DVAR TORAH: Shabbos
I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Rabbi Yitzchok Chinn of McKees Port Pensylvania, when he was a guest speaker at a Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva Convention, where he told the following story:
Rabbi Chinn knew an older Jewish man who said to him, “I hate Shabbos!”
The Rabbi thought perhaps he heard him wrong.
The man repeated, “I hate Shabbos!”
Rabbi Chinn was sad to hear this, but at the same time intrigued. He had heard people say that they don’t appreciate Shabbos, don’t understand Shabbos, don’t love Shabbos, don’t care about Shabbos; but he never heard anyone go so far as to exclaim emphatically and say that they hated Shabbos.
“Why do you hate Shabbos?” the Rabbi asked.
“When I was a boy I lived in a shtetel (small village) in Eastern Europe. My father worked hard all week to eke out a living and support our family, and my mother labored round the clock cooking, cleaning, and mending to take care of us.
The crowning day of the week for our family was Shabbos. All week long, my parents yearned for Shabbos and prepared for it to make it perfect in every way. My mother prepared a Shabbos table that was magnificent. The silver, the china, the linen and lace were dazzling. No matter how tough their week, my parents glowed like a king and queen at the royal banquet.”
At this point it was beginning to sound awe inspiring. Certainly difficult to see why any of this could cause one to hate Shabbos.
The man continued, “Even though my parents were far from wealthy, they had the finest Shabbos delicacies, including fish which was very expensive. I however hated fish. I could barely tolerate the smell of fish much less the taste. Yet every Shabbos my father would force me to eat fish at the Shabbos meal.
When I told him I didn’t want to eat any fish, he would say, ‘It is tradition to eat fish on Shabbos. It is written to eat fish on Shabbos. It’s a mitzvah to eat fish on Shabbos. My father ate fish on Shabbos, my grandfather ate fish on Shabbos; and you are going to eat fish on Shabbos!’ At this point I was afraid to argue so I just held my nose and ate the fish, detesting every last bite.”
Ironically, the reason we eat fish on Shabbos because it is a tasty treat to most people, but if you don’t like fish, don’t eat it on Shabbos. The father, not being learned knew only the general rule, not all the reasons and details.
“All week long I would dread Shabbos,” continued the man, “Because I knew my father would force me to eat that fish. I hate Shabbos.”
Indeed, Rabbi Chinn reflected, as a direct result of this father’s ignorant unbending rigidity, Shabbos put a bad taste in this man’s mouth – literally. How important it is for us to understand the meanings behind our observances and practices. How important it is for us feel joy for a mitzvah and create an atmosphere of love for mitzvos for our children.
Dedicated by Dr. Buzz Kaufman in memory of his uncle Nathan J. Marx.
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Teves 5766
DVAR TORAH: Shabbos
Zalman left the small village of his youth, to seek his fortune in the big city. It was a very rough and lonely trek. The city can be a harsh place for a newcomer. The pace is much quicker and there is always someone out there looking to swindle you.
Zalman persevered and eventually became a very successful and wealthy businessman. One morning, Zalman while sitting in his office, glanced out his window and could not believe his eyes. It was Anshil, a craftsman from his hometown. Excitedly he dashed out to the street without even stopping to put on his coat. His secretary looked on in bewilderment. He ran, spurring himself on, caught up with Anshil and embraced him with exhilaration. Onlookers didn't understand the commotion and emotion were about.
Zalman was truly overjoyed. Anshil explained that he came to the city to sell his wares and that he too was happy to see a familiar face. Zalman asked him how much profit he would make in one day. Anshil replied that he could expect on average to make eighty to a hundred rubles a day.
"In that case, spend the day with me and I will give you a hundred rubles right now to compensate you for your time," said Zalman, "I am so anxious to hear what is going on back in the village. Please come with me right now to my home. My servants will prepare you a meal fit for a king."
The two men were off to Zalman's mansion and enjoyed a sumptuous feast. All the while, Zalman wished to inquire about the welfare of the village and its people; but he couldn't quite interrupt Anshil from his hearty eating and drinking.
After the meal, Zalman said, "Now we can finally speak of our beloved village. Come; let us proceed to the sitting room so that we can shmooze. Make sure to give me every last detail."
"That would be my great pleasure," replied Anshil as he plopped himself down on a nice comfy sofa, "Ahh, I am so tired and weary, and this seat is so comfortable..."
Within a few moments, Anshil was fast asleep. Zalman was all but shut out.
At this point Zalman became enraged, he exclaimed, "The reason I paid and pampered you is so that you could talk to me. How dare you just eat and go to sleep on my time!"
It is the same thing with Shabbos. The Dubno Maggid explains that Hashem takes care of our needs and blesses us as we observe Shabbos. Shabbos is chetzi l'Hashem v'chetzi lachem (half for G-d and half for you). We enjoy fine delicacies and treats on Shabbos, we even sleep more; but this is not, can not, be all that Shabbos is about. Shabbos is not meant to simply be a vacation where we indulge ourselves with abandon.
Shabbos is a time to come close to Hashem through study, prayer and song. The joys and comforts of the day are not an end in themselves, but are designed to put us in a conducive frame of mind to be able to think about Hashem, Torah, and Mitzvos. Shabbos is not simply a time to relax, but a time to reflect.
Dedicated in loving memory of William & Ida Laufer by the Gombos Family.
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