Welcome to Embrace Shabbat.
In line with the idea that Shabbat is a day
dedicated to learning Torah, the Ramban highlights a useful schedule to
structure the day with praying, eating, and learning. Throughout history, the
Jewish people have struggled with returning to shul in the afternoon to pray
and learn. The Gemara even discusses the issue of individuals who make meals at
times when they should be returning to shul.
In his sefer Ruach Chaim (289), Rav Chaim
Palagi writes that it is proper for a person to pray Mincha Gedola on Shabbat
and then have Seuda Shelishit. This was the recorded custom in many
communities, such as Livorno, Gibraltar, Turkey, and Izmir. Many Gedolim tried
to daven early on in the day so that they would have more time for learning.
Either they would daven Mincha and learn for the rest of the day or they would
have a kiddush in shul and remain to learn until Mincha Gedola, after which
they would have their meal at home. Either way, by davening Mincha Gedola, they
would spend more time learning in shul. It is interesting to see how this minhag evolved in the hopes of
encouraging people to learn. They set up the day in a way that it would be
feasible to fill the day with Torah.
In a similar vein, Rav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss
relates the minhag of his community
in Posing, Pressburg. They would pray at 7:15 in the morning so that they would
recite Kriat Shema at the proper zman. After Shacharit, the congregants went
home for a dairy meal and then returned to shul at 10:15 for Kriat HaTorah, Mussaf, and a shiur. What
was the purpose of this broken up, convoluted schedule?
If they would have an efficient schedule, the
day would stretch on for too long with nothing to do. By sending everyone home
to eat and then having them come back to shul to learn, it ensured that people
were not left with long stretches of time and were productive with good things.
Chassidim daven Shacharit late on Shabbat for
the same reason. There is a risk of people getting into trouble if they start
davening early and then leave shul. It is hard to fill a long day! Therefore,
the Rabbis created a minhag where the learning, praying, and meals would take
up most of the day.
In both the Sefardi world of Rabbi Chaim
Palagi and the European world of Rav Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss, there is the same
focus on filling the day with productive activities. It is important to set up
the day for success with a proper schedule for davening, learning, and
mealtimes.
Have a wonderful day and a Shabbat Shalom.
