Shabbat Flashcards
Why do we light candles on Shabbat? Why two candles?
> > This is a halachic law.
> > The prophet Isaiah said to “call the Sabbath ‘a delight’ and G d’s holy day ‘honored’”. As long as Jews were interested in “calling the Shabbat a day of delight,” they must have had a lamp lit for the nighttime meal. It had to be lit beforehand, since we cannot create a fire on Shabbat (Torah prohibition). And since it is the woman who generally takes the responsibilities of the home, presumably she took the responsibility for the lamp.
> > Sitting in a dark home all Shabbat creates other problems. Shabbat is meant to be a day of peace and harmony. A dark house, with people tripping over every unseen obstacle and falling all over each other is not conducive to peace and harmony.
> > So, at some unspecified point in history, for the sake of shalom bayit (family harmony), the spiritual leaders of the generation made a distinct requirement that every home must have a lamp lit before Shabbat in every room where people may walk and bump into things. They declared that anyone who would be careful with it would be blessed with children who would be Torah scholars. Nevertheless, the principal lamp is the one that shines over the Shabbat meal. The other lamps can be replaced today with electric lights, but the light by the meal should be a burning flame—unless that’s just not possible (e.g., in a hospital).
> > Two candles is a custom, representing two commandments in Torah: to “remember” and “observe” Shabbat.
Shamor (“Observe/Safeguard”): Devarim 5:12
» Represents the negative commandments, and evening Shabbat.
Zachor (“Remember”): Shemos 20:8
» Represents the positive commandments, and the Day of Shabbat.
What is recited before and during Maariv on Shabbat?
> > Kabbalat Shabbat.
- Psalms 95 through 99
- Psalm 29
- The hymn Lecha Dodi (Come my beloved)
- Psalms 92 and 93, a lengthy reading from the Talmud passages governing the Sabbath, placed here to separate Kabbalat Shabbat from Ma’ariv
- Both the Mourner’s Kaddish and de-Rabanan, a Kaddish said after learning in a group, in honor of our teachers
> > Shabbat Maariv changes:
- Paragraph Hashkivenu ends with Ha-poret saccat shalom, instead of shomer ammo Ysrael la’ad as on weekdays.
- After the Amidah, Va-yechulu is recited aloud, while standing. Best to recite with congregation, or together with another person.
- At shul, the leader then recites the blessing Me’ein Sheva (also known as Magen Avot), a shortened version of the Amidah.
What is Lecha Dodi?
Hymm sung to welcome Shabbat on Friday evening.
It means “come, my beloved.”
Written by the 15th century Kabbalist Solomon Alkabetz.
The Lecha Dodi is poetry based on quotes of the Bible and Talmud arranged in such a way that it leaves one with a sense of the lost and found element – a lover being reunited with his beloved.
Is cold soup allowed to be warmed on Shabbat?
No; only dry foods can be warmed
Can you use a normal sponge on Shabbat?
No because it is squeezing; there are Shabbat sponges
Can toothpaste be used on Shabbat?
No, same issue as with using a bar of soap or thick liquid soap: it would seem that using soap with water and turning it into a liquid is similar to crushing ice and turning it into liquid which is forbidden on Shabbat.
Shabbat Melacha: Me’amer (Gathering)
Agricultural labor performed after wheat was harvested. After the sheaves of wheat were removed from the soil, they were bundled together. In this way, they could be moved more easily.
Torah prohibition:
Gather together or combine items that grow in the soil.
In the soil = literally grows in the ground, or on a tree, which itself grows in the ground. Items need to be assembled closely together (e.g. basket prohibited, but hands ok).
- Items that grow on the ground: fruits, vegetables, grains, flowers, and some say natural occurring rocks such as diamonds
- Gathered in the place they grow (e.g. apples from under tree prohibited, but apples from the store you spilled is ok)
- In their original state (e.g. wood prohibited, but wooden blocks ok)
- Have not previously been gathered (only if two acts are essentially the same)
Torah Examples:
- Gathering fruits that fall off the tree
- Raking leaves for constructive purpose
- Gathering sticks in the garden to form a pile
Rabbinical Examples:
- Making a bouquet of flowers – since flowers grow in the ground
- Raking leaves for any reason
- Making a fruit kebab with whole, uncut fruit (toladot)
What are the two special Shabbat related mitzvot reserved for Jewish woman?
- Lighting candles
2. Making challah
What is the mitzvah of making challah called, and how is it performed?
Hafrashat Challah
> > Jewish law requires that a portion of dough or finished baked product be set aside for what is known as “challah.” While any size portion is adequate for challah, it is customary to separate a portion the size of an olive.
> > After separation, the challah is burned.
> > This ritual is obligatory only (a) when the owner of the dough at the time of its preparation is Jewish and (b) the dough is made from flour of any of the Five Principal Species: wheat, oats, rye, spelt and barley.
(c) In addition, there is no requirement to separate challah if the batter contains less than 2.5 pounds of flour.
> > If the batter contains at least 5 pounds of flour, a bracha (blessing) is recited before separating challah: (“…asher kiddeshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hafrish challah min ha’isa”).
> > The Torah says that the Challah is given as a present to a kohain to eat (Numbers 15:21). However, since we are all ritually unclean nowadays, the kohanim can no longer eat the Challah. The law is that ritually-unclean Challah must be burned.
> > Preferably, one should put the Challah into an open fire until it is completely burned. Since this is not very practical in modern ovens, one alternative is to place the small piece of dough in the middle of a burner on a gas stovetop for a few minutes until it is burnt to a crisp. Alternatively, one can place the piece of dough into the oven until it is completely burnt. When doing so, it is important to keep a few important points in mind. It is best to burn the Challah in the oven uncovered in order to make sure that the Challah is completely burnt. However, since the Challah is not permitted to be eaten by a non-kohain (or by a kohain who is ritually-unclean), we can not allow any of the “taste” (taam) of the Challah to come in contact with the food that we eat. As such, one should not place it directly on the broiler where one broils liver or on the oven rack. Rather, one should place the Challah on a dedicated “Challah burning” tray or on piece of aluminum foil and leave it in the oven until it is completely burnt. Some wrap the Challah dough in a piece of aluminum foil. The disadvantage of doing this is that it will take a very long time for the dough to be properly burnt.
Why can’t restaurants be open on Shabbat?
You may be risking eating something cooked by a Jewish person on Shabbat (v. on Yom Tov, cooking is allowed, so restaurants can be open).
There is a greater chance food will be prepared on Shabbat for unexpected diners.
Also, a mashgiach would be required to walk to any restaurant they are supposed to be supervising, and this is hard to find.
What are the positive commandments of Shabbat?
- Preparations before Shabbat
- Candle lighting
- Kiddush: sanctification over wine
- Keeping Shabbat
- Havdalah
Why does Shabbat begin in the evening?
Source: Bereshit; there was darkness first, then came the light.
What is the most significant event that happened on Shabbat?
According to sages of the Talmud, the Revelation at Sinai Happened on Shabbat.
G d communicated the 10 Commandments and struck a covenant with the Jewish people after He took them out of Egypt.
What are recommended preparations on Friday before Shabbat?
“And you shall call Shabbot a delight, and show honor to the day made holy by God” (Yeshayahu 58:13)
> > Mitzvah: buy things for Shabbat early on Friday morning. Caveat: foods requiring lengthy preparation should be bought on Thursday. When days are shorter like during Winter, preferable to shop on Thursday. Source: “On Friday, [the Israelites] shall prepare that which they will bring in” (Shemot 16:5); “They gathered it [the manna] early in the morning” (Shemot 16:21).
> > Mitzvah: taste the dishes while they are being prepared to ensure that they are appetizing. Should have meat, wine, and other foods, according to their means.
> > Desirable to have fish at each of the three Shabbat meals, unless one dislikes fish.
> > Clean the house
> > Custom: table set and bread on table before Shabbat starts. Some use tablecloth to cover the dining table during Shabbat meals. Some people put two tablecloths on the table, so it won’t be exposed if the top layer is removed for cleaning.
> > Candles: leave on table
> > Should not set Friday afternoon aside to do substantial work. Ideally, leave work [~3] hours before Shabbat starts (by Minchah Ketanah). Work required for Shabbat is allowed anytime, and casual work like letter-writing.
> > Shower (Mitzvah to bathe in honor of Shabbat).
Bathing: bath with hot water on Friday, in honor of Shabbat. At least wash face, hands, and feet with hot water. Some men immerse themselves in a mikveh.
> > There is a custom to give Sudakah before lighting the candles. Pushke - charity box
> > Spend time repenting for misdeeds and improving his ways on erev Shabbat.
> > Mitzvah: if needed, get a haircut in honor of Shabbat. Fingernails: should cut on Friday Some people do not cut their fingernails and toenails on the same day: toenails on Thursday, fingernails on Friday.
> > Wear nicer clothes on Shabbat. If possible, a man should have a special tallit for Shabbat. Source: “You shall honor it, and not conduct your regular affairs on it” (Yeshayahu 58:13)
Where do we light candles, and who lights the candles?
> > Primary mitzvah: light candles in the room where the Shabbat meal is served (when you have the meal, should see the candles).
- Every member of household fulfills mitzvah when the wife lights her Shabbat candles
- If she is not home, the husband lights them. In such situation, the custom is for him to light two, even if the wife usually lights more.
- Strictly speaking, you can fulfill the mitzvah of Shabbat candle-lighting with one candle: Ner (candle) is singular. However, very strong custom to light at least two candles (can light more, for example one for each children)
- “Ner” has numerical value of 250, so 2x = 500;
According to the Talmud, man has 248 organs and woman has 252, giving a total of 500. Thus two candles represent togetherness of husband and wife.
> > Light candles and say blessing: “…l’hadik ner shel Shabbat”
> > In many communities, the custom is that unmarried girls (starting age three) light their own Shabbat candles (lighting only one, out of respect for their mothers).
