Bomb Threats
It was Shmuel's first Friday in Yerushalayim and he just
couldn't wait for Shabbos to come. Shmuel got ready early and
took a taxi to the Kosel to daven. There was a minyan
that was getting ready to recite Minchah almost an
hour before sunset, and he joined them . . .
Suddenly in the middle of Minchah, Shmuel's
anticipation turned to alarm when a bomb siren went off. He
had no idea what to do; run, duck, or continue. In his heart
Shmuel knew that nothing could happen to him while he was
standing by the remaining wall of the Beis Hamikdosh,
but . . .
Shmuel looked around, and to his great surprise no one in the
minyan looked even the slightest bit nervous. Amazing!
he thought to himself. The Jewish people are given over to
Hashem, and are so sure that the sanctity of the Kosel and
Shabbos will protect them that they are not even alarmed.
Shmuel strengthened his heart and continued.
The rest of his tefilloh was with incredible
concentration. Shmuel was almost in tears at the thought that
his first Shabbos in Israel could be his last. Every word
came out of his mouth like a Heaven-bound arrow, and he was
sure that this particular prayer hit its mark. After a while
Shmuel took three steps backwards, concluding his Shemoneh
Esrei.
Now Shmuel was really astounded. Nobody there was in the
slightest panic, and just the opposite; everyone was in a
state of joy, excited about the oncoming Shabbos. Lo and
behold, as he was looking around, another bomb siren went
off, and again everyone remained tranquil.
At this point Shmuel turned around and asked the man next to
him if indeed they were in the middle of an attack. The man,
who was wearing a beautiful white robe laced with gold
threads, smiled and told him not to worry. The sirens were
merely the local indication that Shabbos was on its way.
Shmuel breathed a sigh of relief, and began to sing
Kabbolas Shabbos.
Shofar Blasts
When the Jewish people were settled in Israel, six shofar
blasts were sounded every erev Shabbos at the time of
Minchah from a high point in the city. The first two
were to stop the people in the fields and the city from
melochoh. The third meant that it was time to light
candles. The last three indicated that the time for everyone
to cease from all melochoh had arrived (Shabbos
35b, according to the Rambam Hilchos Shabbos
5,18).
Today, in most cities outside of Israel where Jews live
amongst non-Jews, it is not possible to provide such an
indication of the oncoming Shabbos. How can we forewarn
people that Shabbos is quickly approaching? In small
neighborhoods it is proper to send someone around to alert
the people of Shabbos' arrival (Rema 256,1). In larger
communities where this is not possible, volunteers should be
organized to encourage stores to close, and to do whatever
else possible to insure that the sanctity of Shabbos is
upheld (Mishna Berurah 256,2).
Our Sages write that someone who scrupulously observes the
mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles will merit having
children who are Torah scholars (Shabbos 23b). The
Chofetz Chaim promises that a person who takes upon himself
to publicly protect the sanctity of Shabbos receives an even
greater reward. By making sure that everyone in his community
keeps Shabbos properly, he will merit to have offspring who
are Torah giants, and uphold the Torah for the entire nation
(ibid.).
Ending Work
Erev Shabbos we must literally pull ourselves away
from the chaotic world that we are involved with during the
week, and step into the tranquility of Shabbos. Our Sages
directed us to stop all non-Shabbos-related work during the
afternoon of erev Shabbos in order to assist us to
enter the holiness of Shabbos. Stopping to work early will
also leave us with plenty of time to help prepare for the
oncoming day.
Our Sages cautioned that anyone who takes care of business
matters unrelated to Shabbos after this time will not see
success in those endeavors (Shulchan Oruch 251, 1). We
might ask ourselves: if a person made a hefty profit during
the time when it is forbidden to work, did he not benefit
from his endeavors? Although he seems to have gained erev
Shabbos, he will inevitably lose this money at a
different time (Mishna Berurah 251,2).
The gemora tells us that one must stop all non-Shabbos
related work by the time of Minchah. Some say that
this refers to Minchah Gedola, half an hour (sho'os
zemanios, seasonal hours dependent on the length of the
day) after midday (Tur 251,1). This opinion understood
that a significant amount of time must be set aside in order
for one to come into Shabbos with peace of mind.
Others permit one to continue the weekday routine until
closer to Shabbos. They write that this begins from
Minchah Ketanoh, two-and-a-half hours before Shabbos
(Rashi, Pesochim 50b). The poskim write that
someone who relies on the lenient opinion and does work until
two-and-a-half hours before Shabbos will not sustain
financial loss from doing so (Mishna Berurah
251,3).
Sales are not included in the prohibition against working on
erev Shabbos, and shops may stay open even after
everyone else has ceased work. Still storekeepers should be
careful to close their stores sufficiently early that they
should not come to be mechallel Shabbos. The poskim
advise them to close at least one hour before shki'ah
(Mishna Berurah 256,1).
Traveling Time
Preparing for a long journey could easily cause a person to
neglect his Shabbos preparations. Another way that we can
make sure to come into Shabbos with peace of mind is to plan
ahead when traveling. Ideally, someone who has not previously
sorted out his Shabbos arrangements must arrive at his
destination by the end of the first third of the day
(Shulchan Oruch 249,1).
Even if the necessary preparations have been made, often
things do not go exactly as planned. It is a worthwhile
investment to depart for one's trip early enough to arrive
well before candlelighting time, in order to avoid
inadvertent Shabbos desecration due to car breakdowns,
traffic jams, getting lost, etc. (Mishnah Berurah 249:
3).
Present-day poskim and botei dinim in Israel
have issued repeated warnings and admonitions about using
transportation late on erev Shabbos afternoon, which
could result in Shabbos desecration for the travelers and/or
their drivers.
Skipping Tachanun
"Hashem do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chastise me in
Your rage . . .I am wearied with sighing, every night I
drench my bed, with tears I soak my couch . . .Amid rage
— remember to be merciful" (from the daily
Tachanun).
Shabbos is a time to sing songs of thanks and praises of
Hashem. The above verses and the other supplications of
Tachanun are certainly not in line with the joy of
Shabbos. Therefore Tachanun is omitted from Minchah
on erev Shabbos (Shulchan Oruch 267,1).
As with the prohibition not to work erev Shabbos, some
say that Tachanun is only skipped during Minchah
Ketanoh, two-and-a-half hours before sunset (Tosafos,
Moed Kotton 27a). Others rule that one does not say it
from the time of Minchah Gedola, half an hour after
midday (Pri Megodim). In this case the halacha follows
the later opinion, and Tachanun is always omitted on
erev Shabbos (Biur Halacha 267,1).
Removing Tefillin
Kabbalistic writings warn that wearing tefillin on
Shabbos is a dangerous act that is susceptible to punishment
by death. During the week we need to wear tefillin as
a sign of our affiliation to Hashem. On Shabbos we are so
close to our Creator that donning a physical sign is
considered a slight to His honor.
Certain devout individuals often wear tefillin at
Minchah as well as Shacharis. How should they
act during Minchah erev Shabbos? Can they continue
wearing them, or must they remove them in deference to the
honor of Shabbos?
The students of the great kabbalistic master the Arizal were
once asked this question. They replied that one should not
wear tefillin during Minchah erev Shabbos.
Since the Minchah of erev Shabbos is already
affiliated to Shabbos, it is improper to wear them at this
time (Machzik Brochoh 267).
Announcing the King
Before the arrival of royalty, the servants of the king will
proclaim his arrival. Trumpets are generally called to task
for this job, for their piercing blast instills within the
heart the feeling of majesty. Hearing these sounds prepares
the listeners for the arrival of the monarch.
On erev Shabbos shortly before sunset, the King of
Kings makes His Presence known in every Jewish household.
Without proper prior preparation, He could be at our doorstep
without us even knowing. Aside from the normal tasks that we
take care of before Shabbos, what can we do to feel His
arrival?
The six shofar blasts that the halacha directs us to blow are
in place of the royal trumpets. Just as on Rosh Hashonoh the
shofar announces that the King is here among us, so too every
erev Shabbos the sounding of the shofar tells us that
now Hashem can be felt more than other times during the week.
(In some communities the custom was to blow trumpets before
Shabbos, see Yerushalmi Shabbos 17,1.)
Although we no longer are privileged to hear the shofar
sounds before Shabbos, a few remnants of their message
remains. The six chapters of Tehillim that we recite
as Kabbolas Shabbos describe how the world will be
with the coming of Moshiach. They too proclaim the
majesty of Hashem, and were instituted as a replacement for
the six shofar blasts (Siddur HaGra).
So too, sounding sirens, skipping Tachanun, removing
tefillin, and stopping to work or travel early —
are all signs of approaching royalty. They tell us that we
must change our mindset to prepare ourselves for the upcoming
visit. If we take the hint then we will get the greatest gift
that it is possible for man to receive — complete
tranquility.
In the merit of doing all that is in our ability to prepare
ourselves to receive Shabbos, may we merit to experience its
true flavor: a taste of the World to Come.
