Woodside_park Synagogue

The Y behind the traditions - SHABBAT PREPARATIONS

This article has been written by Rabbi Hackenbroch to explain the "Y" behind the traditions of Shabbat Preparations.

The challot

The loaves that are baked in honour of the Shabbat and Yomtov are called challot. Many women baked their own challot in honour of the Shabbat thereby enabling them to separate challah a small portion of the bread that when one bakes must be set aside as required according to halacha.


The candles

It is customary to light two shabbos candles. The reason being that each one corresponds to one of the themes of the shabbos the first being zachor meaning you shall remember the shabbos and the other to shamor symbolising you should observe the shabbos. It is customary to pre-light the wicks and immediately extinguish them, so that they kindle faster when the woman of the house lights them.

A woman who once forgot to light shabbos candles must thereafter light three candles for the rest of her life. The reason for this law is that the additional candle will remind her to always be careful not to forget kindling the shabbos lights. It goes without saying that this law is only applicable where one forgot to light, but where a woman fails to light candles through events beyond her control then not a question of being lax and would not be required to light an additional candle.


Nail cutting

The comprehensive nature of the jewish law is often unknown. In fact we find that from the moment we open our eyes in the morning until the time we fall asleep at night we have guidance in the laws and customs as to how we are expected to lead our lives.

The shulchan aruch rules that as part of the honour we confer on the Shabbat it is a mitzvah for one to cut ones nails on the eve of the Shabbat. The rationale posited for this by the ketzon hachoshen is that since finger nails are visible one should be more particular about their appearance in honour of the Shabbat, and cut them as close as possible to Shabbat. Because whatever is is done on erev Shabbat is obviously being carried out in honour of the Shabbat.

Furthermore it is customary not to cast away one's cut off in a place where others walk. This is in accord with the statement in pirkei d'R. Eliezer that Adam before his sin was completely covered with a garment of nails. After his sin, Hashem stripped off his coat of nails leaving them only at the edges of his fingers and toes. Kabbalistically, it is considered dangerous for a pregnant woman to walk over cast away nails and therefore they are flushed down the toilet and not just place in a bin.


The shabbos meals

It is customary to recite the poem shalom Aleichem to the ministering angels on shabbos night before Kiddush. The piyut was composed around 250 years ago by an unkown poet who was an adherent of the mekubalim. This is in accord with what our sages in the Talmud said: we learned in a braisa R. Yosi Bar Yehuda said two ministering angels accompany a man home on shabbos evening after leaving shul: one good angel and one evil. Upon arriving home, if he finds candles lit, the table set etc the good angel says: May it be thus the following shabbos. And the evil angel is forced to answer amen against his will. If such is not the case, then the evil angel says: May it be thus the following shabbos and the good angel forced to respond Amen against his will.


Eshes chayil

Before Kiddush on shabbos evening, it is customary to recite mishlei chapter 31 verses 10-31, which are arranged in alphabetical order. The chapter begins with the words Eshes chayil mi yimtza (a woman of valour who can find). Rav shimon bar Yochai taught in Bereishis Rabbah "shabbos declared : Master of the Universe! Every day of the week has a spouse except for me. The Almighty answered: the community of Israel is your spouse. This chapter contains praises for ones wife who exerted herself and prepared the shabbos delicacies.


Would you like to know how to follow the Shabbat Morning Service

If so we can help you (discreetly of course). Please email your contact details to aded@live.co.uk or speak to our co-ordinator Debra Morris.