לזכר נשמות לאה שושנה בת אהרן ריעדער 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

A Kohein was required to wash his hands and feet in the kiyor before beginning his avodah. If he didn’t, his service was invalid.

However, there were two levels: the basic requirement of washing, and an additional requirement instituted by Chazal that the kohein should immerse in a mikvah. There is a similar mitzvah regarding Shabbos.

The halachah states that it’s a mitzvah to bathe ones whole body, and if one cannot do so, they should wash their face, hands and feet in hot water Erev Shabbos. As we know, many people have the custom to immerse in a mikvah Erev Shabbos.

The Table

In the Beis Hamikdash, the lechem hapanim rested on a golden Shulchan. Today, we have our Shabbos table.

Torah sources describe spiritual specifications for the Shabbos table, how it should be positioned, and where it should be located. This is due to its parallel to the Shulchan in the Beis Hamikdash.

What do we do while sitting around our table? We sing zemiros. These are more than just songs, the singing itself is a form of avodas Hashem. It’s like the singing of the Leviim in the Beis Hamikdash.

It’s customary to place roses (shoshanim) on the Shabbos table, perhaps for their pleasant fragrance.

“Just as the rose is prepared for Shabbos and Yom Tov, so is Yisrael.”

Rav Shimshon zt"zl tells over how he once went to the flower shop to purchase roses for Shabbos.

The clerk asked him how many he wanted.

He was stumped.

A chassan buys a dozen for his kallah.

So how many does one need for Shabbos, the day of Hashem? Should he buy 24?

In the end, he bought three. Because no matter the amount, it will never be enough to fully honor Hakadosh Baruch Hu and His Shechinah.

“Three,” he said, “are like the three avos. But the main thing is to realize Who you are buying those flowers for. Remember: This is Hashem’s House, Hashem’s seudah, and it is His table.”

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Let’s Reflect:

Now that we learned the spiritual connotation of Shabbos flowers, how can we elevate our weekly tablescapes? Is it only about beauty and aesthetics? Or can we elevate this small but pleasant task — buying Shabbos flowers — into something so much more, a symbol of Hashem and His day. And for those of us who leave flowers as a last minute, “it would be nice, let’s see,” perhaps we can prioritize this. After all, Shabbos only comes once a week!

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