מכתף ועיל מכתף ונפקCarrying In for Shabbat

mekhattef ve-'ayil mekhattef ve-nafikIn Gamatria ↗

Prepare for Shabbat as you would for an honored guest.

The manner of piety rests on two pillars, fear and love. True fear is awe of God's exaltation: know before whom you pray. Three reflections lead there: that one stands before the Creator though the eye cannot see Him, how far He is above all praise, and how low a person is. Then the body follows, as Rava prayed like a servant before his master. From awe comes honor. 'This is my God and I will adorn Him': a fine tallit, fine tefillin, a fine scroll. So too Shabbat. The Talmud (Shabbat 119a) lists sages preparing it, one salting fish, one lighting the lamp, and Rav Naḥman carrying things in and out, saying he would do the same if Rabbi Ammi and Rabbi Assi came to visit. He asked how he would honor a guest, and did that for Shabbat.

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