Each of us has experienced another week of living on planet earth. Now we will enjoy what in America we call The Weekend. It is what most people look forward to all week. TGIF is a popular saying that we have all heard many times. (Thank G-d it is Friday!)
This week has held many different kinds of experiences for us, the inhabitants of earth. Some have been blessed to hold down a job, have the health and ability to get up each morning and do work in exchange for money to buy the things we need and want.
Others have been blessed to have been able to stay in their homes and take care of loved ones: children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, or others who need to be cared for lovingly. This type of work is so important and provides many benefits, but money is not one of them.
Then there are those who have a job but were sick and could not go to work. Some had car problems or accidents, leaving them without a ride to work.
Some have moved to new houses or different countries.
There were people who lost loved ones or friends to death, distance, or estrangement.
We have laughed. We have cried. We have been tired and cranky. We have been kind - or not so kind. Some got married. Others divorced. Some had a new baby. Some had children graduate from school.
Some have achieved goals that they had set. Others may still be moving towards their goals or setting new or different goals.
But no matter how the week went for us, we have now reached the weekend, and will have two days to spend resting, playing, being with people who make us happy, reading, playing games, or doing the other things that make our lives pleasant. (I do realize that there are some of us who work on the weekend, and have time off on other days of the week.)
Wherever you are this weekend, whatever you are doing, just know that I am thankful that you are in my life. Whether I see you every day, or have not seen you for many years, whether we have never met face to face, but are Face Book Friends, whether you live near to me or far far away, I hope for you a peaceful and joyful weekend.
I want to give you the same blessing I give to my children and grandchildren every Friday night...
May G-d bless and keep you.
May He make His face to shine upon you.
May He give you peace.
Shabbat Shalom!
Until next time...
Darla
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Shabbat For One
Non-Jews are capable of reaching the same spiritual heights as Jews. Adam, Shem, Eiver, Chanoch, Noach, and Avraham were all non-Jews - yet, all of them were able to achieve high levels of closeness to G-d.
In last week's parsah (Acharei Mot and Kedoshim/Vayikra 18:5) we read the following verse: "And you shall guard my chukim (decrees) and my mishpatim (laws). You shall carry them out and live by them. I am Hashem."
Does this verse apply strictly to Jews?
R' Meir says: "How do we know that even a non-Jew who involves himself in the study of Torah and keeps the commandments is equal to a Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and by so doing shall live?"
"Greater is the man who does mitzvot in which he is obligated than one who does them without being obligated." Rabbi Chanina -Bava Kama 38a
The gemara uses the generic word man (adam) and does not say, "Kohanim, Levites, and Israelites" so we learn that this refers to any person - not only a Jew.
There is a longstanding debate in Judaism whether this gemara refers to a non-Jew who observes only the seven commandments required of the descendants of Noah, or one who observes all the commandments of the Torah.
What is meant by "shall live"? Rashi's interpretation on this text is: "In the hereafter; for if you say it means in this world, ultimately everyone dies. So it means that a person who upholds the commandments of the Torah enjoys the hereafter; his reward is in the World to Come." or as Maimonides said: "All who improve themselves and their souls in their attributes, knowledge, and faith in the Creator, blessed be He, are among those sharing in the World to Come, including the gentile."
Torah is a teaching of life, a system that cares for the well-being of each and every individual - both Jews and non- Jews. It is a Tree of Life for those who adhere to it.
Shemot/Exodus 20:8 says - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
This is one of the commandments given to Jews. It is not one of the Noahide commandments. This does not mean it is ONLY for Jews.
Rabbi Yoel Schwartz of the Jerusalem Court for Bnei Noach, says,
"There are those who say that every Ger Toshav (a non-Jew living in Eretz Yisrael in the time of the Jewish Temple, who has formally accepted the obligation to observe the Noahide laws in front of a Jewish court) has to uphold and keep the Sabbath. (Rashi, Kritot 9, Yevamot 40) There is room to suggest that the Noahides, even nowadays, by accepting to fulfill the seven commandments, are in the same category as a Ger Toshav and should, according to Rashi, be required or at least allowed to keep the Shabbat.
A Noahide should not observe the Shabbat in the manner that a Jew does. A Noahide should not give occasion for a Jew to break the Shabbat."
Rabbi Schlomo Carlbach taught: "Shabbat will always exist, even if there be no Jew to observe it, because on Shabbat something happens to the world, G-d opens the gates, and something so holy comes from heaven down to us, and all we have to do is pick it up.
The Zohar asks, 'how did Noah have the strength to resist a world that was rotten to the core? When everyone around him seemed perverted and crazy, Noah and his family held out alone, right? Where did he get the strength from?
Well, the name Noah is the same as the Hebrew word for rest. The Zohar says that Noah wanted to serve G-d. Noah wanted to keep Shabbat. Since nobody else picked up the power that came down from heaven, Noah and his family could take it all! And that’s how he had the strength to resist the world. He had the power of the world in his bones.
So, every Shabbat, imagine if you would pick up from the world the power of heaven. Imagine how much strength you would get, how much holiness you could put in your bones."
The Gerrer Rebbe, the Pinei Menachem, writes that "Shabbos elevates everything in the world to the upper worlds, and like the gemara (Shabbos 118b) states, even one who worshipped idols like in the days of Enosh, if he observes Shabbos, his sins will be forgiven."
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal, composed the following: "Yemina usmala uveinaihu kallah bikushitin azla umanin ulevushin, three preceding days to the right and three succeeding days to the left – and amid them the Shabbos bride. With adornments she goes, vessels and robes."
This passage teaches us that Shabbat is the center of human life. One should always be focused on preparing for Shabbat. In a similar vein, one should always be preparing oneself in this world for the World to Come, as Shabbat is a semblance of the World to Come.
I love Shabbat. It is my favorite time of the week. It is a time I spend with my family. It is a day I don't go out into the world to buy groceries, run errands, pay bills, or rush around until I am exhausted. It is a day I focus on G-d and His Torah and how I can make the world a little better by my being here.
It is a day that I can recharge my batteries. It is a day that I actually enjoy going outside and walking around the neighborhood. It is a day that I don't feel guilty if I spend extra money on desserts and special flavored coffee. It is a day that taking a nap is ok and does not upset my schedule.
I have been "keeping Shabbat" for close to 10 years. Do I do it "right"? Not even close. The rabbis don't need to worry about that! But I try my best to do things that elevate the day to a higher level of holiness in my life and in our home. It is a special day for me.
Some weekends my husband and I are both at home. Some weekends we are at our lake cottage. On other weekends some or all of our children and grandchildren are with us either at home or at the cottage. Sometimes I am at home alone while Lance goes fishing.
Last Shabbat I stayed at home while Lance was at the cottage with friends. I had a nice, quiet Shabbat alone. I took some pictures to share in hopes that it will encourage someone who feels he/she can't observe Shabbat without a community.
I admit that I prefer to be with other people on Shabbat. But Shabbat is a gift from Hashem for anyone who wants to accept it. It is personal. So whether there is one person in your house celebrating Shabbat, or a large group of family members and friends, each person can do something to elevate the day. Eat special food. Use special dishes. Wear something new or special.
Be creative! Enjoy the many blessings of Shabbat!!!
**************************************************
I didn't want to make big loaves of challah so I used a secret "recipe" I learned from my daughter-in-law. I purchased some frozen rolls and defrosted six of them.
I rolled out the defrosted dough into ropes.
I braided the ropes together.
Then I put egg wash and sesame seeds on each loaf, let them rise, and baked them.
My youngest grandson knows it is almost Shabbat each week when he smells the challah baking in the oven. Even though none of my grandchildren were with me this time, I enjoyed remembering other weeks when we were together for the celebration.
The Imrei Emes quotes the Heilege Ishbizter who said, "fish is eaten before any other food on Shabbos because fish symbolizes life. The first specie that HaShem created was fish and fish are not dominated by the evil eye."
I follow the Jewish custom of eating fish on Shabbat. I would not eat the fish in jars for several years because I think it looks disgusting and gross. But at a Passover seder a couple of years ago the hostess served it. Because I could not avoid eating some I tried a tiny tiny taste - much like a two year old would.
To my surprise I liked it very much, and have since introduced it to my family, who has also overcome their aversion to "fish in a jar covered by slime".
I prepared a beautiful green salad and used my favorite dressing. I had planned to have matzah ball soup, but forgot to start making it in time.
My entree was a frozen dinner from the organic section. After it was heated I put it on a pretty plate. Even a frozen dinner tastes good on Shabbat!
A glass of my favorite flavored tea was naturally required in honor of the special celebration.
A pretty pink wine glass for kiddush...
Lighting candles...
Saying the blessings, then it was time to eat.
After eating dinner and spending some time reading one of my favorite books there was time for dessert and coffee before going to bed. I found some tiny little kosher chocolate cupcakes and tiny little kosher ice cream cartons and knew it was meant to be. Delicious, is how I would describe my special little dessert!
It was then time to get some sleep. So off to bed I went. On Sabbath day I enjoyed the entire day relaxing, reading, napping, and playing in the backyard with my dog, Haley. (*This picture was not taken on Shabbat day but it was the only picture of Haley that I could find.)
In last week's parsah (Acharei Mot and Kedoshim/Vayikra 18:5) we read the following verse: "And you shall guard my chukim (decrees) and my mishpatim (laws). You shall carry them out and live by them. I am Hashem."
Does this verse apply strictly to Jews?
R' Meir says: "How do we know that even a non-Jew who involves himself in the study of Torah and keeps the commandments is equal to a Kohen Gadol (High Priest) and by so doing shall live?"
"Greater is the man who does mitzvot in which he is obligated than one who does them without being obligated." Rabbi Chanina -Bava Kama 38a
The gemara uses the generic word man (adam) and does not say, "Kohanim, Levites, and Israelites" so we learn that this refers to any person - not only a Jew.
There is a longstanding debate in Judaism whether this gemara refers to a non-Jew who observes only the seven commandments required of the descendants of Noah, or one who observes all the commandments of the Torah.
What is meant by "shall live"? Rashi's interpretation on this text is: "In the hereafter; for if you say it means in this world, ultimately everyone dies. So it means that a person who upholds the commandments of the Torah enjoys the hereafter; his reward is in the World to Come." or as Maimonides said: "All who improve themselves and their souls in their attributes, knowledge, and faith in the Creator, blessed be He, are among those sharing in the World to Come, including the gentile."
Torah is a teaching of life, a system that cares for the well-being of each and every individual - both Jews and non- Jews. It is a Tree of Life for those who adhere to it.
Shemot/Exodus 20:8 says - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."
This is one of the commandments given to Jews. It is not one of the Noahide commandments. This does not mean it is ONLY for Jews.
Rabbi Yoel Schwartz of the Jerusalem Court for Bnei Noach, says,
"There are those who say that every Ger Toshav (a non-Jew living in Eretz Yisrael in the time of the Jewish Temple, who has formally accepted the obligation to observe the Noahide laws in front of a Jewish court) has to uphold and keep the Sabbath. (Rashi, Kritot 9, Yevamot 40) There is room to suggest that the Noahides, even nowadays, by accepting to fulfill the seven commandments, are in the same category as a Ger Toshav and should, according to Rashi, be required or at least allowed to keep the Shabbat.
A Noahide should not observe the Shabbat in the manner that a Jew does. A Noahide should not give occasion for a Jew to break the Shabbat."
Rabbi Schlomo Carlbach taught: "Shabbat will always exist, even if there be no Jew to observe it, because on Shabbat something happens to the world, G-d opens the gates, and something so holy comes from heaven down to us, and all we have to do is pick it up.
The Zohar asks, 'how did Noah have the strength to resist a world that was rotten to the core? When everyone around him seemed perverted and crazy, Noah and his family held out alone, right? Where did he get the strength from?
Well, the name Noah is the same as the Hebrew word for rest. The Zohar says that Noah wanted to serve G-d. Noah wanted to keep Shabbat. Since nobody else picked up the power that came down from heaven, Noah and his family could take it all! And that’s how he had the strength to resist the world. He had the power of the world in his bones.
So, every Shabbat, imagine if you would pick up from the world the power of heaven. Imagine how much strength you would get, how much holiness you could put in your bones."
The Gerrer Rebbe, the Pinei Menachem, writes that "Shabbos elevates everything in the world to the upper worlds, and like the gemara (Shabbos 118b) states, even one who worshipped idols like in the days of Enosh, if he observes Shabbos, his sins will be forgiven."
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Arizal, composed the following: "Yemina usmala uveinaihu kallah bikushitin azla umanin ulevushin, three preceding days to the right and three succeeding days to the left – and amid them the Shabbos bride. With adornments she goes, vessels and robes."
This passage teaches us that Shabbat is the center of human life. One should always be focused on preparing for Shabbat. In a similar vein, one should always be preparing oneself in this world for the World to Come, as Shabbat is a semblance of the World to Come.
I love Shabbat. It is my favorite time of the week. It is a time I spend with my family. It is a day I don't go out into the world to buy groceries, run errands, pay bills, or rush around until I am exhausted. It is a day I focus on G-d and His Torah and how I can make the world a little better by my being here.
It is a day that I can recharge my batteries. It is a day that I actually enjoy going outside and walking around the neighborhood. It is a day that I don't feel guilty if I spend extra money on desserts and special flavored coffee. It is a day that taking a nap is ok and does not upset my schedule.
I have been "keeping Shabbat" for close to 10 years. Do I do it "right"? Not even close. The rabbis don't need to worry about that! But I try my best to do things that elevate the day to a higher level of holiness in my life and in our home. It is a special day for me.
Some weekends my husband and I are both at home. Some weekends we are at our lake cottage. On other weekends some or all of our children and grandchildren are with us either at home or at the cottage. Sometimes I am at home alone while Lance goes fishing.
Last Shabbat I stayed at home while Lance was at the cottage with friends. I had a nice, quiet Shabbat alone. I took some pictures to share in hopes that it will encourage someone who feels he/she can't observe Shabbat without a community.
I admit that I prefer to be with other people on Shabbat. But Shabbat is a gift from Hashem for anyone who wants to accept it. It is personal. So whether there is one person in your house celebrating Shabbat, or a large group of family members and friends, each person can do something to elevate the day. Eat special food. Use special dishes. Wear something new or special.
Be creative! Enjoy the many blessings of Shabbat!!!
**************************************************
I didn't want to make big loaves of challah so I used a secret "recipe" I learned from my daughter-in-law. I purchased some frozen rolls and defrosted six of them.
I rolled out the defrosted dough into ropes.
I braided the ropes together.
Then I put egg wash and sesame seeds on each loaf, let them rise, and baked them.
My youngest grandson knows it is almost Shabbat each week when he smells the challah baking in the oven. Even though none of my grandchildren were with me this time, I enjoyed remembering other weeks when we were together for the celebration.
The Imrei Emes quotes the Heilege Ishbizter who said, "fish is eaten before any other food on Shabbos because fish symbolizes life. The first specie that HaShem created was fish and fish are not dominated by the evil eye."
I follow the Jewish custom of eating fish on Shabbat. I would not eat the fish in jars for several years because I think it looks disgusting and gross. But at a Passover seder a couple of years ago the hostess served it. Because I could not avoid eating some I tried a tiny tiny taste - much like a two year old would.
To my surprise I liked it very much, and have since introduced it to my family, who has also overcome their aversion to "fish in a jar covered by slime".
I prepared a beautiful green salad and used my favorite dressing. I had planned to have matzah ball soup, but forgot to start making it in time.
My entree was a frozen dinner from the organic section. After it was heated I put it on a pretty plate. Even a frozen dinner tastes good on Shabbat!
A glass of my favorite flavored tea was naturally required in honor of the special celebration.
A pretty pink wine glass for kiddush...
Lighting candles...
Saying the blessings, then it was time to eat.
After eating dinner and spending some time reading one of my favorite books there was time for dessert and coffee before going to bed. I found some tiny little kosher chocolate cupcakes and tiny little kosher ice cream cartons and knew it was meant to be. Delicious, is how I would describe my special little dessert!
It was then time to get some sleep. So off to bed I went. On Sabbath day I enjoyed the entire day relaxing, reading, napping, and playing in the backyard with my dog, Haley. (*This picture was not taken on Shabbat day but it was the only picture of Haley that I could find.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)