From an objective standpoint there is no difference between one
day and the next. Each day has 24 hours, 1440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds. But
from a subjective point of view each day is different. Monday has a completely
different feel to it because it is the first day of the workweek. Wednesday is
hump day and Friday signals the end of work and the beginning of the weekend.
If we want Shabbat to be a special day we have to make it so. Daf TB Shabbat 113
provides us with some guidelines how to make Shabbat special by commenting on a
verse from Isaiah 58:13.
“On a related note, the Gemara cites what we learned with
regard to the following passage: “If you keep your feet from breaking, from
pursuing your affairs on My holy day, and you call Shabbat a delight, the
Lord’s holy day honorable, and you honor it by not going your own way,
from attending to your affairs and speaking idle words” (Isaiah 58:13). The Rabbis derived from the words “and
you honor it” that your dress on Shabbat should not be like your dress during
the week, as Rabbi Yoḥanan would refer to his clothing as my honor,
indicating that appropriate clothing is a form of deference. The words “going
your own way” mean that your walking on Shabbat should not be like your
walking during the week. “From attending to your affairs” means it is
prohibited to deal with your weekday affairs and to speak
about them on Shabbat. However, affairs of Heaven, i.e., those
pertaining to mitzvot, are permitted. “And speaking idle words” means that
your speech on Shabbat should not be like your speech during the week,
i.e., one should not discuss his weekday affairs on Shabbat. However, it is
only speech that they said is prohibited, whereas merely contemplating
weekday affairs is permitted.”
(Sefaria.org translation)
The choice of
clothing helps make Shabbat special. What we choose to wear to a wedding, bar/bat
mitzvah, or any other formal affair helps to add or subtract to the atmosphere of
the occasion. I’m not advocating a person should wear a tux or a formal gown to
Shabbat services. The choice of clothing though should be deliberate so as to
enhance the spirit of Shabbat. Although the Gemara says that one should slow
down and not use large steps on Shabbat, I would interpret Shabbat walking to
mean something quite different. During the weekdays our steps leads us everywhere,
but the synagogue. On Shabbat our feet should take us the synagogue for prayer,
study, and community (after the COBIT 19 pandemic, of course). The Tosefot
quoting a Midrash says when comes to speech on Shabbat that we shouldn’t talk
too much. Some even say we should not weary others with a lot of Torah study (My
fellow rabbis please take note!). Still others define Shabbat speech as speaking
to each other in Hebrew instead of the vernacular. I’ve already written how
much I love Hebrew so even if you can’t speak Hebrew, I would encourage you to
use Shabbat as an opportunity to learn a new Hebrew word or two.
By the way, daf TB
Shabbat 113 is the source for one of the stanzas of the Sabbath song Mah y’didut.
“Honor Shabbat,” God says, “and be my treasured choice.
Six days shall you work, but on the seventh, rejoice.
Business is forbidden, as is figuring accounts.
What is permissible, in generous amounts,
to make shiddochs, teach children, sing a Shabbat song;
to speak words of Torah everywhere, all day long.
Walk at a slow pace and make Shabbat joy your goal…”
(Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals, page 321)
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