Bo’ee Kallah, Bo’ee Kallah - Welcome, Shabbos Queen! part 2

לזכר נשמות מורינו ר׳ צבי הערש בן ר׳ ניסן חיים מורינו ר׳ ישעי בן ר׳ משה ר׳ יעקב בן ר׳ שמואל יוסף מ׳ חוה רבקה בת ר׳ שמעון ריעדער

Based on Nefesh Shimshon by Rav Shimshon Pincus, zt”l

Recap

Last week we discussed how bringing Shabbos into our homes means bringing in the Shechinah itself. We learned that the halachos of Kabbalas Shabbos mirror the halachos from Kabbalas HaTorah.

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There are two types of mitzvos: Type One is acting upon a commandment from Hashem. Type Two, on the other hand, is the mitzvah to actually feel Hashem’s presence, to greet and receive

Him.

Shabbos Kodesh is a Type Two mitzvah. The main purpose of Shabbos is to develop an actual relationship with Hashem Himself. Bo’ee Kallah…. We are greeting the Kallah… Shabbos and the Shechinah.

Imagine a man so busy that the Seder night comes and he has to run around to his neighbors, asking to borrow matzos.

“I was too busy, I forgot to buy,” he tells them.

How embarrassing for him! But at least he hasn’t insulted anyone.

Now imagine a man so busy that when his parents come to visit him, he doesn’t have time to pick them up from the airport. They wait for him before hailing a taxi on their own. They then arrive at his home to find no one in sight.

“Hello?” they call out, confused.

A voice answers, “Hello, we’re too busy to greet you right now. Sit down, relax, and we’ll see you at Friday night dinner.”

How much more embarrassing for him! And how terrible that he has insulted his parents.

When parents arrive for a visit, we usually reach in for a hug and a kiss; the warmest welcome imaginable.

When Shabbos Kodesh knocks, imagine us saying, “We’re not ready, please wait for us.”

In many homes, these hours where Shabbos begins are aimless, with children wandering to neighbors, and women falling asleep on the couch.

That’s no way to greet the Shechinah!

Some recite Shir Hashirim as Shabbos begins. It reads: May He kiss me with His Kisses.

That is how we greet Shabbos, how we greet Hashem. We reach out for a kiss, as we would our visiting parents.

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Let’s Reflect:

How can we make the start of Shabbos feel as special as it is?

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