B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 23, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / February 14, 2023
The fourth Commandment of the Ten Commandments, which we read in last week’s Parsha, Yitro, is the mitzvah to observe Shabbat. “Six days you shall work and perform all your labor, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to G-d, your G-d.”
Q. Why are the breads used for Shabbat, called “Challah”?
A. Traditionally women would bake the bread for Shabbat, even if during the week they would buy their bread from a bakery. When baking bread, it is a mitzvah to give a portion of the dough or of the bread to the Kohen. This mitzvah is called, “Challah.” In the time of the Holy Temple, the portion was given to the Kohen (priest). Today, for various reasons, that portion is removed and burnt.
In order for the women to remember to perform the mitzvah of Challah, they called the Shabbat breads, Challah. This served as a reminder to perform this mitzvah.
Q. Shabbat Challah come braided; or long shaped etc. Is there any significance to the shape of the Challah we use on Shabbat?
A. Yes. In the Holy Temple, twelve breadswere placed on the golden Table in the sanctuary every Shabbat. They stayed there for a full week, until the next Shabbat, when they were replaced with new breads. A great miracle occurred with these breads every week. When they were removed, after being there for a full week, they were as fresh as the day when they were placed on the table.
We place two Challot for each Shabbat meal. Some make the Challah long so they resemble the Hebrew letter, “Vav,” which has a numerical value of six. Thus, the twoChallot remind us of the number 12(2X6=12). Some make each Challah out of six braids. The two Chalot together represent the number 12.
The great Kabbalist Rabbi Yitzchak Lurie would place twelveChallot on his Shabbat table, to commemorate the twelve Challot, placed in the Holy Temple, each Shabbat.
Q. How many candles should a woman light in honor of Shabbat?
A. There are various customs: Many light two candles, to symbolize the two versesin the Ten Commandments (Shamor & Zachor) which speak about Shabbat. Some say that the two lights represent the two souls which we have in honor of Shabbat, as on Shabbat we have an extra soul. Many women will light one candle for each memberof the family. Girls, before marriage, light one candle.
Q. Is the mitzvah of lighting candles exclusive to women?
A. The mitzvah is that candles should be lit in the home. If there are no women at home, then the man lights the candles. May we merit to see the ultimate light with Moshiach. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY