From Obligation to Joy: Transforming Shabbat Prep Into a Spiritual Experience

The Power of Small Acts: Honoring Shabbat

“Preparing for Shabbat is not just a physical task. It’s an act of kavod (honor) for the day itself,” says Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Beifus, author of the Lekach Tov book series, in a special conversation with the organization Shmura B'Mabul.

He quotes the late Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman in the name of the Chafetz Chaim: “It’s impossible to measure the spiritual reward for every small act done to honor Shabbat.” A striking example appears in the Talmud (Shabbat 33b): When Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son left their cave after 12 years, they were shocked to see people engaged in mundane work. Wherever they looked, destruction followed. A heavenly voice rebuked them and sent them back into the cave. When they emerged a second time, they encountered an elderly man running with two myrtle branches in his hands. When asked why he needed both, he replied, “One is for ‘zachor’ ('remember the Sabbath') and one for ‘shamor’ ('keep the Sabbath').” Rabbi Shimon turned to his son and said, “See how beloved the mitzvot (commandments) are to the Jewish people,” and his spirit was calmed.

“This simple act,” explains Rabbi Beifus, “moved one of the greatest sages in Jewish history. That’s the power of honoring Shabbat—even in small ways.”

Wealth, Reward, and the Golden Table: Shabbat as a Source of Blessing

Rabbi Beifus cites a passage from the Talmud (Shabbat 119a) in which Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi asks Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yossi why the wealthy in various regions merit their riches. In Israel, it's due to tithing. In Babylon, honoring Torah. And elsewhere? Because they honor Shabbat.

He recounts the story of Rabbi Chiyya visiting a wealthy host in Lodkia. The man presented him with an opulent golden table carried by sixteen attendants and laden with delicacies. When Rabbi Chiyya asked how he merited such wealth, the man explained: “I was a butcher. Whenever I saw a fine animal, I would say, ‘This one is for Shabbat.’” Rabbi Chiyya responded, “Fortunate are you! Blessed is Hashem who granted you this merit.”

Rabbi Beifus emphasizes: “When we increase our devotion to Shabbat, even by accepting it early, we are rewarded, both in this world and the next. According to the Chafetz Chaim, even beginning to prepare for Shabbat on Friday morning exempts a person from the punishments of Gehinnom on that day. That’s the spiritual power of Shabbat preparation.”

When Preparation Becomes Joy: A Shift in Perspective

“Like all avodat Hashem (service of God), preparing for Shabbat isn’t always easy,” says Rabbi Beifus. “It can feel like a burden, especially in large families or when guests are expected. But the atmosphere of preparation is key. Are we trying to enhance the experience by cooking tastier food, making the house cleaner, and adding joy? Or are we just going through the motions?”

He stresses that children internalize our approach. “The sweetness of Shabbat begins with our attitude. When we approach it with enthusiasm, that energy is contagious. It becomes part of our children’s inner world.”

Rabbi Beifus shares an insight from the late Rabbi Velvel Eidelman, who reflected on the story of Sarah and Hagar in Lech Lecha. Why did Hagar, initially so willing to serve Sarah, eventually flee? Not necessarily because of harsh labor, but because her perspective changed. “The minute her esteem for Sarah dropped, even easy tasks began to feel heavy.”

The same principle applies to Shabbat. “If we value it deeply, preparation becomes easier, even joyful. But if we see it as a chore, it feels like one.”

The solution, he says, is perspective: “If we see Shabbat as a Divine gift and a taste of the World to Come then every moment of preparation becomes meaningful. We uplift ourselves and those around us.”

Rabbi Beifus concludes: “When you prepare for Shabbat with joy, you don’t just get through the week; you elevate it. May we all merit to honor Shabbat properly."