Halacha for Wednesday 21 Iyar 5784 May 29 2024

Enjoyment of Shabbat

Our Sages taught: One who observes, honors, and enjoys Shabbat will enjoy even more reward in this world than what is set aside for him in the World to Come, as the verse states, “Then you can enjoy from Hashem, I will set you astride the heights of the earth, and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Yaakov, for Hashem’s mouth has spoken.”

The Obligation to Make Shabbat Enjoyable
The Gemara (Pesachim 65b) states that besides the obligation to study Torah and pray on Shabbat, one must make Shabbat as enjoyable as possible with fine foods, clothing, and the like, based on one’s means. The Sefer Olat Shabbat rules that if one wishes to spend the entire Shabbat engrossed in enjoying food and drink, one may, as long as one does not miss the appropriate prayer times. Nevertheless, the Magen Avraham (Chapter 242) rebuffs his words and proves from the words of our Sages that one must “also” make Shabbat enjoyable; however, this does not mean that one may spend the entire Shabbat steeped in this enjoyment. Rather, one must study Torah as well. Many homes have the custom that women and girls recite many chapters of Tehillim throughout Shabbat.

Our Sages added that one who makes Shabbat enjoyable shall merit longevity. The Yalkut Ha’Ruveni states that one who does not make Shabbat enjoyable, although given the opportunity to do so, is tantamount to stealing from Hashem, for Hashem gives one money to enjoy Shabbat and this individual does not do so. One who has already transgressed this law should rectify this with extra involvement in Torah and Mitzvot. The Tikunei Ha’Zohar writes that one who has the ability to make Shabbat enjoyable and does not do so causes the Hebrew word for enjoyment (“Oneg”) to flip around into the word “Nega” (affliction), and this causes one’s house and wealth to be destroyed.

Heavenly Angels
Our Sages also write that Heavenly angels visit one’s home every Shabbat and look at the table. It is for this reason that the Kaf Ha’Chaim writes that one should not place any disgraceful object on the table. Even a person sitting alone should not set the table with food in a way that is not respectful.

Women
Women are equally obligated in the Mitzvah of making Shabbat enjoyable (Kaf Ha’Chaim, Chapter 242). In general, women have a tremendous merit in this regard, for they are entrusted with food preparation, setting the table, and the like, besides for the precious Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles which is also included in the Mitzvah of enjoyment of Shabbat.

Joy on Shabbat
Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l writes that there is a disagreement among the Poskim regarding whether or not there is an obligation of joy on Shabbat (as there is on Yom Tov). Thus, halachically, there is no obligation to eat meat and drink wine on Shabbat, nevertheless, if one is able to purchase these items and one enjoys them, one should certainly do so in honor of Shabbat.

Magid Mesharim
Maran Ha’Bet Yosef was the greatest sage of his generation, a great genius and truly righteous man, and he was visited by a dedicated angel, called a “Magid,” who would teach him the secrets of the Torah and instruct him how to behave. These lessons were recorded in the Sefer Magid Mesharim. Among other things, the angel instructed Maran not to eat too much on Shabbat and that other people should be careful of the same, for one may regret having eaten. Indeed, the Gemara (Sanhedrin 101a) quotes the verse, “All the days of a poor man are bad,” since he is hungry. The Gemara asks that there are the days of Shabbat and Yom Tov where even the poor eat good foods, so how can we say that his days are bad? The Gemara explains that when one changes one’s normal eating habits, one regrets it later. A poor man does not eat much during the week and then, when he suddenly eats more on Shabbat, he suffers from this. Hagaon Rabbeinu Chaim Palagi writes similarly in his Kaf Ha’Chaim and warns not to eat too much on Shabbat, such that one will regret what one ate, for one loses the reward for a Mitzvah one regrets having done.

The Shela writes that it is for this reason that the Sages did not command us to “enjoy ourselves on Shabbat,” rather, they instructed us to “make Shabbat enjoyable” in order to hint that one should intend to make Shabbat enjoyable for honor of Shabbat, not for one’s own benefit. That is why the verse states, “And you shall declare Shabbat enjoyable,” for one should designate the enjoyment in honor of Shabbat. Indeed, Rabbeinu Yosef Haim writes that although one who intends for the enjoyment to be in honor of Shabbat along with one’s own personal enjoyment fulfills this Mitzvah, the Mitzvah is still incomplete until one focuses everything for the sake of Heaven.

8 Halachot Most Popular

Parashat Ki Tetze

Gathered from the teachings of Maran Rebbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztzvk”l (from the years 5744-5772) (written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) Ellul is the Time to Engage in Battle Against the Yetzer Hara, ......

Read Halacha

Eating and Washing Oneself on Yom Kippur

Regarding the custom of Kapparot, we have discussed in the past that this custom may be fulfilled through money. A bill is taken ($10, $20, etc.) and circled around the head of the atoned party three times, and the following text is recited: “This money is in your stead, your substitute, and y......

Read Halacha

Eating Cake on Shabbat Morning

Today's Halacha is dedicated for the merit and protection of All Our Dear Soldiers May Hashem give them strength and courage to vanquish our enemies and may they return home safe and sound amid health and joy. May Hashem protect all the captives and have mercy upon them so that no harm befalls......

Read Halacha

The Laws of Blood Found in Eggs

Blood in Eggs Blood found in eggs is forbidden for consumption, for this blood indicates the beginning of the embryotic development of the chick and this chick has the halachic status of “fowl” whose blood is forbidden for consumption by Torah law; thus, the opinion of the Rosh and Tosa......

Read Halacha


 The “Shehecheyanu” Blessing

Our Sages teach us (Eruvin 40b) that one should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing upon seeing a new fruit that renews once a year. Even if one sees this fruit in the hands of another person or on the tree, one should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing. Nevertheless, the P......

Read Halacha

Parashat Terumah

From HaGaon Rav Zevadia HaCohen Shlit”a, The Head of the Batei Din in Tel Aviv (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) The Difference Between Moshe and Betzalel [Understanding Why Betzalel Was Able to Make the Menorah, Whilst Moshe Couldn’t] This Sh......

Read Halacha

The Holiday of Sukkot

The Gemara (Sukkah 11b) explains that the Mitzvah of Sukkah is in commemoration of the clouds of glory that surrounded our ancestors when they left Egypt. The Gemara (Ta’anit 9a) states: “Three great leaders arose for the Jewish nation: Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam. Hashem gave the Jewis......

Read Halacha

So that We May Refrain from the Injustice of Our Hands

During the Ne’ilah prayer, the prayer that culminates all the Days of Awe recited towards the conclusion of Yom Kippur, we state: “And You, Hashem our G-d, have given us this Yom Kippur etc. for pardon, forgiveness, and atonement so that we may refrain from the injustice of our hands and......

Read Halacha