(Paiting by Dora Holzhandler)
Inyanei Shabbos, Part I
Compiled
and annotated by Dovid Sears and Dovid Zeitlin (work in progress). We are
grateful to Rabbi Dovid Shapiro for his ongoing contribution to this project.
This
collection of minhagim includes many personal minhagim of Rabbi
Gedaliah Aharon Kenig, zal, founder of the Tsfas Breslov community, and
those of his son Reb Elazar Mordechai Kenig, shlit”a, the community’s
mara d’asra today. Other Breslov leaders may differ in their personal minhagim.
Those minhagim that do not come from the Rebbe or Reb Noson should not
be taken as obligatory, but only as good practices for those who wish to follow
them.
Erev
Shabbos
On
Thursday night, many Breslover Chassidim (among other Chassidim and anshey
ma’aseh) are accustomed to learn the commentary of the Ohr ha-Chaim
ha-Kadosh. Reb Elazar Kenig is particular to finish the Ohr ha-Chaim
on the sedra every week. if he cannot complete it on Thursday night, he
usually does so during the course of Shabbos. He once remarked: “The Ohr
ha-Chaim ha-Kadosh had enlightened eyes (lechigeh oigen) to perceive
what the Torah wants us to know…” Reb Elazar strongly encourages his
talmidim to learn Ohr ha-Chaim every week.
(See Imrei
Pinchos [Bnei Brak 2003] vol. II, Sha’ar ha-Torah 13-15, where
Rabbi Pinchos of Koretz states that studying the Ohr ha-Chaim ha-Kadosh benefits
the soul like studying the holy Zohar.)
*
The
Rebbe urged his followers to recite the weekly sedra sh’nayim mikra ve-echad
targum on Erev Shabbos specifically. According to one source (although see
note below), the Arizal used to do so after chatzos ha-yom (noon ). There is an oral tradition
that during his later years, Reb Noson would review the sedra on Erev
Shabbos in the morning, soon after Shacharis. When questioned about
this, he replied, “Sometimes we can’t do everything like the Arizal.”
(Si’ach
Sarfei Kodesh I, 11; II, 535. Reviewing the weekly sedra is
mentioned as a hachanah for Shabbos in Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chaim
285. Re. the custom of the Arizal, see Pri Eitz Chaim, Sha’ar Shabbos
3, in the name of “chaveirim,” i.e., disciples of the Arizal other
than Rabbi Chaim Vital, that he did so after chatzos. Thus, Kitzur
Shulchan Arukh, Hilkhos Shabbos 72:11, states that reviewing the sedra
after chatzos ha-yom is the “mitzvah min ha-muvchar.” However, in
Sha’ar Hanhagos ha-Limud and Sha’ar ha-Kavannos, Inyan Leyl Shishi, Rabbi
Chaim Vital explicitly states that the Arizal used to review the sedra
in Erev Shabbos in the morning after Shacharis; also cf. Sha’arei
Teshuvah, Orach Chaim 285.)
*
The
Rebbe and Reb Noson mention that on Erev Shabbos one should also be diligent to
cut one’s fingernails and dispose of them in an appropriate manner. (Optimally this
should be done by burning them, or if that is too difficult, by burying them or
washing them down the sink.) Kabbalistically, these practices are related to
the tikkun of the klippas nogah (“glowing husk,” in which good
and evil are commingled).
(Likutey
Moharan I, 19:5; Likutey Tefillos 19; cf. Shulchan Arukh, Orach
Chaim 260:1; Rabbi Chaim Vital, Sha’ar ha-Kavannos, Inyan Rechitzas
Panav, 64d.)
*
Some
cut their fingernails from left to right, skipping every other finger. One
begins with the right hand, in the order 2-4-1-3-5 (although some begin with
the thumb, in the order 1-3-5-2-4). Then one cuts the nails of the left hand
from left to right, in the reverse order 4-2-5-3-1. It is customary to avoid
cutting the nails of two fingers next to each other because this is how one
cuts the fingernails of a niftar prior to the taharah (ritual
washing).
(See
Abudarham, Hilchos Berakhos, end. However, the Arizal rejected
this minhag; see Sha’ar ha-Kavannos, Inyan Rechitzas Panav, 64d.
The TaSHBaTZ, cited by the TaZ, Orach Chaim 260, s.k. 2, and Magen
Avraham, s.k. 1, states that the MaHaRaM of Rottenburg was not particular
about this method of cutting the fingernails, either. Rabbi Yosef Karo’s
angelic mentor instructed him not to cut his fingernails and toenails on the
same day; see Maggid Mesharim [Jerusalem
*
After
chatzos ha-yom, one should wash one’s entire body in hot water and
immerse in a mikveh in honor of the Shabbos. After immersing in the mikveh,
one should don Shabbos clothes. Reb Noson mentions these preparations in Likutey
Tefillos.
(Shulchan
Arukh, Orach Chaim 260:1; Rabbi Chaim Vital, Sha’ar ha-Kavannos, Inyan
Leyl Shishi [61d]; ibid., Inyan Tevilas Erev Shabbos [62a], citing Zohar,
Terumah 136b; Likutey Tefillos I, 19, 96, et al.)
*
In
Reb Gedaliah Kenig’s home, it was customary to light the Shabbos lights with
olive oil, not wax or paraffin candles. This is a common minhag in Eretz
Yisrael, particularly in Yerushalayim. Many Sefardim and Chassidim outside of
Yerushalayim do so, as well. (This is because olive oil was used for the
Menorah in the Beis ha-Mikdash, and according to the kabbalists, the
Shabbos lights commemorate those of the Menorah.)
*
Reb Gedaliah
stated that one should light many neiros in honor of Shabbos. Reb Elazar’s
wife lights two lights for “shamor ve-zakhor,” plus one light for each
their children, and a separate bowl of olive oil containing many wicks. Some old
Yerushalayimer families light ten small glass bowls of oil placed in a special
wire chandelier suspended over the dining table. Reb Gedaliah also told his talmidim
that lighting many neiros in honor of Shabbos would be a source of berakhah
for their children.
(Heard from
Rabbi Dovid Shapiro)
*
When
various tragedies befell our people, rachamana litzlan, Reb Gedaliah
would ask his talmidim to light an extra candle in honor of Shabbos. His
son, Reb Yitzchak, remembered that when the matzevah of Reb Avraham
Sternhartz, zatzal, was defaced, Reb Gedaliah also told everyone to add
an extra Shabbos candle as a tikkun for this zilzul chakhomim.
*
The time
when one fixes the wicks for the Shabbos candles is an es ratzon, a time
of divine favor. Therefore, while doing so many men pray for their families and
for Klal Yisrael. Rabbi Mordekhai Elazar Rubenstein composed a certain prayer
that he used to sing while setting up the Shabbos lights.
(Heard from
Rabbi Yehoshua Ber Rubenstein)
*
Rabbi
Levi Yitzchak Bender said in the name of Reb Noson that it Breslover women should
pray immediately after reciting the blessing over the Shabbos candles: “Just
like this, so may the light of our holy Rebbe shine in all the worlds!” In
Yiddish: “Azot zohl der heiligeh Rebbe’s ohr liekhten in alleh olamos!”
(Si’ach
Sarfei Kodesh II, 631)
*
Alternatively,
Maryasha, the wife of Reb Noson Sternhartz of Yerushalayim (son of Reb Avraham
Sternhartz), used to say: “Yehi ratzon az der heiligeh Rebbe’s licht zohl
leikhten oif der gantzeh velt . . . May it be HaShem’s will that the light
of our holy Rebbe should light up the entire world!” In 1967, when she was
approximately ninety years old, Maryasha told Rabbi Eliezer Berland and Rabbi
Aharon Berlin
(Heard from
Rabbi Aharon Berlin
*
Maryasha
Sternhartz was the daughter of Reb Mottel Shochet of Uman, son-in-law of Reb
Noson’s son, Reb Nachman; and her mother was Esther Sheindel, daughter of Reb
Noson’s only daughter, Chanah Tzirel. Thus, she was a descendant of Reb Noson
from every side of her family. Maryasha’s daughter Rivkah was married to Rabbi
Michel Dorfman.
(Heard from
Rabbi Avraham Shimon Burshteyn)
*
Reb
Noson Sternhartz of Yerushalayim, who was a descendant of Reb Noson from two
sides of his family, used to boast, “My wife’s yichus is much greater
than mine!”
(Heard from
Rabbi Aharon Berlin
*
Rabbi
Mordekhai Elazar Rubenstein of Yerushalayim used to sing a variation of this tefillah
to a niggun of his own invention when he prepared the Shabbos candles
for his wife. The lyrics were: “Ribbono shel olam, helf –- der ohr fun
Shabbos, der ohr fun teshuvah, der ohr fun heiligen Rebb’n, zohl arein leichten
in mir, un in alleh kinder, un in gantz Klal Yisrael . . . Master of the
Universe, help: may the light of Shabbos, the light of teshuvah, the
light of the holy Rebbe shine into me, and into all of my children, and into
the entire Jewish people…”
(Heard from
Rabbi Yehoshua Ber Rubenstein, who stated that his father used to invent niggunim
for all of his ‘avodahs, including the daily prayer services and Tikkun
Chatzos. Thus, he would sing the words of Torah and tefillah with
fervent emotion for many hours, both day and night.)
Shabbos
Foods
Reb
Noson Sternhartz, son of Reb Avraham, once related the following anecdote to
Rabbi Moshe Bienenstock: His grandmother Chanah Tzirel said that her father,
Reb Noson, once entered their little kitchen on Friday, while the women were
preparing food for Shabbos. He told them: “You should know that the cooking you
do in honor of the Shabbos is comparable to the work that the Kohanim performed
to prepare the korbonos in the Beis ha-Mikdosh!”
(Heard from
Rabbi Moshe Bienenstock)
Shabbos
Clothes
Reb
Gedaliah was particular about the custom of the Arizal to refrain from
wearing black garments on Shabbos. Therefore, his sons, many of his talmidim,
and most members of the Tzefas community wear golden caftans, which is the minhag
Yerushalayim; or at shaloshudes (as well as when visiting chutz la’aretz),
they wear tisch bekitchehs embroidered with blue, etc.
(Rabbi
Yosef Chaim of Baghdad
*
Nevertheless, Reb Gedaliah did not tell people to change their levush.
Therefore, some talmidim did not emulate their teacher’s mode of dress,
but merely avoided wearing black clothing on Shabbos. This was particularly
true of his talmidim in America America
(Heard from Rabbi Dovid Shapiro)
*
In
former times, most Breslover Chassidim did not wear a shtreimel on
Shabbos, probably because of poverty rather than any shittah not to do
so. (Reb Noson writes to one of his sons that he plans to buy him a “good shtreimel
and a new hat” for his chasunah, even though Reb Noson himself wore
only a hat on Shabbos). Another likely reason is that during the 19th
century, the Russian government imposed restrictions on Jewish garb, including
who was permitted to wear a shtreimel. However, today most Breslover
Chassidim wear shtreimlach.
(Re.
Reb Noson’s letter, see Alim le-Terufah [Toras Ha-Netzach ed. 2000] no.
402)
*
Reb
Gedaliah was very strict with himself concerning Shabbos clothes, which are an
expression of honoring the Shabbos. Once he was caught in the rain on Shabbos
but would not remove his shtreimel, even though he was a poor man and
the costly shtreimel would be damaged by the rain.
(Heard
from Rabbi Chaim Man.
*
It is
a widespread Chassidic custom to wear a zhvulkeh (also called a
resh-zhvulkeh), a black satin dress coat, over one’s bekitcheh on
Friday night. In Yerushalayim, many Chassidim wear a djebey, a brown
satin outer garment, over their golden caftans. Reb Elazar’s custom,
which many members of the Tzefas community also follow, is to wear a golden caftan
with a long, dark blue suit jacket (rekel), draped over his shoulders.
Many Galitzianer and Hungarian Rebbes wear a talis on Friday night
(although this was not common practice among Russian Chassidim). All of these
customs seem to be variations on the concept that on Shabbos one receives an
extra spiritual garment, or “ohr makif.”
(See Siddur
ARI/Rav Shabsai, Kavannos Kabbalas Shabbos; Darkei Chaim vi-Shalom
[Munkatch] 368; Divrei Torah I, 59; et al.)
*
Reb Gedaliah
wore a gray rekel over his caftan on Shabbos. Reb Dovid Shapiro
mentioned that this was once a common custom in Yerushalayim. Certain
Sefardic mekubalim still wear gray on Shabbos, too.
(Heard from
Rabbi Dovid Shapiro. Cf. Chayei Moharan 525, that the Rebbe once wore a
gray zhibitzel, another type of outer garment.)
*
However,
the main point is not to wear black clothing, including one’s outer garment.
According to the minhag Yerushalayim, the only times when this is proper
is at one’s chasunah and on Yom Kippur, when one wears a black rekel
and a kittel or white caftan (see “Chasunah” in Part I and “Yom
Kippur” below).
(Heard from
Rabbi Yitzchak Kenig)
*
Reb
Gedaliah wore his outer garment draped over his right shoulder, with the left
arm uncovered, both by night and by day. This Yerushalayimer minhag is
an expression of kavod toward the Tefillin, which we do not wear on Shabbos.
Some drape the outer garment over both shoulders (since the sleeves are usually
not wide enough to be worn in the usual manner).
(Heard from
Rabbi Yitzchak Kenig)
*
As an
expression of kavod Shabbos, Chassidim in general do not remove their
jackets at the Shabbos table. Reb Elazar Kenig does not remove his shtreimel,
either. However, Reb Elazar has told his talmidim that this is a hiddur
that one need not take on until he feels ready to do so.
*
Reb
Gedaliah wore his light-colored Shabbos caftan all day long, including
at the Shaloshudes meal.
*
Most
Breslover women in Yerushalayim and Tsfas wear colored kerchiefs (tichlach)
both during the week and on Shabbos. However, some Sefardic Breslover women
wear white kerchiefs in honor of the Shabbos. (So do women in certain
Hungarian Chassidic communities, such as Toldos Aharon in Yerushalayim.)
Eruv
Reb
Gedaliah was usually lenient about carrying within a public eruv. This
evidently reflected his strong belief in heeding the local Beis Din, as
well as in both the practical and spiritual advantages of eiruvin. This
was also the prevailing attitude toward eiruvin in Yerushalayim,
where Reb Gedaliah lived.
The
Rebbe was not machmir about Jews saving their property on Shabbos during
a fire, Hashem yishmor, and allowed them to retrieve whatever they could
according to the lenient opinions mentioned in Shulchan Arukh and
Poskim.
(Chayei
Moharan 547. These leniencies and their applications are found in Shulchan
Arukh, Orach Chaim 334:1-2; Be’er ha-Golah, ad loc., citing Tosefos
and Tur, et al.)
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