Shabbos Stories

1. Rebetzin Ruchama Shain recalled the following story. It was on August ’16, 1939, that Papa and Mama began their voyage to Eretz Yisrael. They were scheduled to dock at Haifa port on Wednesday, August 30. Arrangements were made for Papa and Mama to stay in Haifa for a few days at the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Alfa, where Avremal was boarding. In mid-route, the captain received orders to sail in a circuitous route in case the waters of the Mediterranean Sea had been mined because of the impending war. And so, instead of arriving on Wednesday as scheduled, the boat docked on Friday, September 7, one hour before sunset. A few hours before that, World War II had erupted with the German invasion of Poland. From the loudspeakers came the announcement that passengers were to debark immediately. All the baggage from the hold of the ship would be unloaded onto the pier, and the passengers would be responsible for having it removed as quickly as possible. Pandemonium reigned. Papa and Mama were terribly upset. It would soon be Shabbos! How could they take care of their baggage when they would have to leave the port immediately in order to get to Rabbi Alfa’s house in time for Shabbos? Papa grabbed the suitcase that contained his sefer Torah and his tallis and tefillin, and Mama took only her pocketbook. They edged their way through the pier and asked to be shown to the head customs officer. A tall English officer listened as Papa explained to him, ”l cannot deal with our baggage now. I have never desecrated the Sabbath in my life. To arrive in the Holy Land and desecrate it here is impossible!” Tears rolled down Papa’s cheeks. The officer answered curtly, “Rabbi, this is war you must make allowances.” “Just stamp our passports and let us through.’ We’ll pick up our baggage after the Sabbath,” Papa pleaded. “That will not be possible. We are removing all the baggage from the ship and leaving it on the pier.” “I don’t care about our baggage! Please, just stamp our passports so we can leave.” The officer looked at Papa quizzically_ “How much baggage do you have?” “Sixteen crates in the hold and nine suitcases in our cabin.” “What?! Do you realize that once you leave here, your baggage will be on the pier with no one responsible for it? By tomorrow night, I assure you, you will not find a shred of your belongings. The Arabs will have stolen them all,” the officer said emphatically. “I have no alternative. It’s almost time for the Sabbath, and we cannot travel on the Sabbath. Please, please, just clear our passports and let us go,” Papa’s voice rose in desperation. The officer, incredulous, called to another English officer, “Stamp their passports and let them through. This rabbi is willing to lose all his belongings in order to get to where he’s going in time for their Sabbath.” The second officer stared at Papa in amazement, as he stamped their passports and cleared their papers. Papa, clutching the suitcase with his sefer Torah, and Mama, holding on to her pocketbook, grabbed a taxi and arrived at Rabbi Alfa’s house just in time for Mama to light the Shabbos candles. That entire Shabbos, Papa was spiritually elated. Over and over again he repeated to Mama, “The Boss does everything for me. What could I ever do for Him? Now at last I have the zechus to give all for the Boss for His mitzvah of Shabbos and to be mekaddesh Hashem.” For Mama it was difficult to share his elation fully. She was physically exhausted and bereft emotionally. The loneliness for her children weighed heavily on her mind and heart. The additional loss of all her worldly possessions was not an easy pill to swallow. But Mama did not complain, and being with Avremal comforted her. Saturday night, after Papa had waited the seventy-two minutes after sunset to say his evening prayers and then make havdala, Rabbi Alia suggested to him, “Let’ s go to the port. Maybe some of your crates are still there.” Papa and Mama did not share his optimism, but they went along with him. It was pitch dark at the port. However, they spied a little light at the far end of the pier. As they neared the lighted area, a clipped English voice rang out, “Who goes there?” ‘ Papa called out, “Some passengers from the boat that docked late yesterday afternoon.” The English guard approached them. “What is your name?” he asked tersely. “Jacob J. Herman,” Papa answered. “Well, well, Rabbi, it’ s about time you put in your appearance. l was assured that you would be here the minute the sun set. You are a little late. I have been responsible for your baggage for more than twenty-four hours. My commanding officer said he would have my head if any of your baggage was missing. Kindly check to see that all is in order and sign these papers. Please remove it all as quickly as possible I am exhausted!” (All for the Boss)      (shabbos, mesiras nefesh)

2. On Friday, April 27 (14 Iyar), 1945, a strange event took place, which was afterwards referred to as the “false liberation.” When the train made a stop in a small village, some SS officers burst into the railcars and announced, “You are free!”With dramatic gestures, they tore their Wehrmacht emblems off their uniforms. Many of the prisoners believed the announcement and hurriedly got off the train, running in every direction to look for food and other necessities. The Klausenberger Rebbe, however, immediately turned to the people around him and asked, “Today is erev, Shabbos, where will we go?” In the same breath he whispered, “My heart tells me that not everything here is as it should be.” He suggested that all remain for the moment in the cars. Only some of the men took his advice. Suddenly and without warning, SS troops on bicycles appeared from all directions, machine guns in their hands, firing everywhere and killing hundreds. At the same time, American airplanes began dropping bombs everywhere, killing many innocent people. Only the Rebbe and those who stayed with him on the train because of Shabbos remained alive and uninjured. Then it was quiet. The shooting stopped. Darkness fell. Shabbos came. The men in the railcars were stunned by the day’s events, bewildered and confused. Only the Rebbe was able to think clearly. He had one and only one concern at that moment: How could he fulfill the mitzvah of eating the Shabbos meals? (The Klausenberger Rebbe) (shabbos)

3. Reb Yakov Kamenetzky liked to tell the famous story of the Chatetz Chaim’s rebbe Reb Nachumke of Horodna and the Chanukah candles to show the necessity of always considering one’s spouse’s feelings. One year the Chaletz Chaim was visiting his rebbe during Chanukah. When the time arrived for lighting the candles, Reb Nachumke acted as if he was totally unaware that it was time to perform the mitzvah. As two, then three hours passed, and his rebbe had still not lit the candles, the Chaletz Chaim’s wonderment only increased. Finally, a knock was heard at the door, and Reb Nachumke’s wife entered. Immediately, Reb Nachumke made the berschah and lit the Chanukah candles. At that point, the Chafetz Chaim could no longer contain his curiosity, and he asked Reb Nachumke to explain his delay. lleb Nachumke responded. ‘The Gemara in Shabbos (23b) rules that Shabboa candles take priority over Chanukah candles, if one has only enough money for one or the other because they bring peace to the house .l knew my wife would be hurt if she returned home and saw that l had lit without her. Since Shalom Bayis takes precedence to Chanukah candles, l waited for her.’ (Reb Yaakov) (shalom bayis, shabbos candles, chanuka)

4. While Shabbos is primarily a spiritual day it is customary to serve delicious meals and use one’s finest dinnerware. Someone asked the Baal Shem Tov whether it was not inconsistent to indulge in gustatory delights on a day that is “meant to bet spiritual. “ Not at all, ” the Baal Shem -Tov said. “There was once a king who had to exile his son for behav- ior unbecoming a prince. The remorseful son lived in r anguish, longing to return to the royal palace. ‘ “After a period of time, the prince received a message from his father that he was now welcome to return home. The prince’s joy was boundless, and he wished to cele- brate in song and dance. He knew, however, that people would think him insane if he abruptly began to sing and dance. He therefore threw a party with abundant food and drink. When the guests were in high spirits, they began to sing and dance, and this gave the prince the opportunity to sing and dance without appearing ostentatious. “Everyone was dancing, but for different reasons. The guests were happy with drink, whereas the prince, who was sober, was rejoicing, because he was to return to the  palace. ‘ ‘ “So it is with the Shabbos. The neshamah wishes to exalt in spiritual delights, but it is trapped within a phys- ical body, which may inhibit the neshamah’s aspira- tions. We therefore give the body some physical plea- sures, so that it may be happy with its gratification, leaving the neshamah uninhibited in its quest to reach spiritual heights. V “lt is, of course, a serious mistake if one thinks that all there is to Shabbos is the food and relaxation. This must be properly understood as only a way to facilitate the spiritu- al adventures of Shabbos. ”    (Not Just Stories By Rabbi Dr. Avraham Twersky) (oneg shabbos)

5. When Rabbi Avrohom Tannenbaum ate at Rav Tendler’s house one Friday night, he saw that Rav Tendler first cut the smaller challah. It was pointed out that the halachah is to cut the larger one, which is considered more chashuv. “The small one was made by my wife, ” Rav Tendler responded. “It is therefore more chashuv to me.”  I Am Your Servant, By Rabbi Akiva Tendler, Published By Artscroll Mesorah  page 411 (love wife, Shabbos)

6. In a shmuess, Rav Pam related “the following: There is a dispute among poskim (halachic authorities) as to which a comes first on Motza’ei Shabbos of Chanukah: Havdalah or the kindling of the menorah. Rav ‘ _ Pam followed the opinion that the kindling of the menorah is first. When his oldest child, Aharon, was five years old, he was given his own Chanukah menorah to light. On Motza’ei Shabbos, when Aharon saw his father preparing to kindle his menorah before Havdalah, he blurted out, “I don’t care What ‘you. do, I’m not lighting my menorah before Havdalah!” Rather than become incensed at his child’s apparent brazenness, Rav Pam perceived What was troubling him: he could not comprehend how one can strike a match and kindle a flame before reciting Havdalah over a cup of Wine. Wasn’t it still Shabbos?3 Rav Pam was concerned that no matter how well he would explain his actions, his son would be left with a lessened appreciation for the severity of chillul (desecration of) Shabbos. With this in mind, he told his son, “From now on, we will do it your way” and he proceeded to recite Havdalah before kindling the menorah. (havdala, chanuka)   (Rav Pam)

7. During Rav Arye Levine’s life he purchased a burial plot in the cemetery on Jerusalem’s Mt of Olives. When his life on earth ended however, his family was in doubt whether to bury him there, in the grave he had bought, or next to the grave of his dear wife Channah in the Sanhedria cemetery (in Jerusalem). Then one of his devoted students recalled that after the Six-Day War, when the Mount of Olives was again in Israel’s possession, Reb Aryeh had told him that his true desire was to be interred  near her, since she had been so pious and virtuous, and his love for her had remained constant and even grown stronger after her death. It was therefore decided to bury him beside her; and sure enough, when his la will came to light, it was found that in it he had written this very wish The funeral had to be held on Friday, the very day he died (since as a rule no lifeless body may be left overnight in the holy city). Friday morning the family asked the members of the burial society to hurry please with the digging of the grave in the Sanhedria cemetery, so this the burial could he completed in the hours before noon, leaving enough time for his multitude of friends and admirers who lived outside Jerusalem to return home before the approach of sunset would usher in Shabbos. The burial society, however, wished to delay the funeral for several hours, so that they would have enough time to dig the grave, since ground was hard and stony. As they stood at the entrance of the cemetery debating the matter, the watchman of the graveyard came over, to tell a strange tale: A few years earlier, said he, Reb Aryeh came to him in privacy and asked him to prepare a grave next to the burial plot of his wife to dig up the earth and turn it over, so that it would be all broken and soft. “Why would you want me to do a peculiar thing like that the watchman had asked him. And the good rabbi had replied, “Who ever knows the timetable of a man’s life? Perhaps I may depart this w on a Friday, and they will find difficulty in digging the grave, since ground is so rocky and stony; and then the people attending the funeral will be unable to reach their homes before the Sabbath has begun. I beg you: do me this favor, and dig the grave as l have asked you. Let it please be ready…” Discreetly, without letting anyone catch sight of it, the watchman fulfilled the good rabbi’s request. This wish too was granted him those who came to pay him the last honor should be able to return home before the Sabbath.  (shabbos, kevurah) (A Tzadik in Our Times)

8. Orchard Street, on the Lower East Side, was a hubbub of activity on Shabbos, both on Friday nights and Saturdays. The Jewish pushcart peddlers, selling house wares, fruits and vegetables, fish and meat products, line the streets for blocks on end. Papa was terribly troubled by this great desecration of the Shabbos and racked his brain on how to prevent it. He advertised in the Yiddish paper for balei batim who were interested in furthering Yiddishkeit in New York City. Several men turned up. After he and a few other men organized the Agudas Balei Battim, Papa and several colleagues from the organization decided to demonstrate against the chillul Shabbos on Orchard Street one Friday afternoon Mama told me to follow Papa and keep an eye on him, as she knew how very rough and tough some of the Orchard Street peddlers could be, and she feared that Papa might be harmed. With Papa at the head, they marched down Orchard Street, stopping at each pushcart and explaining courteously that Shabbos was nearing and it was a great transgression of Jewish religious law to keep their pushcarts open and engage in selling on Shabbos. A very few of the peddlers took these words to heart and closed up, but most of them hurled insults at Papa and the others, and almost bodily pushed them away. Papa did not give up. Each erev Shabbos, he strode down Orchard Street exhorting the peddlers to close their pushcarts, until he became a familiar figure to be ridiculed and assaulted. When the Agudas Balei Batim was able to raise enough funds, Papa was able to say to each peddler, “How much will you earn during the Shabbos? I will give you the full amount if you close up your pushcart right now.” This worked. Within a few months, even the diehards capitulated. Papa’s initiative and obstinacy closed the pushcarts on Orchard Sheet, from Canal to Delancey Sheets, on Shabbos. Instead, Orchard Street became a walking thoroughfare for people t0 stroll along an Shabbos and Yam Tov, (All for the Boss)   (shabbos)

9. A certain storekeeper in Radin used to close his shop late on Friday and reopen before the Sabbath had ended. The Chafetz Chaim said to him. Let me tell you a story. There once was a potato farmer who carted his crop to a wholesaler. They agreed on a price per sack — but the farmer could not count. How would he know how many sacks there were? The wholesaler suggested, ‘As the stevedores unload the sacks, l will give you a penny for each sack. When we are fully unloaded, l will exchange each penny for a gold coin.’ The farmer agreed. As the wholesaler kept giving him pennies, the farmer couldn’t resist the opportunity to put some of the pennies in his pocket. The wholesaler noticed but didn’t react since every penny the farmer pocketed saved him the price of a sack. “You know the farmer was a fool,” continued the sage of Radin, “but you act the same way. God made the Sabbath the source of all blessing. According to the Zohar, all six days of the week receive their sustenance from the Sabbath. Thus every hour of Sabbath observance provides sustenance and financial success for six weekday hours. How foolish to ‘steal’ an hour of Shabbos, when in reality you are stealing from yourself!” (The Living Exodous Hagaddah Anthology)

10. A girl from a non-observant family, after attending a Chinuch Atzmai school, had become a ba’alas teshuvah. Her father was in the retail chandelier business, and each of his children was required to work me day a week in his store. It so happened that this girl’s turn fell on the Sabbath. ‘ At crest, she was torn between her family and Shabbos, not knowing which to honor. Finally, she decided that she would honor her father – but in her own way. Every Saturday morning, she walked to the store and politely stood behind the counter waiting for customers. But when they asked her how much an item cost, she quoted prices so preposterous that the customers immediately walked out. The girl was quite happy; she obeyed her father, but never made a single sale and so was never mechaleles Shabbos. After three weeks, her father began to wonder why he was doing no business on Saturdays. He decided to spy on his daughter. Just then a man entered and inquired about a $180 chandelier. “That chandelier is very special,” the girl said. “That chandelier costs $ 1,000.” The man said the price was too high and he left. The girl was relieved until she saw her enraged father coming toward her. “Why did you do that?” he bellowed. “Do you know how much money you’ve lost me?” The next day, the shopkeeper was surprised to see the man walk back into the store. “I realize that $1,000 is a lot of money,” he said, pointing to the $180 chandelier, “but I really had my heart set on it. I looked all over the city for one like it, and found nothing else. So here,” he added, reaching for his checkbook, “I’l1 give you $1,000 for it, all right?” Stunned, the shopkeeper sold him the chandelier, but only at its proper cost. He then turned to his daughter and softly announced that they had witnessed a supernatural event. It came from Shamayim (Heaven), he said, and it imparted a profound message. “From this day onward,” he added, “the whole family will be shomer Shabbos. like you.”“    (shabbos) (A fire in his soul by Amos Bunim)

11. Even abject poverty and dire circumstances never led Rabbi Shach to diminish the reverence and awe he had for the minutest detail of Halacha. The Shulchan Aruch states that one must honor Shabbos with a clean shirt. And so every Thursday night, he would take off his only shirt and wash it on the roof of the beis mizirash. Refusing to return downstairs with only underclothing and tzifzis, he remained in the frigid Lithuanian winter air, wait- ing for the shirt to dry sufficiently to put it back on, and return to the Beis Medrash.  (kavod shabbos, kavod beis keneses) (Torah Leaders)

12. Can I please speak to Rabbi Feinstein?” requested the elderly caller. ”Rav Feinstein is very busy right now,” his attendant said. “Perhaps I can help you?” “Yes,” said the lady. “I would like to know what time Iicht bentching is this evening.” “It’s at 6:37. But you don’t have to call Reb Moshe with that sort of question. The time is printed on iust about every Iewish calendar.” “Well, I don’t know about calendars. I’ve been calling to ask the rabbi the time for licht bentching every erev Shabbos for the past twenty-five years. He never said a word to me about calendars (humility, shabbos candles) (Impact Volume Two)

13. On that fateful Friday afternoon, Frau Schenirer’ s last day on earth, one of Frau Schenirer’ s exceptional students and one of my beloved teachers, Escia Teitelbaum, came to visit her. She set the table for her mentor, covered it with a white tablecloth, and brought out Frau Schenirer’s two large candlesticks. Escia was about to leave when Frau Schenirer stopped her: “Escia, before you leave, please bring me the leichters [candlesticks] and two candles. Today I want to light my Shabbos candles early.” Escia did as told. From her bedside, Frau Schenirer lit the candles with deep emotion and recited the blessing with great enthusiasm and joy. Seeing the two large candles illuminate her home and the whole world like a pair of torches, she peacefully fell asleep. Carry Me in Your Heart, By Pearl Benisch, page 315 (Shabbos candles)

14. In Bergen Belsen, when Shabbos approached each week, the Klausenberger Rebbe did his utmost to obtain two challos in honor of the holy day. Even though he never had enough bread to satisfy his hunger, he had to have two challos over which to recite Kiddush and to eat the Shabbos meal. The Germans distributed daily portions of bread to the prisoners in whole loaves, one loaf for six prisoners. Every evening when they returned from the hard labor, the prisoners stood in line for their loaves of bread, which they then divided up among themselves. The Rebbe searched for five volunteers each week who would agree to forgo Thursday’s loaf and keep it whole until Friday night, when they would get a second loaf. Then they would use both loaves as challah for Shabbos and eat them both. It should be noted, however, that sometimes the Rebbe would notice that one of his five volunteers looked ravenous or very weak. The Rebbe would slice the bread immediately and urge the prisoner to eat it so that he would get stronger, even though it meant that the Rebbe would not have his lechem mishna. (The Klausenberger Rebbe) (lechem mishna)

15. A wealthy man had two sons who lived in a distant city. The first was a rich merchant like his father, while the second was a destitute pauper. lt had been many years since the two brothers had last seen their father. One day, the wealthy son received a letter from his father stating that their youngest brother was getting married. He therefore requested that his sons join them for the wedding. “However, I have a request to make of you,” wrote the father. “Do not be frugal in the slightest; rather, purchase lavish attire in my honor, and come celebrate this joyous wedding with us. You needn’t worry — I will cover all of the expenses.” Heeding his father’s request, the wealthy son, wife and children all bought beautiful silk clothing, befitting individuals of their stature. When the day of the wedding arrived, he ordered a magnificent coach to transport them to the celebration. Prior to setting out, he sent for his impoverished brother ordering him to rush to his house. The poor brother arrived wearing clothing that was tattered and torn. He wondered why he had been summoned. “Ascend the coach quickly,” urged the wealthy brother. “There is no time for explanations. We are going to travel to our father in order to participate in the wedding of our youngest brother.” When news of his sons’ imminent arrival reached the father’s house, he and his household, as well as his mcclmmnim and all of his servants, went out to greet them. Adding to the festive atmosphere was a band of musicians, who marched in front of them, playing pleasant and joyous melodies. When the coach arrived, the wealthy son and his family — dressed ever so elegantly — descended from the coach, only to be followed by the poor brother who was barefoot and wearing rags. . “Who is this man?” whispered the shocked townspeople. The more perceptive of the bunch were quick to answer, “Don’t you recognize him?” they said. “He is the man’s second son.” The wedding was held in grand style, and after seven days of feasting, the wealthy son approached his father to in order to bid him farewell. “Go in peace,” said the father. “May Hashem ensure you a safe journey.” “But father,” asked the son audaciously, ”what about the expenses that you promised to cover?” “Look carefully at what it says in the letter that I sent you,” responded the father. ”| guaranteed to compensate you on condition that you purchased beautiful clothing in my honor… Yet you did nothing whatsoever to honor me!” exclaimed the father. “All of the money you spent was solely to enhance your own honor! For if you were truly concerned with my honor, you would have made sure that your brother was dressed appropriately as well. ]ust look at the humiliation you’ve caused me by allowing my son to arrive barefoot and shabbily dressed!” person should therefore try his utmost to honor and enjoy the Shabbos. But how can it be that a person could sit in his home, dressed in elegant attire and partaking of scrumptious delights, while his unfortunate brother sits in his home like a mourner, eating nothing more than seeds? Sadly, this is an indication that the money he spent on his Shabbos delicacies was not for the purpose of delighting in Hashem, but rather, simply to indulge himself! Hashem does not guarantee to reimburse such expenditures. (oneg shabbos, simchas yom tov) (Jewish Parables- A Mashal for Every Occasion

16. Reb Mendel was once discussing with his students the requirement to extend Shabbos into the week by delaying havdalah, when Reb Mendel related an experience that showed his great sensitivity towards other people’s feelings. “One neighbor in Chicago went away one Shabbos, and towards the end. of the day his wife came over and asked if she could hear me make hav- dalah. In those days, few people waited even an hour after nightfall and this Woman appeared at my door barely half an hour after sunset. When I asked her if it wasn’t a little early for Havdalah, she told me that her husband made havdalah at this time every week. Although it was still Shabbos for me, I thought to myself, ‘Her husband is also frum and if I tell her it’ s still Shabbos for me, I’ll be suggesting to her that there is something wrong with what her husband does.’ I remembered this Gemara that we were discussing and made havdala for her without a candle.”  (embarrass, havdala) (Reb Mendel)

17. Reb Chaim Ozer’s psak (decision) often reflected a concern far beyond the immediate question posed He was known to use an electric bulb in place of a havdalah candle; “people think that electricity is not a fire, and thus they permit themselves to put on electric lights on Shabbos,” he explained. “So l make a point of saying  Havdala and the blessing ’Borei me’orei ha’eish — He created the lights of the fire’ on an electric bulb to demonstrate that electricity is, indeed, a fire.” (The Torah Personality) (havdala)