The Mitzvah of Shabbat 
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The mitzvah of observing Shabbat is the fourth of the Ten Commandments.
Q. Why does Shabbat begin Friday night at sunset? A. In the beginning of the Book of Genesis the Torah describes the six days of creation. After each day the Torah says "And there was evening and their was morning the first day... and there was evening and there was morning the second day... and so on. This teaches us that the day begins from the previous evening. Thus, Shabbat begins Friday night. Q. Why is there a specific time for lighting the candles on Friday? A. Lighting fire is forbidden on Shabbat. Thus, we must light candles before it becomes Shabbat which occurs at sunset on Friday. Therefore, candle-lighting time is about 18 minutes before sunset. Q. Why do we place two loaves of bread (Chalot) on the Shabbat Table? A. In the previous Parsha, we read that during the 40 years which the people of Israel traveled in the desert, G-d supplied them with Manna from heaven. The Manna came down each morning and they were not permitted to leave over for the next day. However, on Shabbat the Manna didn't come. Instead they would receive a double portion of Manna on Friday in honor of Shabbat. The two loaves on the Shabbat table commemorate the double portion of Manna which the people of Israel received in honor of Shabbat. Q. Why are the two loaves on the Shabbat table covered? A. When the people of Israel would find the Manna each morning, it was covered with a layer of dew. Because the two Shabbat loaves commemorate the miracle of the manna, they too, are covered. Q. Why is it customary to spend more in honor of Shabbat than other days? A. The Talmud tells us that whatever a person earns during the year is pre-designated on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, except what the person spends to honor Shabbat, holidays and for the Torah education of the children. These expenses are up the individual; the less one spends on them the less one gets in return. But the more one spends to honor Shabbat and holidays as well as for educating children the more G-d gives in return. Thus, spending money to honor Shabbat is in fact a great investment for which G-d repays us back much more in return. Rabbi Zalman Marazov |
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bs"d.
Monday, Nissan 30, 5761 / April 23, 2001 (15th day of
the Omer)
Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Iyar. During the morning service, we recite the Hallel in honor of Rosh Chodesh. We add Psalm 104 and we read about the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices in the Torah. We also pray the special Musaf service for Rosh Chodesh. Q. Why is the Musaf service recited only on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays? A. "Musaf" means "additional." Every day of the year, two daily sacrifices, called "Korban Tamid" were offered in the Temple - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The "Tamid" of the morning was the first sacrifice of the day, while the "Tamid" of the afternoon was the final sacrifice of the day. The morning prayer (Shacharit) and the afternoon prayer (Mincha) correspond to these two sacrifices. On Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and holidays an "additional" special "Musaf" sacrifice was offered in the Temple. As a result, on these days, we too add an "additional" - Musaf prayer. On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, two weeks after the exodus from Egypt, G-d gave the Jewish people the mitzvah of Shabbat. Thus, Shabbat is one of the few mitzvot which, although found in the Ten Commandments, was actually given before. On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, King Solomon began building the first Holy Temple. It took seven years to complete and stood for 410 years before it was destroyed by the Babylonians. The Second Temple's construction also began in Iyar. It stood for 420 years. Three additional significant events occurred in the desert during the month of Iyar - after the exodus: 1) The manna from heaven began in the month of Iyar. It sustained the Jewish people during their 40 year stay in the desert. Each day, except for Shabbat, the manna would come from heaven. In this way, the people of Israel learned that their sustenance was totally dependent upon G-d. 2) The water which flowed from the rock and accompanied the Jewish people during their travels in the desert began in Iyar. 3) The war with the nation of Amalek took place in Iyar. The month of Iyar is also unique for the mitzvah of counting the Omer is performed each night during the entire month. Our sages say that the month of Iyar is especially significant for "Refuah" - "healing." The four letters which spell Iyar (aleph, yud, yud, resh) are an acronym for the words of the Torah "Ani Hashem Rofecha" - "I am the L-rd Who heals you." May G-d send His blessings of Refuah Shleimah - a complete and full healing to all the sick. HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH Rabbi Zalman Marazov |