A Taste of Shabbat: Food, Spirit, and Preparation with Purpose

Shabbat is one of the most beautiful and transformative gifts in the Torah. In fact, the Talmud (Beitzah 16a) explicitly calls Shabbat a gift from Hashem to the Jewish People:

“Hakadosh Baruch Hu* said to Moshe: Moshe, I have a great gift in My treasury, and Shabbat is its name, and I wish to give it to the Jewish People. Go and tell them!”

More than a day of rest, Shabbat is a time to connect with ourselves, our families, and most importantly, with Hashem. The Torah teaches not only to rest on Shabbat, but to honor it (kavod) and delight in it (oneg). That means preparing in advance, dressing with dignity, enjoying delicious meals, and making the day feel special in every way.

For someone new to Torah observance, this can feel overwhelming at first. But it doesn’t have to be; even small efforts can go a long way. This article, based on clear halachic (Torah law) guidance, presents simple, practical ways to bring joy and meaning into Shabbat.

The Torah Source for Oneg Shabbat – Delighting in the Day

The prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah) says: “You shall call the Shabbat a delight” (Yeshayahu 58:13). The Sages in the Talmud (Shabbat 118a) explain that anyone who truly delights in Shabbat is blessed in incredible ways: they receive “the desires of their heart,” a “boundless inheritance,” and even protection from exile. These are not just poetic phrases — they reflect the power of Shabbat to uplift a person’s life.

Some Torah authorities say that oneg Shabbat is a mitzvah directly from the Torah. Others suggest that the mitzvah is Rabbinic in origin. But either way, the message is clear: we are meant to make Shabbat enjoyable, and doing so connects us deeply to the day’s holiness.

Food, Drink, and Prioritizing Shabbat

You don’t have to eat expensive food to fulfill the mitzvah of oneg Shabbat. What matters most is that the meals feel different and more special than those during the rest of the week. The exact menu can reflect your own tastes and culture.

If someone can’t afford luxuries like meat or wine, that’s okay. The focus should be on doing the best you can within your means. The halachah encourages people to cut back on weekday spending in order to set something aside for Shabbat — but it also states that the local community is expected to help provide for Shabbat meals, certainly if someone can’t afford even the basics.

The Custom of Eating Fish

It’s a long-standing Jewish custom to eat fish on Shabbat, especially at the first and third meals. Like all other Jewish customs, this is rooted in the Torah’s teachings, many of them esoteric, and one doesn’t necessarily have to understand the deeper meaning in order to derive a spiritual benefit. But if you don’t like fish, there’s no need to force yourself to eat it.

(Note: Fish and meat are not eaten together in the same dish according to Torah teachings. Between fish and meat courses, one should eat and drink something. Ashkenazi Jews do not mix dairy with fish either, but Sephardim do.)

Kavod Shabbat – Honoring the Day in Advance

Kavod Shabbat means, among other things, honoring Shabbat by preparing in advance. That includes things like:

• Cleaning the house and creating a peaceful environment
• Showering or bathing before Shabbat begins
• Dressing in clean and special clothing
• Setting a nice table with a tablecloth and dishes

Preparing for Shabbat During the Week

To keep Friday calm and focused, it’s ideal to prepare during the week, especially when it comes to laundry and cooking. For example:

• Laundry: Traditionally, clothes for Shabbat are washed earlier in the week, preferably starting from Wednesday, to leave Friday free for final prep.
• Cooking: Some people bake their own challah (braided bread) at home on Fridays. Not only is this a time-worn custom, but it also allows the woman of the house to fulfill the mitzvah of hafrashat challah — separating a small portion of dough as an offering (now burned, rather than eaten, since there is no Temple).

To perform this mitzvah, you need to knead dough with at least 3 ½ pounds of flour.

Shabbat: A Day of Light and Connection

The mitzvot of oneg and kavod Shabbat help turn this weekly day of rest into a source of joy and blessing. Whether it’s lighting candles, savoring a homemade meal, or simply taking a moment to pause and reflect, each act brings us closer to the holiness of Shabbat.

Even if you’re only just beginning, you can make Shabbat your own. Start small. Add one new tradition at a time. Over time, the beauty of the day will begin to shine more and more clearly. Shabbat is truly a Divine gift, meant for every Jew, in every generation.

*Hakadosh Baruch Hu: “The Holy One, Blessed be He,” a common way of referring to Hashem