first, but eventually, discussing Shabbos every day will become second nature.
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On Pesach and Shavuos we don’t sing, “Pesach Pesach, Shavuos Shavuos…” but on Shabbos, that is exactly what we do. Shabbos yom l’Hashem… la la la.
We sing about the day itself, remembering her, delighting in her.
We are saying that everything else has ceased to exist on Shabbos, only Hashem remains.
Anyone who remembers to think about Shabbos on Shabbos, to recall that Shabbos is a name of Hashem, will find themselves transported.
Not because he’s jumped madreigos, but because he or she has met Hashem in their own home. And on Shabbos, Hashem meets you exactly where you are.
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Let’s Reflect:
How can we remember to think about Shabbos on Shabbos itself? It sounds obvious, but truthfully, Shabbos is often filled with the same worries and conversations as the rest of the week. Maybe a sign, placed near the candles? A reminder before zemiros what it is exactly we’re singing about? Anything that will help you remember the unique opportunity of the day.
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