B"H
Tuesday, Adar1- 18, 5784 / February 27, 2024
In this week's Parsha, Ki Tisa, after telling Moshe to appoint Betzalel and Oholiav to take charge over the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), G-d commands the Jewish people about the observance of Shabbat, “But keep My Shabbat for it is a sign between Me and you for all your generations to know that I, G-d, make you holy.” Although they were commanded about the observance of Shabbat before, G-d mentions it here again to stress that Shabbat takes precedence even when building the Mishkan.
Q. Why does the Shabbat begin Friday night (at sunset)?
A. In the beginning of the Torah, after describing what was created on each day, the Torah concludes, "Andthere was evening and there was morning, one day... And there was evening and there was morning, a second day... And there was evening and there was morning a third day... etc." Thus, we see that the day begins from the preceding evening. The same rule applies to all the holidays, and to the observance of a Yartzeit, which begins the evening before.
Q. Why is it customary to turn to the back of the synagogue when reciting the final verse of Lecha Dodi during the Friday night prayers?
A. In the last verse of Lecha Dodi, we greet the "bride" -- a reference to Shabbat. We turn around as a gesture of welcoming the Shabbat bride, just as we would face a bride as she enters the room.
Q. Why do we recite/sing the Shalom Aleichem at home, Friday evening, before the Kiddush service?
A. "Shalom Aleichem" is the traditional greeting for someone we haven't seen for three days. Our sages tell us that two angels escort us when we walk home from synagogue Friday night. When they enter the home and see the Shabbat candles lit, the table set and everything in the home prepared properly in honor of Shabbat, they extend their blessings to our home and family. Our reciting/singing Shalom Aleichem is our greeting and welcome to the angels.
Q. Why do we have two Challot (loaves of bread) for the Shabbat meals?
A. To remind us of the Manna which the people of Israel ate in the desert. The Manna came down every day, except Shabbat. On Friday, G-d gave the Jewish people a double portion - for Friday and Shabbat. Thus, we use two Challot on Shabbat to recall the double portion of Manna.
Q. Why do we dip the Challa in salt, after reciting the Hamotzi blessing?
A. The table in our home on which we eat our meals is compared to the altar in the Temple. The energy derived from the food we eat should be to serve G-d. Being that the sacrifices on the altar had to have salt on them, we use salt on our personal altar, when we begin the meal with the blessing of Hamotzi.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND IN PRAYER FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
& FOR THE WELFARE OF THE CAPTIVES. MAY THEY BE RELEASED NOW.