I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

When the “iron curtain” came down in 1989, a friend of mine travelled to visit Hungary. He was struck by the calmness of life there. On the one hand, few people possessed cars, most were dressed in shabby clothes, and lived in small and dilapidated houses. But there was an absence of pressure and tension. People had time to stop and chat in the village square. There was a peacefulness which was very attractive.
When he crossed the border to Austria, he found himself back in a familiar world. People were driving around in cars, dressed smartly and living in big houses. But they seemed constantly to be rushing around and always under pressure.

I have often thought that by keeping Shabbos, we get the best of both worlds. We can work hard to make our lives more comfortable, but when Shabbos comes, peace descends, the phone does not ring etc. and a quality of life fills our existence, which nothing else can equal.

The problem with Shabbos Hagodol is, it appears to be on the wrong date. It is called Hagodol, because the Jewish people took the sheep for the Pesach sacrifice, on the 10th of Nisan, which that year was a Shabbos. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the sheep. Nonetheless the Jews had the faith, to take this Egyptian God, in front of the Egyptians, for the purpose of the Pesach sacrifice. But this year Shabbos is the 12th of Nisan. We should mark the Thursday before Pesach, which is the tenth of Nisan rather than Shabbos?

A novel explanation is given by Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetsky. Moshe Rabeinu, had negotiated with Pharaoh that Shabbos should be a day off for the Jews. He had also composed Palms including Mizmor Shir Leyom Hashabos. This Psalm is full of encouragement to have faith, even when evil people appear to be doing well, and good people suffering.

The Jewish people spent their Shabbosos studying this text. This developed their faith and enabled them to have the faith to take the sheep at the right time. So that event was a triumph for the power of Shabbos. That is why we commemorate the Shabbos rather than the precise date.
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QUESTION FOR THE WEEK;

This week`s Sedra describes the Thanksgiving Offering. Nowadays we say the Brochoh Hagomel, on occasions that in the past, we would have brought that offering. It is the only Brochoh that instead of answering with Amen, we say a whole sentence. Why is this so?

ANSWER;

The Thanksgiving Offering, and now Birchas Hagomel are a response to Hashem for particular acts of deliverance by Him. (The Vilna Gaon says the whole of the Hagodoh is built on the principles of the Thanksgiving offering.) We are afraid that these kindnesses will detract from the person`s reward in the World to come. Therefore we wish him, that Hashem should continue to bestow good on him.
Similarly, near the end of Benching, we thank Hashem for his good things and we pray “Leolam Al Yichasreinu”-In the future we should not be lacking his kindnesses!

If you have any comments, answers, or information, on any of the above, please E-mail me, or tell me.