#177: Machshavah

The Gemara (Masechet Megilla) already alludes to the notion of singing praises to Hashem during the Shabbat meals (zemirot): “On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine” (Esther 1:10). The Gemara asks: Is that to say that until now his heart was not merry with wine? Rava said: The seventh day was Shabbat, when the difference between the Jewish people and the gentiles is most apparent. On Shabbat, when the Jewish people eat and drink, they begin by occupying themselves with words of Torah and words of praise for God. But the nations of the world, when they eat and drink, they begin only with words of licentiousness. (translation taken from the Steinsaltz Talmud, available on Sefaria)

The zemirot have great depth and refer to matters of halacha as well as more sublime issues of Jewish belief, and singing zemirot is of great significance. Here, we will mention one item that is very relevant to the current situation. The Apter Rebbe (Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heshel) writes that singing zemirot properly can protect us from harm: “The word zemirot comes from the term “cut of the tyrants” (zemir aritzim, from Yeshayahu 25:5). This means that through [singing] zemirot with awe, fear, and love, with truth and wholeheartedness, one can cut off all of those who antagonize and prosecute us and negate all of the judgments and all of the suffering from themselves and to sweeten them at their roots. Through this, all good will be bestowed upon them; amen, and let this be His will.” (Oheiv Yisrael, Parshat Chayei Sarah).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.