יהושע אלט Yehoshua Alt

R’ Yaakov Kamenetzky: ‘We Have Yet to Reclaim European EREV Shabbos…’

Erev Shabbos

R’ Pam[1] once remarked that what he missed from Europe was the Erev Shabbos. “Chatzos came and people stopped their activities, focusing entirely on the holy Shabbos. People would come to shul early and say Shir Hashirim, learn a sefer on the parsha and so on. You felt Shabbos entering.” R’ Yaakov Kamenetzky expressed it in this way: “At the beginning of the 1900s, there was Chillul Shabbos in America. Over the years we recaptured the Shabbos. However, we have yet to reclaim the Erev Shabbos.”

Preparing for Shabbos is biblical[2] as it says v’hayah ba’yom ha’shishi v’haichinu es asher yaviu,[3] on the sixth day when they prepare what they bring.[4] The importance of preparing for Shabbos is shown in the gemara[5] that says Eliyahu will not come on Erev Shabbos[6] because of the difficulties this would impose on those who would need to interrupt their Shabbos preparations to greet him.

We know that there is a distinct Yetzer Hara for arguing and getting angry on Erev Shabbos. This is portrayed in the story related in the gemara[7] of two people whom the Satan regularly incited so that during every twilight period on Erev Shabbos they fought with one another… What is the origin of this Yetzer Hara? Because the first sin occurred on Erev Shabbos, the Yetzer Hara has dominance then. We can be in such a rush on Erev Shabbos that it can lead to quarreling. Indeed, the word nachash, the snake who was the instigator of the first sin, is rooted in chish, to act quickly, rush.[8] To counter this, we need to be ready early.

Erev Shabbos should be peaceful and not rushed. Then we can live up to v’zakeinu l’kabel Shabbasos mitoch rov simcha, to receive Shabbos amid abundant gladness.[9] This can be attained by following a unique interpretation of meis b’Erev Shabbos siman yafeh lo:[10] make yourself like you are dead on Erev Shabbos. Meaning, that you only deal with matters of Shabbos so that Shabbos can be brought in early and without tension.

We say in Kabbalas Shabbos pnei Shabbos nekablah, let us welcome the Shabbos presence.[11] Another explanation is to put on your Shabbos face (pnei Shabbos). All week a person walks around with expressions of anxiety, tension and the like. But on Shabbos we should feel as if all our work is done and that our worries are gone. Our faces should radiate tranquility. This is how we should welcome (nekablah) Shabbos.[12]

We need to be ready with time to greet Shabbos. We should live up to the words likros Shabbos lechu v’nalchah, let us go welcome Shabbos.[13] The Rambam[14] writes that …a person should wrap himself in tzitzis and sit with proper respect, waiting to receive Shabbos as one goes out to greet a king. R’ Chanina would wrap himself in finery and stand towards evening on Friday and say bo’u v’naitzei likros Shabbos hamalka, come, let us go out to greet Shabbos the queen. R’ Yanai would put on his Shabbos clothes on Friday and say boi kallah boi kallah.[15]

One can already feel Shabbos on Erev Shabbos. Indeed, the word Erev (Shabbos) means mixture like ta’aroves since Erev Shabbos has the kedusha of Shabbos mixed into it and one can already feel it on Erev Shabbos.[16] The Meor Einayim would actually feel Shabbos through his Shabbos preparations such as the Mikva and the like. Once, on Erev Shabbos after his preparations, he still felt some kedusha lacking. He then realized he was wearing his weekday socks!

[1] In 1993, a Sefer Torah was written to coincide with R’ Pam’s 80th birthday. Posters with R’ Pam’s picture were posted informing people of the event. Rebbetzin Pam noticed a poster with her husbands’ picture on their block and she felt it violated the privacy of her neighbors, most of whom were non-Jewish. Since it was late at night, she decided that in the morning she would remove the poster, but the next day she noticed that the sign was gone. Nevertheless, she still felt an apology was due at least to the neighbor whose house was closest to the sign. She went to apologize to the neighbor (Just to get a picture of who these neighbors were: They were Italian and owned a huge German Shepherd dog. Their son who also lived there was a lieutenant in the police force.) explaining that she didn’t post the sign but she felt it was a violation of their privacy. Rebbetzin Pam said that the sign was gone although she was unaware of who removed it. Her neighbor interjected and said, “We live next to R’ Pam all these years and are so enamored with him, as we never met anyone like him. We admire him! All this time we wanted a picture of him in our house and now the opportunity arrived when we saw that poster. We are the ones who removed it from the outside to have it in our dining room!” And so it was: This Italian family with their big dog and lieutenant son had a picture of R’ Pam hanging in their dining room!

[2] See Biur Halacha 250, s.v. yashkim. See there regarding one going shopping prior to Shacharis on Friday because preparing for Shabbos is biblical in contrast to tefilla which is Rabbinical.

[3] Shemos 16:5. So, we should bake and cook what we wish to: es asher tofu eifu v’es asher tevashlu ba’sheilu (Shemos 16:23).

[4] The holy Amoraim would prepare for Shabbos in their way. To name just a couple: Rava would salt fish for Shabbos whereas R’ Huna would light lamps (Shabbos 119a. See the Rambam, Hilchos Shabbos 30:6). This shows happiness and anticipation for Shabbos. This isn’t just for Friday but the entire week like we see with Shamai. Beis Shamai said from Sunday, one should prepare for Shabbos (Beitza 16a).

[5] Pesachim 13a, Eruvin 43b.

[6] or Erev Yom Tov.

[7] Gittin 52a.

[8] As in ki gaz chish va’naufah, for it is cut off swiftly and we fly away (Tehillim 90:10).

[9] Ribon Kol Ha’olamim on Friday night. When this is done, one can fulfill showing special warmth and love to his wife on Erev Shabbos (Mishna Brura 280:3).

[10] Kesubos 103b. The simple meaning is that if one dies on Erev Shabbos it is a good omen for him. Another explanation is that he truly lived his life and fulfilled his purpose and then died (meis b’Erev Shabbos), so that is a good omen as he is prepared for the next world, the world of Shabbos. This is similar to the idea of mi she’tarach b’Erev Shabbos yochal b’Shabbos, whoever toiled on Erev Shabbos will eat on Shabbos, meaning one who labored to perform mitzvos in this world will be rewarded in the next world (Avoda Zara 3a).

[11] The question has been raised as to why we only have Kabbalas Shabbos and not Kabbalas Yom Tov. This is because on Yom Tov, the mitzvah is to go to the house of Hashem as we are oleh l’regel. As a result, we go to Hashem. On the other hand, Shabbos is Hashem coming to us. Consequently, we go out to greet Hashem with Kabbalas Shabbos.

[12] See R’ Menachem Bentzion Zaks, the son-in-law of R’ Tzvi Pesach Frank, in his sefer Menachem Tzion.

[13] Lecha Dodi.

[14] Hilchos Shabbos 30:2.

[15] Shabbos 119a. The gemara says that one is permitted to run through the public domain just prior to Shabbos so that he can greet the incoming Shabbos and wouldn’t be liable to pay for damages (Baba Kamma 32, See the Rambam, Chovel Umazik 6:9).

[16] See Sichos Hischazkus, Chanuka, 5758, 1.

Stories of Chessed

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Shalom U’bracha!

 

I am excited to announce that the newly released book “Magnificent Marriage Insights: Captivating Torah Essays about Marriage” is now available (as a paperback and Hardcover) for purchase and delivery on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRDH7WG7 or by sending an email to yalt3285@gmail.com. This comprehensive book tackles many questions, with life-altering insights and practical approaches. The more than 60 essays found within can facilitate bringing your dating journey to a happy ending and enrich any marriage. It makes a great gift for friends, relatives, business associates and learning partners. Purchase it at https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP. Please spread the word about it.  

 

Some of the questions discussed in this book are the following.

Why do some people have a quick and smooth dating journey while others must travel along a lengthy and arduous path?

What is the Torah prescription for working on a marriage?

How are miscarriages viewed through the prism of Torah?

What is the Torah perspective on changing diapers and taking out the garbage?

Does marriage terminate with the death of a spouse?

 

This week’s article in the Jewish Tribune can be viewed and downloaded by clicking HERE.
 
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Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

Writer of the weekly Fascinating Insights Torah sheet in English, עברית ,אידיש and Français.

Author of Five Books including the recently released “Magnificent Marriage Insights: Captivating Torah Essays about Marriage”

To purchase any of the author’s books (hardcopy or e-book) and get it delivered to your door, please send an email to yalt3285@gmail.com or visit https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP (where you can also see the reviews).

To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to sponsor this publication which has been in six continents and more than forty countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at yalt3285@gmail.com. Thank you.

The Greatness of Preparing for Shabbos

Preparation Period

The outcome is in proportion to the investment. This can be compared to an archer. The more power he puts behind his bow and arrow, and the more carefully he takes aim, the more efficient it will be. The same applies to spirituality, whether it be preparing for tefilla, Shabbos and the like.[1] The more one prepares, the more will be produced.[2] In fact, the word hachanah, preparation, is related to the word kano, base,[3] because preparation is the base for that which everything stands. In light of this we can comprehend why the early pious ones would prepare an hour before tefilla,[4] as their preparation was the impetus for their great tefillos.

To attain the kedusha of Shabbos, we need hachanah, preparation, for Shabbos. Although preparation for all Avodas Hashem is important, the only time it is stated explicitly is in connection with Shabbos: v’hayah ba’yom ha’shishi v’haichinu es asher yaviu, it shall be on the sixth day when they prepare what they bring.[5]

Of all of the days of the week, Friday is the day that represents preparation as we will now demonstrate. The seven days of the week are connected to the seven shepherds — Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aharon, Yosef and Dovid. So Friday, the sixth day, matches up with Yosef, the sixth shepherd.[6] One way we see this is that Yosef exemplifies purity because he overcame the test with the wife of Potifar in the area of circumcision[7] and on Friday we purify ourselves in preparation for Shabbos by going to the mikva.[8]

Friday is the day of preparation for Shabbos as the gemara says mi she’tarach b’Erev Shabbos yochal b’Shabbos,[9] whoever toiled on Friday will eat on Shabbos. Additionally, it says v’hayah ba’yom ha’shishi v’haichinu es asher yaviu v’hayah mishneh al asher yilkitu yom yom, it shall be on the sixth day when they prepare what they bring it will be double what they pick every day.[10] Yosef represents the idea of preparing for Shabbos because Yosef told Paroh to prepare for the years of famine by preparing in the years of plenty.[11] Also, he said u’tvoach tevach v’hachain, have meat slaughtered and prepare it.[12]

In Lecha Dodi we say mai’rosh mikedem nesuchah, from the beginning, from antiquity she was honored. The words mai’rosh and mikedem both mean “from the beginning,” so what is the difference between them? In the six days of the week, we have 144 hours. 144 is the gematria of kedem. The more we invest in Shabbos from the 144 hours from the onset of the week — the hours in the week prior to Shabbos — then nesuchah, the more we will feel the queenliness of Shabbos. The more we prepare for Shabbos, the more we will feel Shabbos. May we all merit to prepare properly for Shabbos during the week so that we will enjoy it so much more.

[1] Prior to Baruch She’amar we say hareini mizamein es pi, I now prepare my mouth. In a similar vein, prior to performing mitzvos, such as with sefira, we recite hinini muchan u’mezuman…, I am prepared and ready to perform the commandment of…

[2] Ohr Hachaim, Shemos 33:11.

[3] Shemos 30:18. There is a saying, “Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement.”

[4] Brachos 30b.

[5] Shemos 16:5.

[6] Dovid Hamelech corresponds to Shabbos. On this day, we say in Shemoneh Esrei, yismichu v’malchuscha shomrei Shabbos, they shall rejoice in Your kingship, those who observe Shabbos. Additionally, Shabbos is associated with royalty as it is called Shabbos Malkisa, the Shabbos queen.

[7] Breishis 39.

[8] The six orders of Mishnayos (See Shabbos 31a) parallel these six shepherds. Yosef who is the sixth shepherd corresponds to Seder Taharos, the sixth order of Mishnayos. When there was a famine in Mitzrayim there were nevertheless provisions (shever), because of Yosef. R’ Moshe Wolfson notes that the words shever b’Mitzrayim (Breishis 42:1) shares the same numerical value as Seder Taharos, 884.

[9] Avoda Zara 3a.

[10] Shemos 16:5. On Friday, the Jews in the desert received a double portion of munn, just like Yosef received a double portion in Eretz Yisrael as his two sons become two shevatim.

[11] Breishis 41:34-35. See 41:48-49.

[12] Breishis 43:16.

Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

Writer of the weekly Fascinating Insights Torah sheet in English, עברית ,אידיש and Français.

Author of four books including the recently released “Amazing Shabbos Insights”.

To purchase any of the author’s books (hardcopy or e-book) and get it delivered to your door, please send an email to yalt3285@gmail.com or visit https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP (where you can also see the reviews).

To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to sponsor this publication which has been in six continents and more than forty countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at yalt3285@gmail.com. Thank you.

Accepting Shabbos Early

Anticipating the Day

Shabbos is the most coveted of all days as we say in the Shemoneh Esrei of Shabbos chemdas ha’yamim, most coveted of days.[1] It is a day we must look forward to.[2] This is another meaning in shamor es yom ha’Shabbos,[3] to anticipate Shabbos, as shamor can mean to anticipate as in v’aviv shamar es ha’davar, Yaakov looked forward to when it would come true.[4] In a similar fashion, the Ohr Hachaim interprets v’shamru Bnei Yisrael  es ha’Shabbos.[5] For this reason, we say every day in the Shir Shel Yom, hayom yom…b’Shabbos.[6]

The gemara[7] tells us that in regard to bringing in Shabbos, the more we advance it, the better, as it shows we cherish Shabbos. Indeed, we sing in Friday night zemiros umimaharim lavo, rush to enter Shabbos.[8] This shows that Shabbos is beloved by him. The Shem Eliezer comments on byom ha’Shabbos byom ha’Shabbos ya’archenu,[9] that the two times it mentions yom ha’Shabbos they refer to Shabbos and Tosefes (adding onto) Shabbos. When we do this, ya’archenu — it shows that we value Shabbos.

Here is an amazing story to close with. After many years of being childless, a couple was finally blessed with a child. However, their excitement soon faded as they were informed that the baby boy was born with a hole in his heart that was threatening his life. All the top doctors they went to didn’t help. The parents then traveled to the Chofetz Chaim. The grandson that was attending to the Chofetz Chaim told his grandfather the story of the infant boy with a hole in his heart and the danger the baby is facing. The Chofetz Chaim told them, “I don’t know why you traveled so‎ far to ask me for a bracha as Shabbos is the source of bracha. Accept upon yourself to start Shabbos a bit earlier, glorify the Shabbos a bit more than usual and you will receive the blessing you need from Shabbos itself.”[10] The parents followed the advice and with Hashem’s help the child was healed.

 

[1] Incidentally, we say in kedusha on Shabbos (Mussaf), “ayeih mekom kevodo…, where is the place of His glory…?” The answer is Shabbos, as ayeih is an acronym for es yom ha’Shabbos (Shemos 20:8).

[2] See Rambam, Hilchos Shabbos 30:2. Concerning playing chess on Shabbos, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah, 3:15:2) writes that really it is not forbidden if one gets pleasure from it. Still, it is surely better not to play because of v’dabeir davar (Yeshaya 58:13), your speech on Shabbos should not be like your speech on weekdays (See Shabbos 113). Also, sometimes the one who loses is upset and then it is surely forbidden (See also the Minchas Yitzchak 3:33:1 where he discourages chess).

[3] Devarim 5:12.

[4] Breishis 37:11. Siduro Shel Shabbos, Volume 2, 4:1:15. Tangentially, R’ Chananel (died in 1055) writes that R’ Chanina would dance when bringing in Shabbos (Baba Kamma 32a).

[5] Shemos 31:16. We know that Shabbos is likened to olam haba, the world to come (see Brachos 57b). The Chidushai Harim makes a comparison: Just as the next world is after one exits this world, likewise Shabbos comes after one leaves the weekday completely.

[6] See Ramban Shemos 20:8.

[7] Pesachim 105b.

[8] The Baal Haturim (to Shemos 16:23) tells us an allusion to the idea of adding from the weekday to Shabbos both before and after Shabbos. It says Shabbason Shabbos kodesh (Shemos 16:23) where the word Shabbos precedes kodesh while in another place it is in the reverse as it says yihyeh lachem kodesh Shabbos Shabbason l’Hashem (Shemos 35:2). There the word kodesh precedes the word Shabbos. These indicate that we add to Shabbos when it begins and when it ends.

[9] Vayikra 24:8. The simple meaning is that each and every Shabbos he should arrange the lechem hapanim.

[10] See Shabbos 12a.

Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

Writer of the weekly Fascinating Insights Torah sheet in English, עברית ,אידיש and Français.

Author of four books including the recently released “Amazing Shabbos Insights”.

To purchase any of the author’s books (hardcopy or e-book) and get it delivered to your door, please send an email to yalt3285@gmail.com or visit https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP (where you can also see the reviews).

To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to sponsor this publication which has been in six continents and more than forty countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at yalt3285@gmail.com. Thank you.

The Mysteries of a Miscarriage (Sample from Upcoming Sefer by Rabbi Yehoshua Alt)

I hope you are doing well. As we have arrived at the final stages before publication, this is the final opportunity for dedications for the book about marriage, titled “Magnificent Marriage Insights” (cover below). Don’t miss out on the Dedication Opportunities, which can be given from Maiser money. It can be L’Ilui Nishmas, L’Refuah Shleima, an advertisement for a business, in honor of a special occasion, or any other dedication that your heart desires. This is in addition to sharing in the merit of the Torah learned by each reader. For more information or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at yalt3285@gmail.com. Donations can also be given via credit card by clicking “Donate” at  bit.ly/3VYFmRt. Any amount is welcome.

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Miscarriages

It is known that many married couples have experienced miscarriages. How should they view this? What is the Torah outlook?

R’ Moshe Shapiro taught that the neshama of a miscarriage is a child that belongs to the parents, and not a random neshama that descended from heaven for a tikun (rectification). Furthermore, the suffering of the parents, especially the mother, is an intrinsic part of the tikun of the child. This knowledge, that there is a real connection to the fetus and that the suffering was not in vain, can in itself be a comfort.[1]

Here are the comforting and inspiring words of R’ Moshe Wolfson, who wrote the following in a letter to a woman that had a miscarriage:

In Heaven there is a heichal ha’neshamos — a Sanctuary of Souls — the source from which all the souls come. The final redemption will not come until all souls have left this sanctuary and descended to this world.[2] Each soul has its own unique mission to fulfill in this world and is allotted the lifespan necessary to fulfill that mission.

Some souls belong to a very exalted class. They are of such a sublime nature, so holy, sparkling, and brilliant, that they simply cannot bear to exist in this world for even a short time. However, they too must leave the Sanctuary of Souls so that it will be emptied, and for other reasons known only to Hashem. And so Hashem chooses a particular couple that will draw such a soul down to this world.

It departs its place near the Throne of Glory and is immediately placed in an environment in which it is at home — an environment that is divine in nature. A woman who is with the child carries within herself not only a child, but an entire Garden of Eden as well. A flame from the hidden light of creation shines above the child’s head, and by that light the child sees from one end of the world to the other.

A heavenly angel learns the entire Torah with the child.[3] All this occurs with every Jewish child. However, those special souls of which we have spoken cannot bear to separate themselves from their sublime existence by living in this earthly world. And so they are spared this discomfort and are returned to their Father in Heaven, having fulfilled their mission by leaving the Sanctuary of Souls and residing within their mother, thus bringing the world one step closer to the Final Redemption…

This woman merited to have had as her guest a pure, holy soul accompanied by a divine light, a heavenly angel, and a heavenly Torah. The Master of the Universe had created a beis midrash, a study hall, for this soul within her. And when this soul left her, some of the holiness that had entered her remained, and will not leave her for the rest of her life.

She has merited to bring Moshiach’s arrival closer by offering a sacrifice for this purpose. She is not left with a mother’s usual compensation, but rather all that she has endured has been for the sake of Hashem and His people, not for her personal joy and satisfaction. She has served, not as a worker who awaits immediate payment, but as a loyal soldier, who is ready to suffer wounds in battle, if necessary, solely for the glory of the King…

[1] The Remak (Shiur Komah, 54. Shomer Emunim, Maamar Hashgacha Pratis 15) elucidates that miscarriages serve as a rectification for that which occurred in a previous gilgul. He also explains that the anguish of a lost child that the parents undergo is also part of the calculation. And so Hashem brings everyone under one roof and thereby the necessary rectifications are completed.

[2] See Yevamos 62a.

[3] See Nida 30b.

 

Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

Writer of the weekly Fascinating Insights Torah sheet in English, עברית ,אידיש and Français.

Author of four books including the recently released “Amazing Shabbos Insights”.

To purchase any of the author’s books (hardcopy or e-book) and get it delivered to your door, please send an email to yalt3285@gmail.com or visit https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP (where you can also see the reviews).

To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to sponsor this publication which has been in six continents and more than forty countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at yalt3285@gmail.com. Thank you.