Welcome to Divrei Chizuk! Bringing the Bais HaMikdash down 1 brick+ at a time
Light Candles Earlier
 

SHABBOS KODESH

Click here to download Shabbos flier

  
 I first want to thank Dina bas Chaya Hena(this should be a big Yeshua for her and for her mishpacha) for her machshava to have a Shabbos Campaign to let klal Yisrael be aware of the greatness to be
Mekabel (accept) Shabbos early, and not to rush into Shabbos! Wait for Shabbos! Anticipate Shabbos! In this merit may Hashem shower on us much bracha and hatzlacha. Amen!!!!
 I also want to thank my chaver Ben Olam Habah for all his help in this campaign may this be a big zechus for him and his mishpacha for Hashem to shower on him/them much bracha vhatzlacha. He has a wonderful email that goes out to thousands on 2 halachos a day
click here to see his web site and to join.

The great Tzadik, Rav Ahron Leib Shteinman Shlita relates the following story(see below)and tells people seeking Yeshuos (salvation) from childlessness as well as other troubles to adopt this practice of being Mekabel Shabbos earlier than the “regular” time.

 This is a tried and true method which has helped many people with children, Parnassah, Shiduchim, health etc.

 Why must we wait for something to go wrong before seeking a Yeshua? Let’s all decide to be Mekabel Shabbos early today before anything goes wrong!

 Let us show Hashem that we are excited about his gift of Shabbos and that we “can’t wait” for its arrival and Hashem will not need to give us any reason to “wait” for any Yeshuos in the first place!

 


The Power of Being a True Shomer Shabbos

 By: L. Halevi

 Timeline: Vitebsk, Russia circa 1920

Leibish and Baila were married for many years yet were not yet blessed with children.

 They fervently prayed day in and day out and traveled to many Tzadikim to receive their blessings that they merit having a child, yet they remained childless.

Their 15th anniversary came and went and their pain became stronger and more intense; they could no longer bear the loneliness and heartache. Was their destiny to be one of infinite childlessness?

 They decided that they must undertake the arduous journey and visit the saintly Chofetz Chaim. Perhaps a Tzaddik of his caliber could offer them a last glimmer of hope.

 The journey took them a few long weeks, but they finally made it to the tiny shtetl of Radin. It seemed so ironic that such a small, insignificant village which was hard to find on a map could be the abode of arguably the greatest personality of his generation and perhaps his era.

 They knocked on the door of the humble home and were ushered into the unfurnished “study” of the Tzaddik.

 They poured out their hearts to the sage and begged him to help them in any way that he could and ensure that they don’t live out their days in childless loneliness.

 The Chofetz Chaim opened a Chumash to Parshas VaYeishev to the portion that relates the story of Yosef recounting his dreams to his brothers, and turned to the woman and asked “What time do you kindle the Shabbos candles each Erev Shabbos?”

 Startled by the question, Baila stumbled a reply “Why, eighteen minutes before sunset, as is the Minhag of most Jewish women”

 The Chofetz Chaim read from the Chumash,(Perek 37:11), “…V’Aviv Shomar Es HaDavar and his father “watched” what he said. What does “Shomar” mean?” he asked. “Rashi explains that the word “Shomar” in this context doesn’t mean “watched” rather it means “waited and anticipated for the arrival of…”

 “You are of course Shomrei Shabbos” said the Chofetz Chaim, “but do you anticipate and wait for Shabbos to arrive? Or do you finish your preparations in the nick of time right before Shabbos arrives?”

 “Shabbos is deserving of us waiting for it! The Shabbos queen is deserving of our full attention when she arrives!”

 The Chofetz Chaim then turned to them and said “In the Aseres Hadibros (Devorim 5:12) it says “Shamor Es Yom HaShabbos L’Kadsho, watch the Shabbos day and make it holy….” And is followed (in 5:14) by “Atah U’Vincha U’Vitecha, you, your son and your daughter…”

 “One who is “Shomer” Shabbos with the definition of the Rashi above merits having children! Be Mekabel (accept) Shabbos early, don’t rush into Shabbos! Wait for Shabbos! Anticipate Shabbos! In this merit may Hashem bless you with “Vincha U’Vitecha,”

 Armed with their newfound mission of becoming “real” Shomrei Shabbos and with the Bracha of the holy Chofetz Chaim, Leibish and Baila returned home with lighter hearts then when they arrived.

 The following Erev Shabbos everything was ready a full hour before Sunset, and from that week onward the candles were always lit a full half hour before the “regular” time of Licht Bentching (candle lighting).

 What a beautiful glow those candles brought into the home. What Kavod Shabbos!

 One year later…

 Mazel Tov! The formerly barren home was glowing with the light of a radiant Jewish child….

 Leibish sat at the Shabbos table while holding his son in his arms and gazing at the Shabbos candles. He sang those precious words “HaShomer Shabbos….HaBen Im HaBas…One who anticipates the arrival of Shabbos Kodesh… [Will merit] sons and daughters.

 

We plan to BE"H be launching a big Shabbos campaign to let Klal Yisrael know about all the brachos and yeshuos that one will get on lighting candels earlier then the zman. The importance of waiting for the Shabbos Malka to arrive and not finishing our preperations in the nick of time right before Shabbos arrives. I know of a family who is all ready sitting in the livingroom and waiting for the Shabbos Malka, they have told me what big yeshuos they see. If you have a machshava and want to get involved in the Shabbos campaign please
Tizku L'mitzvos

Parshas Vaera Lzchus an a refua Yaakov ben Miriam Ester

Bringing awareness of the great zechus in being ready early for

Shabbos (at least 10 minutes before candle lighting).

Reaping reward forever by honoring shabbos.

The Rama’s father, Reb Isser’l, was a successful textile merchant. With time he gained himself a sterling reputation for selling the finest fabrics. As busy as he would be, he was steadfast to his commitment, to close his store on Friday at noon. No matter what, when it came Chazos, everything stopped in the honor of Shabbos. This commitment came to a trying test, when one Friday a wealthy nobleman entered his store, inspecting the quality of his most superior cloth. He requested large quantities of the finest fabrics to be put to one side. The order, when completed, would bring Reb Isser’l much wealth, it was like a windfall that had come his way. Such customers do not come by every day! The measurements were in the middle of being taken, whilst the clock continued to tick. It reached Chazos. “Sorry sir, I must stop now, as my store closes, come back Sunday morning, when we will continue business”.  Isser’l, I must have the cloth today, it will only take 15 minutes or so, then I will be gone” said the merchant. Reb Isser’l explained that although he wanted to be of service, business always ceased at midday on Friday. The transaction could not be completed now. Sunday was the only option. The merchant made it clear that it was either ‘now or never’. He would take his business elsewhere. It was a chance of a life time. Throwing away such an opportunity would seem ridiculous by most. However, Reb Iserel would not be swayed He viewed it differently, for him this was an opportunity to show his true love and dedication for Shabbos. With that he  proudly shut his store, whilst the merchant stormed off.   In Heaven nothing goes unnoticed. It was decided that material riches would not suffice as his reward, it would need to be something eternal. Reb Isser’l was granted a child whom he named Moshe. Moshe grew up to become the famous Rama who continues to light up the world with his Torah.

(Sefer Meor Hashabos)

Accepting Shabbat Early-Rabbi David Sutton 

 

The hours before Shabbat, as we all know, are a very busy time. It might be tempting to use every last minute to get things done, and involve oneself in Shabbat preparations until the very end. In truth, however, it is proper to begin Shabbat some ten minutes before its formal onset. Why?

 

The Rambam (Hilchot Shabbat 30:2) describes how one should conduct himself on Friday afternoon just before the onset of Shabbat:

 

יושב בכובד ראש מייחל להקבלת פני השבת כמו שהוא יוצא לקראת המלך

"One sits with reverence anticipating the arrival of Shabbat, like one goes to greet the king."

 

The Rambam writes that before Shabbat begins, one should sit and eagerly await its arrival.

A friend of mine told me he once had the privilege of spending Shabbat with Rabbi Yehuda Ades of Yeshivat Kol Yaakov, and was with him in his office on Friday afternoon just before Shabbat. He was surprised to find the great Rabbi just sitting and not doing anything, rather than using these moments for Torah study. My friend was very excited over the opportunity to be alone with Rabbi Ades, and asked if they could learn together. Rabbi Ades, however, refused, and showed him these comments of the Rambam, requiring one to sit and wait for Shabbat to begin. If a person is learning or involved in some other activity, then he is not waiting for Shabbat.   The way to wait for Shabbat is the way children often wait outside when guests are supposed to arrive. They are too excited and anxious to get involved in anything else, so they just stand outside and wait. Similarly, when Shabbat is about to begin, we are to sit and wait for it.

 

What is the meaning of this "waiting"? Why are we supposed to just "sit around" waiting for Shabbat?

Rav Yitzchak Hutner zt"l of Yeshivat Chaim Berlin explained that there is a concept of ציפית לישועה, which means that we are to anticipate and long for the arrival of Mashiah. One of the questions we will be asked after 120 years, when we depart from this world, is whether we eagerly anticipated the final redemption. We must not only believe in redemption, but long for it.  

 

Shabbat is called מעין עולם הבא

, a microcosm of the next world, or a "miniature Olam Ha'ba," if you will, and thus just as we must anxiously await the arrival of Mashiah, we must similarly wait for the arrival of Shabbat with eager anticipation. We are supposed to have the feeling of, "I cannot wait for Shabbat," just as throughout the centuries of exile the Jews could not wait for Mashiah to come and extricate them from their suffering. We are to feel as though the burdens of the mundane workweek, all the worldly matters we need to deal with throughout the week, pull us down, away from our true goals, and we thus look forward to Shabbat, which frees us from these burdens and allows us to be who we want to be. Just as people leaving on vacation excitedly come to the gate 2-3 hours early and just hang around, thrilled to get away from their normal routine and responsibilities, we, too, should arrive early at our weekly "vacation" from the mundane responsibilities of the workweek. We should not be like those who rush to the gate at the last minute just before takeoff. We should be there ready and waiting, showing how special Shabbat is to us.

 

Let us have these ideas in mind, and make an extra effort to be ready for Shabbat even before its formal onset, whether it's the woman sitting on the coach relaxing a few minutes before candle lighting, or the man arriving in shul early on Friday afternoon, truly sensing how this is the greatest time of the week, and excited to welcome the kedusha of Shabbat. In this merit, and in the merit of our anxiously awaiting our final redemption, we should be granted the zechut of welcoming the יום שכולו שבת, the final redemption, Amen.