Shabbat-Table Talks: Parashat Ki Tissa

By Rabbi Ralph Tawil

[This week's Table Talks is dedicated in memory of Albert Shamah A"H by his wife Renee Shamah and family.]

Value: Shabbat (1 of 2): Making Shabbat special. The weekly Shabbat can be a cause of great spiritual uplifting at any level of the family. To ensure that this happens weekly, takes some planning and creativity by the family heads. Especially with younger children who first encounter the "do nots" of Shabbat, it is essential that Shabbat be made into a special time. The topic of Shabbat will be discussed in two parts. This week we will present the positive things that we can do to make Shabbat special. Next week we will present the things that we do to safeguard Shabbat’s uniqueness.

Begin the discussion: Does today have a special name? (Shabbat. If they answer Saturday point out the difference between the Hebrew name for the day, Shabbat—which means "rest" and the English name Saturday—Related to the astrological importance of the planet Saturn on that day.) [Method—asking easy questions at first is a great way to invite participation. If you see that your questions evoke only "the sound of silence," make the questions easy.]

What is special about today? (The family eats together, there is good food, time to talk about each other’s life.) [Method--These answers should be evoked from the children. If they cannot think of any answers, prompt them with hints. Remember, any answer that the children say by themselves is more likely to be remembered. Good teachers evoke most of the answers from their students. Give an answer only as a last resort.]

Torah Context and Text: Moshe Rabbenu is on Mount Sinai receiving the instructions for the construction of the portable sanctuary, the Mishkan, along with the rest of the Torah. After Hashem completed giving him all the detailed instructions Hashem commanded Moshe about the Shabbat. The Shabbat is more important than the construction of the Mishkan and it is to be kept regardless of the very important activity of the Mishkan’s construction. Holy time, originally sanctified by Hashem, overrides holy space, sanctified by Man.

Text: (Exodus 31:12-17) (Definitely read sections I. And III. If you have time read section II. as well.)

I. Now Hashem said to Moshe: And you, speak to the Children of Israel, saying: However: My Sabbaths you are to keep! For it is a sign between Me and you, throughout your generations, to know that I, Hashem, sanctify you.

II. You are to keep the Sabbath, for it is holiness for you, whoever profanes it is to be put-to-death, yes, death! For whoever makes work on it—that person is to be cut off from among his kinspeople. For six days is work to be made, but on the seventh day (is) Sabbath, Sabbath-Ceasing, holiness for Hashem, whoever makes work on the Sabbath day is to be put-to-death, yes, death!

III. The Children of Israel are to keep the Sabbath, to make the Sabbath-observance throughout their generations as a covenant for the ages; between Me and the Children of Israel a sign it is, for the ages, for in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He ceased and paused-for-breath. 

Analysis and discussion:

Shabbat is a "sign" and "a covenant for the ages." What is a covenant? We can speak of marriage as a kind of a covenant. Is there a sign of the marriage covenant? (the ketuba, the wedding band.) These things are special. The ketubba is framed, the wedding band cherished. Shabbat is the sign of the covenant between Israel and God. We should cherish it as well.

Things to do:

Making the Shabbat special--Doing something special or the Shabbat. There are many examples of different rabbis that did special things for Shabbat. Rambam (Hilchot Shabbat 29:6) summarized the Talmud in the following way:

Even though a person is very important, and it is not his practice to go to the market or to do housework, he must do things for Shabbat with his body—for that is its (the Shabbat’s) honor. Some of the early sages would chop kindling wood with which to cook, others would cook or salt meat. Others would twist (prepare) the wicks or light lamps. Others would buy special foods and drinks even though it was not his custom.

What can each one of us do to make the Shabbat special? (Some ideas: young children can help make the table beautiful by setting it up with the best silverware. They can bring an interesting thought or song to share with the people at the table. We can buy tasty foods or drinks. Maybe take the children shopping Thursday to buy a special Shabbat treat. This applies to the adults as well. If you enjoy good wine or other special food items, buy them for Shabbat. Let the children see you treating Shabbat in a special way.) Especially in houses where the housekeeper does a lot of the preparation work in the kitchen, it is important that the children should choose special things to do to prepare for the Shabbat.

The prophet greatly praises those who make the Shabbat enjoyable:

If you refrain from trampling the Sabbath, from pursuing your affairs on My holy day; If you call the Sabbath "delight," Hashem’s day "honored"; And if you honor it and go not your ways Nor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains—Then you can seek the favor of Hashem. I will set you astride the heights of the earth, and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob—For the mouth of Hashem has spoken. (Isaiah 58:13-14; This portion is recited in the Kiddush of Shabbat lunch.) 

[If you would like to dedicate Shabbat Table Talks in honor or in memory of a loved one, or to subscribe to Shabbat Table Talks, send an email to ebenun@aol.com.]

Shabbat Table Talks is a publication of the Sephardic Orthodox Union