RABBI AARON Editor, Torah Tidbits GOLDSCHEIDER
Unraveling an Unusual Shabbat Custom
M
ystics illustrate the sanctity of Shabbat by comparing it to one entering the Beit Hamikdash, the holy Temple. The uniqueness of Shabbat though, is that one does not enter a physical edifice - one enters ‘a Temple in time.’ An allusion to this majestic notion can be found in the final pasuk in our parsha: “You shall keep My Sabbaths and fear My Sanctuary, I am the Lord” (Vayikra 26:2). This parallelism can be understood in the following way: The purpose of both the Temple and the Shabbat is to engage in the experience of meeting the Shechina. The Temple is God’s house, where we visit Him to commune with Him. The Shabbat is God’s day when we rendezvous and feel His closeness. The Chassidic Masters understood that this meeting with the Creator is experienced differently throughout Shabbat. Each part of the day has its own 44
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unique atmosphere and mood. The night is different from the morning, the late afternoon is different from the day time. And in particular, as the day ebbs away, during Seudah Shlishit, the third meal, a unique feeling of closeness can be sensed. With these notions in mind we can appreciate an intriguing practice of Chabad chassidim. Jewish law states that there is an obligation to eat three meals on Shabbat (Rambam, Shabbat 30:9; Shulchan Aruch. OC 291). The sages derive this law form the three-fold occurance of the word ‘hayom’ (today) in Shemot 16:25: “Moshe said, eat it today, for today it is Shabbat for Hashem; today you will not find it [manna] in the field.” However, Chabad chassidim follow a seemingly puzzling practice: They refrain from eating a full meal with challah for the third meal, and suffice with just tasting some food. How did they adopt a custom that ostensibly is contrary to the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch? The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson zt”l (1902-1994) addressed this question in a discourse to his disciples (Likutei Sichot, Beshalach bet, אחש"פ תשל"ט, משיחות ש"פ בלק תשמ"ז.)
