Shareables

Rav Elimelech of Lizensk

Rav Yechezkel of Kusmir said over that when Rav Elimelech of Lizensk zy”a would say Kedusha/Kesser on Shabbos by Mussaf, he would look at his watch while saying the words. The reason for this was that he was concerned that his body could not contain the intense spirituality that his neshamah was experiencing. He would look at something physical to ground himself so that his neshamah could stay within his body.

Yossi K.

Th Arizal teaches us that as shabbos ends we reach a level called Raava D’ravin, the highest level of Hashem’s Ratzon. Maybe this is why so many find it difficult to connect to the third meal on shabbos, their nefesh habahamis may be fighting this revelation. By remembering that WE are exactly why Hashem created the world, we can gain tremendously from this holy time.

Baal Shem Tov

יששכר חמור גרם רובץ בין המשפתים
The passuk in Vayichi says: Yissaschar is a strong-boned donkey, crouching down between the stable. Another way to read this verse is יש שכר שהחמור גרם, “there is reward that can be brought forth from the material world,” such as through eating and drinking, when we elevate the sparks that are רובץ בין המשפתים, “crouching down amidst the physical world.”

Shem Mishmuel

The more one fulfills “shamor” by guarding the Shabbos against transgression, the more he will be guarded against external influences that block his heart from a deep connection with Hashem. This allows one to fulfill “zachor,” to remember the holy Shabbos to sanctify it. This is the reason one has the ability to increase in singing, praising, and davening to Hashem on Shabbos.

Yakov W.

The highest time in the Shabbos morning davening is when we say Keser during mussaf. Close your eyes while saying it and concentrate on the idea that even though Hashem has many angels who sing His praises, it is in fact our voice that He most desires to hear.

Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Ziditshov

Poverty was so bad in the Beis Medrash of Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Ziditshov that one Friday night the Rebbe didn’t even have candles burning to provide light. Undeterred, he learned Torah from memory. But before he did so, he addressed the Shabbos Queen out loud, saying “Shabbos, Shabbos! Go and tell Hashem Yisboroch what’s going on here, and advocate on our behalf!”

Rav Eliezer Zev of Kretchnif

A person who honors Shabbos properly is guaranteed that Heaven will reimburse him for their Shabbos expenses. Unlike other aspects of a person’s livelihood, which are set on Rosh Hashanah for the entire year, increasing one’s spending for Shabbos ensures even greater financial blessings than those originally decreed on Rosh Hashanah.

This is why it is a good custom to eat lukshen (noodle) kugel on Shabbos. The word lukshen, spelled לאקשין, also spells out the words לא-קשין, Lo-Koshin means “not difficult,” because through honoring Shabbos with delicious foods one’s livelihood will be “not difficult!”