Emor

The parsha mentions the words מקרא קדש by Shabbos and the Moadim. Rashi explains this means for us to make the days kadosh with clean clothing, good food and drink, and tefillah, and on Yom Kippur with just clean clothing and tefillah.

The Mishna Berurah brings in hilchos Shabbos that some are of the opinion that the mitzvah of oneg Shabbos is d’oraisah and it is included in מקרא שבת, as it states in our parsha “וביום השביעי שבת שבתון מקרא קדש.” The Sifra explains that this means to make the day holy by wearing clean clothes, and to make the day enjoyable with good food and drink. The Sha’arei Tzion brings that others hold that it is only d’rabanan, but still, one needs to be more careful to keep d’rabanan’s because they are in a way more chamur than d’oraisah’s.

Chazal write that one who is מענג שבת will get extraordinary reward. He will receive unlimited boundaries of inheritance like we sing in zemiros בלי מצרים נחלה. He will be saved from שעבוד מלכיות and he will merit riches. The Chofetz Chaim in Shaim Olem writes further, if one is shomer Shabbos, then Hashem considers it as though he kept all of the mitzvos. Such a person can declare a decree and Hashem will fulfill it. A person gets credit from the fruits of the mitzva, while the principle will remain for Olam Haba. Also, if one is shomer Shabbos properly, then even if he did an aveirah like the generation of Enosh, Hashem will forgive him!

Mesilas Yesharim brings in chassidus that one who does a lot of preparation for oneg Shabbos definitely makes a נחת רות לבוראו. He explains that anything which has chashivus for Shabbos is something to do for Shabbos. Rav Nachaman would carry things and say, “If Rav Ami and Rav Asi would come to my house, would I not carry things for them?” Rav Nachman would think of what he would do for an important person to honor, and that is what he would do for Shabbos!

May Hashem help us be mekadesh the Shabbos and Yom Tov and merit the special berachos that Hashem promises!