Erev Shabbos! For me this is the most beautiful night of the entire week, the time for the four r’s …. reflect, relax, read and rest. I love to watch the flames of my shabbos candles gently flicker, as I wait for Avraham to come home from shul.
The lighting of shabbos candles is of rabbinic origin. [Maimonidies, Hilchot Shabbat 5:1] and it is traditional to light two candles, zohar to remember the Shabbos and shamor to observe the Shabbos.
Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it-Exodus 20:8
In our family, we have a tradition to light one candle for each member of the family. Baruch Hashem, I light twenty candles.
May we always have bright light!
Sitting around the shabbos table singing and welcoming the shabbos and knowing that we are not going to have to gulp down food because there are so many other things to do, is a welcome relief. No phone, computer, television to disturb the next twenty-five hours.
We 'welcome' the angels who accompanied Avraham home from shul by singing Sholom Aleichem, (May peace be upon you).
We learn from the Talmud that when you come home from shul [synagogue] on Friday night, you are accompanied by two angels -- a good angel and a bad angel. If the table is beautifully set and there is a peaceful atmosphere in the home, then the good angel says, So may it be next week, and the bad angel is forced to say, Amen -- so may it be! But if the house is a mess (both physically and emotionally), then the bad angel says, So may it be next week, and the good angel is forced to say, Amen!
The song praising the Eishes Chayil of the home is alphabetical, with lines beginning with all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. It is a special tribute to the Jewish woman. This song, written by King Solomon, sings the praises of the “woman of valor,” extolling her for her love, work and the light she brings to the Jewish home.
Eishes Chayil is part of Sefer Mishlei, a Sefer of great wisdom. The Rabbis say that the “Eishes Chayil” in its deeper meaning, is speaking about the Torah.
After standing for kiddush, washing and making hamotsi, our Shabbat meal begins. The food that we have prepared L’kavod Shabbos has a sweet special taste, the taste of Shabbos.
Shabbat Shalom to everyone! May your Shabbos be restful, meaningful and quiet!
Until next time..feel free to comment and pass around.
Miriam
