Welcome to Daily Bitachon.
This is our final Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah. Over the past year, we have frequently discussed the profound importance of honoring Shabbat—especially leading into a year where Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, when Shabbat serves as our primary defense advocate in the heavenly court. This is our crucial opportunity to give our ultimate honor and respect to Shabbat.
The Ben Ish Chai (Parashat Pekudei, Year 2) comments on the placement of the Menorah opposite the Shulchan (the Table of the Showbread) in the Mishkan. The Menorah consists of a central shaft from which three branches extend on either side. He explains that the central shaft symbolizes Shabbat.
Naturally, one might assume that if the seven branches correspond to the seven days of the week, you would count linearly from right to left: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday on the right, making Wednesday the middle branch. The Ben Ish Chai explains that this is a mistake. The core of the Menorah is the center, which is Shabbat. The three branches on one side represent the three days leading into Shabbat—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—while the three branches on the other side represent the days extending outward from Shabbat—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Shabbat stands squarely in the center.
This principle is rooted in the Gemara (Pesachim 106a) regarding legal documents:
- Kamei shabta ("before Shabbat") refers to Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
- Lebatar shabta ("after Shabbat") refers to Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.
This dynamic directly informs practical Halacha:
Havdalah: While ideally recited on Motza'ei Shabbat, one may technically recite Havdalah until Tuesday afternoon (provided one has not eaten beforehand), because Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are a direct continuation of the preceding Shabbat.
Embarking on a Ship: The prohibition against embarking on a sea voyage within three days of Shabbat begins on Wednesday, as Wednesday marks the start of the days designated as "before Shabbat."
Shnayim Mikra Ve-Echad Targum: Ideally, the review of the weekly Torah portion should be completed on Shabbat before Kiddush or Mincha. The next acceptable window extends until the following Wednesday, before the preparation for the next Shabbat begins.
Both the Ben Ish Chai and the Shlah HaKadosh (Parashat Pekudei) explain that the Neshamah Yeteirah (the extra soul granted on Shabbat) arrives and departs in three distinct spiritual stages: Nefesh, Ruach, and Neshamah.
- On Wednesday, we begin receiving the Nefesh (the baseline vitality, connected to physical action and the liver).
- On Thursday, we receive the Ruach (the emotional dimension, connected to the heart).
- On Friday, we receive the Neshamah (the intellectual and spiritual height, connected to the mind).
Following Shabbat, this extra spiritual energy gradually departs in reverse over Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. We live in a perpetual cycle of either preparing for Shabbat or carrying forward its residual light.
This concept is reflected in the Friday night piyyut composed by the Arizal, Asader Lishvachin: "Yemina u-smala u-veinayhu khallah"—to the right and to the left, and between them walks the Bride. Just as a bride is escorted down the aisle with her parents on either side, the Shabbat Queen is flanked by the days of the week on both sides.
The Source of All Blessing
Shabbat is Mekor HaBeracha—the source of all sustenance, success, and prosperity. When we enter Shabbat, we invoke the three foundational categories of agricultural and economic blessing mentioned in the Torah (Devarim 11:14):
Dagan (Grain)
Tirosh (Wine)
Yitzhar (Oil)
Just as the miracle of the oil with the prophet Elisha required a small vessel of oil to initiate the flow of blessing, spiritual abundance requires an earthly anchor. On Shabbat, we establish vessels for all three categories:
- We light the candles (Oil / Yitzhar)
- We sanctify the day through Kiddush (Wine / Tirosh)
- We break bread over the challah (Grain / Dagan)
By engaging these elements, we channel divine blessing into every area of our livelihood. This is why many have the custom to position the Shabbat table in clear view of the candles. While standing for Kiddush with the cup of wine in hand, one looks at the candles, with the challah resting on the table—bringing all three components into harmony. As the verse states in Mishlei (10:22): "Birkat Hashem hi ta'ashir"—the blessing of Hashem brings wealth. That blessing refers directly to Shabbat, which is blessed above all other days (u-verakhto mi-kol ha-yamim).
The Ben Ish Chai adds another insight regarding the Kos shel Beracha (the cup of blessing). A human hand possesses 14 knuckles/joints across the five fingers (three in each of the four fingers, and two in the thumb). The word for hand, Yad (יד), has the numerical value of 14. This corresponds to the standard 14 meals eaten during the seven weekdays (two meals per day). Shabbat introduces the 15th meal—Seudah Shelishit.
The number 15 represents the fullness of divine blessing, matching the 15 words of Birkat Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing). When holding the Kos shel Beracha in the palm of the hand, the hand acts as the complete 15-part vessel to receive and contain the blessing flowing from Shabbat.
Honoring Shabbat Before Rosh Hashanah
As we have emphasized, spiritual and physical channels only function when they are treated with honor:
- If you respect your clothing, it will keep you warm.
- If you respect a Talmid Chacham, you benefit from his merit.
- If you respect Shabbat, the blessings of Shabbat will sustain and elevate you.
Failing to honor Shabbat blocks the flow of blessing not out of punitive anger, but as a spiritual reality. The prophet Yeshayahu (58:13) instructs: "Ve-chibadeto me'asot derachecha... ve-kadosh Hashem mechubad"—you shall honor it by refraining from your everyday pursuits.
As we enter the final Shabbat of the year, make a conscious commitment to elevate your Kavod Shabbat (honor of Shabbat). Now is the moment to reflect, repair any past lapses, and resolve to honor Shabbat with greater care and dignity. When Rosh Hashanah arrives, Shabbat will stand as an advocate of peace and merit on our behalf.
Shabbat Shalom. May we all internalize the honor of Shabbat, tap into the wellspring of all blessings, and merit the fulfillment of the prayer: Tachel shana u-virchoteha—may the new year and its abundant blessings begin!