The Music of Shabbos

A real gauge of the connection to Shabbos is the sense a person has as the end of Shabbos approaches.

It's all any human being really wants to sit around a table with people they love and celebrate the One Who gives life. If you think about this gift, you realize that it's a taste of Olam Haba, the ultimate pleasure.

The pasuk with which we welcome the Shabbos: It is good to thank Hashem and to sing praise to Your Name, O Exalted One (Tehillim 92:2). Tov l'hodos L'Hashem, it is wonderful if a person can thank Hashem. U'lezamer leshimcha? But if one goes beyond just saying it, and actually sings to Hashem's Name? Then 'elyon,' that is the ultimate form of praise!

Psach Lahem Noam Viratzon Liftoach Shaarei Ritzonecha - Grant them sweetness and desire to open the gates of Your desire... "There are many Yidden who have a desire to learn Your Torah," the Beis Avraham of Slonim would say, "and there are others who to daven to You. These are wonderful levels in avodas Hashem, but there is a level well beyond this, and that is the Yid who simply wants what You want. He sees not his own desire to serve You, but only You." This is hinted at in this request: Grant them sweetness and desire to open the gates of Your desire. Give us the ratzon to fulfill Your ratzon!

Shabbos is the mekor haberachah, the source of all blessing. The Chafetz Chaim would advise people in need of salvation to find ways to honor the Shabbos, and access its berachah.

The Chafetz Chaim would say that Shabbos is referred to as an os, a sign, because it is a gauge of where a Yid is holding in his relationship with the Ribbono shel Olam.

On Motza'ei Shabbos, we behold the flame of the candle and we commit ourselves to a new week of seeing - of finding clues, hints, and reminders that there is Him, and only Him.

When Yaakov Avinu left the house of Lavan. Lavan was filled with indignation about Yaakov's clandestine departure. He chased after his son-in-law, and when he confronted him, Lavan declared, "Why have you fled so stealthily?... For I would have sent you off with gladness, with songs, and with drum and with lyre" (Bereishis 31:27). From here, we see that a proper farewell involves music and song, so the Shabbos, a guest of distinction, is given that sort of sendoff as well. And logic dictates that the ritual of the leave-taking not be greater than that of the original greeting: If we part from the Shabbos with song, says R' Hutner, then we should certainly welcome it with song! There is song when we welcome the Shabbos, song when we escort the Shabbos, and there is song all Shabbos longthe song Shabbos!