BS’D
Ah… the joy of Shabbat. Joy bestows upon us the gift of momentarily forgetting what is troubling us. Joy depicts a state whereby we are happy in our minds and we do not ‘remember’ any of our sorrows.
Delight (oneg), which is the term used to describe a level of happiness on Shabbat, makes every part of our body resonate, not just our minds; an immense overflow of joy. In the merit (zechut) of reaching this lofty level of inner joy, our thirst for closeness and ability to grasp Torah knowledge is more easily attained. As a result of drenching the additional soul with a level of joy, our entire being can now devote its strength to serving Hashem.
In order that we not get ‘caught up’ in the physical delight of the table delicacies, it is important that we stop at regular intervals and ‘feed our soul’ with Torah learning (divrei Torah). In this way, the food serves as a pipeline to feed our passionate craving to bond with Borei Olam.
Singing enhances oneg Shabbat as it is one of the ways that Hashem gifted us to ‘reach’ Him in spite of His concealment (hester panim). Music is the channel by which we expand our consciousness and begin to connect to our inner higher self, namely our neshama. For any of us who passionately wishes to remove the veil of concealment and connect to Borei Olam, the fountain of bracha is showered upon him when he sings from his inner core. This is a true ‘high’.
Posting on behalf of member of the list:
As you and I know, there is a desperate situation of unmarried singles seemingly not being able to meet their match. A friend of mine and I would like to start an initiative doing something small for 10 singles from Rosh Chodesh Adar (which passed, but we can still join) until Purim.
This is what we’re proposing: Take on something small (see suggestions on the list below) with a bli neder that you will do during the next 6 weeks in the hope that 10 singles will find their match. If you don’t know 10 singles, then please e-mail to amyisrael3@gmail.com and we will send you some names that you can do it for. You can also send us any Hebrew names of any singles so that we can send out your friend’s names too, but please keep us posted if they do find their match.
Please forward this e-mail to whoever you feel would like to participate in this.
Tizku l’mitzvos
The suggestions (from R’ Kelati):
Say your benching from a Siddur
Picking one bracha from the amida for special concentration
say at least one kapital (chapter) tehillim daily with special concentration
give a set (small) amount to Tzedaka every day
Be careful not to say Loshon Hora for one hour per day
Take a toddler/baby for a walk or help play with the sibling while mummy is busy with the baby or other child(ren)
Do some shopping for the elderly in an old-age home or at their own home.
Visit the elderly or people in hospital to see if they need extra or special food
Making a loud bracha before and after eating/drinking for amen to be answered
Staying behind after minyan for 2 halachot from Mishna Berura
Setting aside 10 minutes a day to learn
Not talking during davening/kaddish – and if you have mastered this, don’t talk in shul at all
During Ashrei, concentrate on the verse “poteach et yadecha”
Spend 20-30 minutes less on the internet daily
Get off Facebook completely or at least partially
Go to a shiur or listen to an mp3 shiur at least once a week
Spend a set amount of extra (quality) time with your children
Make a Shabbat meal for a needy family
Help a friend or neighbor with their children
Get to shul five minutes early
Don’t leave davening at shul before Aleinu
Say “Asher yatzar” and “shema” at night from a Siddur
Learning 1 Shabbos halacha daily
Daven every day, “Please Ha-Shem, look after all your beloved children”
Give a pleasant (smiling) greeting to every person you meet in the day.
Offer to walk with an older person with mobility difficulties
Find time to learn with people who have learning difficulties
Start a chesed organization, or project, to help the community
Volunteer for Hatzola
Volunteer to help your local shul with security
Daven for someone who needs help during your amida
Don’t use your phone for 10 minutes after greeting your children from school
