Eating small meals on Shabbos

Hi,

We are instructed to create pleasure on Shabbat; this is the mitzvah of oneg Shabbat. Where an action would bring pleasure to the body but disturb one's psyche, or vice versa, psychological/emotional pleasure trumps physical pleasure.

Therefore, one who would derive physical pleasure from eating, but who does not want to eat, may eat the minimum for the three meals of Shabbat and stop with that.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:223:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachah for enjoying Shabbos?

Hi,

We have a mitzvah of "oneg Shabbat", enjoying the day; we fulfill this in many ways, including eating fine foods and having light in our homes. Where is the berachah [blessing] for this mitzvah?

The berachah for this mitzvah is the berachah recited upon lighting Shabbat candles. However, there is no requirement for the family to be present when the candles are lit and the berachah is recited; the person reciting the berachah does so on behalf of the household.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:222:30)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Meals on the first afternoon of Yom Tov

Hi,

We are taught not to eat meals in the later afternoon before Shabbat or Yom Tov, lest we ruin our appetite for the Shabbat/Yom Tov meal that night. One who is hungry may eat a meal in the later afternoon [before sunset] of Shabbat/Yom Tov preceding Yom Tov/Shabbat, because those are mitzvah meals themselves. However, one should not time his meal for then, intentionally.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:68)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Beautiful candles

Hi,

We have been learning about Shabbat candles.

One should make sure to use beautiful Shabbat candlesticks. There are two reasons for this: The general concept of beautifying our mitzvot, and the concept of using these candles to increase the pleasure and honor of Shabbat.

For the same reason, one should use a fuel that burns smoothly and does not produce a bad odor. This is one reason why olive oil is preferred over other oils.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 263:1, 264; Mishneh Berurah 263:1, 264:23)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why we light Shabbat candles

Hello, and welcome to our new format!

We have been learning about lighting Shabbat candles.

We have already pointed out that lighting Shabbat candles may be understood as a function of enjoying Shabbat (as quoted in Mishneh Berurah), or of honoring Shabbat (as the Rambam declared).

A third view maintains that lighting Shabbat candles incorporates both elements, honoring Shabbat and creating enjoyment. Lighting where one eats the Shabbat meal creates honor for the day; lighting in other parts of the home provides enjoyment, for we can more easily move about our homes.

This helps explain why candle-lighting, unique among all of the acts we perform to prepare for Shabbat, has its own blessing.

(Aruch haShulchan, Orach Chaim 263:1-2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai