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Preparing for Shabbat: Difference between revisions

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# It is the husband's job to ensure that the Shabbat candles are in place and ready for lighting each week.  <Ref> [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin), Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:9. </ref>
# It is the husband's job to ensure that the Shabbat candles are in place and ready for lighting each week.  <Ref> [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin), Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:9. </ref>
# Even if one had many helpers or family members preparing for Shabbat one should make an effort to personally be involved in preparing for Shabbat. <ref>S"A 250:1 </ref>
# Even if one had many helpers or family members preparing for Shabbat one should make an effort to personally be involved in preparing for Shabbat. <ref>S"A 250:1 </ref>
# One should endeavor to purchase flowers in honor of Shabbat. <ref>Shir Hashirim Rabba 2:9; Vayikra Rabba 23:6; Kaf Hachaim (Palagi) 36:2, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref>


==When to prepare for Shabbat==
==Buying food for Shabbat==
# One should begin one's Shabbat preparations as early as possible on Friday.  <Ref> Shabbat 117b; Tur, OC 250; OC 250:1, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref>
# One should begin one's Shabbat preparations as early as possible on Friday.  <Ref> Shabbat 117b; Tur, OC 250; OC 250:1, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref>
# One should make sure to buy one's food for Shabbat on Friday and not before unless one feels that one won't be able to find those items if one only goes to the store on Friday. <ref>Gemara Shabbat 117b writes that a pperson should get up early on Friday to prepare for Shabbat. So rules S"A 250:1. Mishna Brurah 250:2 explains that the reason is that by purchasing food for Shabbat on Friday it's more recognizable that one is preparing for Shabbat than if one were to buy the food on Thursday. He adds that if there's a fear that one won't be able to buy one's food on Friday then one may do so on Thursday. So rules Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1). </ref>
# One should make sure to buy one's food for Shabbat on Friday and not before unless one feels that one won't be able to find those items if one only goes to the store on Friday. <ref>Gemara Shabbat 117b writes that a pperson should get up early on Friday to prepare for Shabbat. So rules S"A 250:1. Mishna Brurah 250:2 explains that the reason is that by purchasing food for Shabbat on Friday it's more recognizable that one is preparing for Shabbat than if one were to buy the food on Thursday. He adds that if there's a fear that one won't be able to buy one's food on Friday then one may do so on Thursday. So rules Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1). </ref>
# One must pray before going to buy one's food for Shabbat and if one regularly learns one should not change one's practice and only buy the food afterwards unless there's a fear that one will loose the opportunity to buy the food in which case one should delay one's learning.<ref>Mishna Brurah 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1) </ref>
# One must pray before going to buy one's food for Shabbat and if one regularly learns one should not change one's practice and only buy the food afterwards unless there's a fear that one will loose the opportunity to buy the food in which case one should delay one's learning.<ref>Mishna Brurah 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1) </ref>
# If there's a fear that if one waits until after davening one may loose the opportunity to buy one's food for Shabbat before prayer but one should at least say Shema beforehand. <ref>Mishna Brurah 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1) </ref>
# If there's a fear that if one waits until after davening one may loose the opportunity to buy one's food for Shabbat before prayer but one should at least say Shema beforehand. <ref>Mishna Brurah 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:1) </ref>
# When buying food for Shabbat, it is praiseworthy to verbally state to oneself that the food is for such purpose. <ref>Mishna Berura 250:2 </ref>
# Indeed, one should endeavor to do something every day of the week in honor of Shabbat, as did Shammai. Whenever Shammai would go shopping and come across a tasty piece of meat, he would purchase it in honor of Shabbat. If later in the week he came across an even more attractive piece of meat, he would eat the first one and save the nicer one in honor of Shabbat. <ref>[http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) quoting Beitza 16a. See also Pesikta Rabati 23. </ref>


==Tasting the food in preparation of Shabbat==
==Tasting the food in preparation of Shabbat==
# There's a righteous practice to taste the food for Shabbat on Friday in order to know whether it's spiced and tasty. <ref>Magan Avraham 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:3) </ref>
# There's a righteous practice to taste the food for Shabbat on Friday in order to know whether it's spiced and tasty. <ref>Magan Avraham 250:1, Menuchat Ahava (vol 1, 2:3), Aruch Hashulchan, OC 250:4; Kaf Hachaim, OC 250:8; Mishna Berura 250:2; Rivevot Ephraim 2:115:37 </ref>


==Eating on Friday==
==Eating on Friday==
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==Fasting on Friday==
==Fasting on Friday==
# There have even been individuals who would fast each and every Friday in order to ensure that they would have an appetite for the Shabbat meal. <ref>Yerushalmi Ta'anit 2:12; S"A OC 249:3, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)</ref> While such a practice is simply not possible for the masses, it is recommended, however, that one not eat an actual meal (but rather  a light meal or a snack) on Friday, especially during the winter months when Shabbat arrives early. <ref>Aruch HaShulchan 249:6, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref>
# There have even been individuals who would fast each and every Friday in order to ensure that they would have an appetite for the Shabbat meal. <ref>Yerushalmi Ta'anit 2:12; S"A OC 249:3, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin)</ref> While such a practice is simply not possible for the masses, it is recommended, however, that one not eat an actual meal (but rather  a light meal or a snack) on Friday, especially during the winter months when Shabbat arrives early. <ref>Aruch HaShulchan 249:6, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) </ref>
==Showering for Shabbat==
# It is also a big mitzva to shower on Fridays, in honor of Shabbat, preferably late in the day. <ref> Mishna Brurah 260:1, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). The Elya Rabba 262:6 explains that the reason that one should shower later rather than earlier is because we are taught that the pleasure one derives from a shower and being clean is only appreciated an hour or so afterwards. Delaying the shower closer to Shabbat will ensure that one enjoys this pleasure on Shabbat itself. </ref>
# The mitzva of showering can only be fulfilled with warm to hot water. <ref>S"A OC 260:1; Biur Halacha 260 s.v. “Bechamin” and "Lechof Harosh". But see Devar Chevron 2:229 </ref>
# The order of what to wash first when showering is as follows: head, face, chest, right arm, left arm, right leg, left leg.<ref>Shabbat 61a; Mishna Berura 2:7, 260:1; Be'er Moshe 3:1; Ben Ish Chai (Vayishlach 17), [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). The Ta’amei Haminhagim 249 writes that this pre-Shabbat wash is known in kabbalistic circles to assist in removing sins from one’s soul. </ref>
===Brushing one's hair===
# One should brush one's hair nicely in honor of Shabbat. <ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 72:12, [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin). See also Yosef Ometz 565 </ref>
===Cutting one's nails===
# One should arrange for one's hair and nails to be cut on Erev Shabbat. <ref> S"A 260:1, Mishna Berura 260:6 quoting Moed Katan 18a. [http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin) writes that the reason for this is that before the sin of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve wore garments made of a fingernail-type substance. After they sinned God took away this Divinely provided clothing. Since it was Eve who was essentially responsible for this loss, our fingernails – which recall these clothes – are said to bring harm to pregnant women. Of course, this is a spiritual and not a scientific matter. </ref>
===Going to Mikvah===
# It is also meritorious to immerse in a mikva, if possible. <ref>[http://www.eichlers.com/Product/Books/Halachah_-_Jewish_Law/General_Issues/Amot-Shel-Halacha---Halachic-Insights---The-Dalet-Amot-Halacha-Series:-1-_H028-3.html Amot Shel Halacha] (by Rabbi Ari Enkin), Mekor Chaim (Chavot Ya'ir) 260</ref>
==References==
==References==
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