Lechu Neranana L’Hashem…
לזכר נשמות מורינו ר׳ צבי הערש בן ר׳ ניסן חיים מורינו ר׳ ישעי בן ר׳ משה ר׳ יעקב בן ר׳ שמואל יוסף מ׳ חוה רבקה בת ר׳ שמעון ריעדער
Based on Nefesh Shimshon by Rav Shimshon Pincus, zt”l
Lechu Neranana L’Hashem… Neranana, comes from rinah, song.
Shiru L’shem shir chadash… shirah, meaning song.
Lecha Dodi, then Mizmor Shir… Shirah.
Shabbos enters with song.
Why?
Because some things cannot be expressed with just words.
Imagine a person in pain, something is hurting him. He meets a friend who has never experienced pain.
How can he explain to his friend the depths of what he is feeling?
Only someone who has experienced pain can reflect on the pain they once felt and truly understand what the other person is going through.
Same thing when it comes to tasting food. We can use words like “bitter” and “sweet,” but no one can explain what sweet and bitter actually are.
The language we turn to when words can’t suffice is song.
And then one whose ear is attuned can hear the message in the melody.
When Shabbos begins, we reach such closeness with Hashem, it can’t be put into words.
Our reaction: We sing!
Nothing else will do, nothing else will suffice.
Shabbos touches the deepest feelings in our hearts and an indescribable love for Hashem arises.
The only thing we can say is: Mizmor shir l’yom HaShabbos!
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Let’s Reflect:
Do we take the time to greet Shabbos with song? Our relationship with Shabbos will only be strengthened if we do. Singing a song as we turn away from the candles to greet our family, or encouraging all to join into Kabbalas Shabbos before reading books and magazines can make all the difference.
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Chazal tell us: Shabbos is one of Hashem’s names.
Love of Shabbos comes from a love for Hashem. Desecrating Shabbos is the opposite of love.
Today, so many people unfortunately don’t keep Shabbos. or don’t keep treat Shabbos with the proper respect it deserves.
It’s so painful for us to see those unfortunate people trampling on something so beloved to us.
Who or what is it, exactly, that is beloved to us?
Shabbos is Hashem’s name.
When people drive cars on Shabbos, it is the same thing. They think they have caused G-d to depart from their lives, but He is right there, on the ground with Shabbos, as they desecrate it.
Today, when the Shechinah is trampled carelessly, Hashem seeks a home of refuge.
This is our Kabbalas Shabbos, our zechus to ensure the Shechinah can rise from where it has been trampled by Shabbos desecrators.
We greet Him and say, “Hashem, come, in my home you will find rest and refuge. My house is clean, spiritually and physically. Please, come in.”
Fortunate is the one who can say this on Shabbos and even more fortunate is the one who can say this during the week as well.
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Let’s Reflect:
How can we make sure that when Shabbos arrives, we are sitting, waiting to greet Him, offering Him a peaceful refuge from those trampling Him outside? Perhaps we can ensure that the last five things we find ourselves doing every single Friday, that cause us to rush into Shabbos, can be done first thing upon waking. What other ideas can we implement to ensure Shabbos is greeted as it should be?
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