Hilchos Shabbos Table Learning
A Weekly Guide to Shabbos Laws for Personal Study and Family Discussion
✨This weeks Topic✨
🌅✨ Prayers Before Mincha on Erev Shabbos
✅ What Is Recited?
• Hodu (Psalm 107): A psalm of gratitude to Hashem for health and safety throughout the week and to help us focus before prayer.
• Patach Eliyahu: A profound Zoharic passage outlining the structure of creation and the Divine attributes.
• Yedid Nefesh: A soulful poem written by Rabbi Elazar Azkari expressing love and longing for closeness to Hashem.
🤔 Why These Prayers?
🌅 Hodu (Psalm 107)
Reasons for Reciting:
- Gratitude for Safety: To thank Hashem that our body and soul were protected during the week’s work.
- Spiritual Focus: Helps purify the mind and speech before prayer, removing weekday distractions.
- Historical Custom: The Baal Shem Tov instituted it as thanks for a miraculous event during his return from the Land of Israel.
✨ Patach Eliyahu
Reasons for Reciting:
- Mystical Preparation: Introduces deep Kabbalistic concepts about Hashem’s unity and the Sefiros.
- Elevating Prayer: Sets the tone for Mincha by focusing on the Divine structure and our connection to it.
- Tradition: Included in many communities as a spiritual preface before Shabbos.
❤️ Yedid Nefesh
Reasons for Reciting:
- Expression of Love: A heartfelt poem yearning for closeness and love of Hashem.
- Joyful Devotion: Inspires emotional connection and happiness in serving Hashem.
- Historical Significance: Written by Rabbi Elazar Azkari as a mystical outpouring of love, later embraced widely.
- Background of the Piyut: The following is the introductory paragraph of the Chareidim ibid which features before this Piyut: “And as we wrote in chapter 9, letter 9, one of the precious branches of the enthusiasm of desire is that the lover sings a song of friendship before Him. Therefore, I will present to you some love songs that we sang joyfully in the company of friends listening to the tune “Agadlecha Elzazi Kol Neshama” or to the tune “Sha’arecha Bedofkei Yehi… Another request regarding unification and the desire for love is founded upon the four letters of the Divine Name Yedid Nefesh Av…..””
📜 Halachic Notes:
• With a Minyan: Some communities recite Hodu together; others individually.
• When to Omit: Hodu is skipped if Erev Shabbos coincides with Yom Tov or Chol Hamoed, but Patach Eliyahu remains.
• Missed It? If Mincha has started, recite these after Shemoneh Esrei.
📚 Sources:
Siddur Admur; Maor Eiynayim Beshalach in name of the Baal Shem Tov.”; Mateh Efraim 581:57; Tefila Pesach Keili of Roaz Margolis, brought in Kfar Chabad Vol. 959 p. 50; Ateres Tzevi on Zohar 2:268; Siddur Arizal of Rik; Siddur Rashar Lemberg; Siddur Daas Kedoshim of Ashel Avraham of Butchach; Aruch Hashulchan 267:1
🛠️ Melacha Corner 🛠️
🐝 Kli Rishon – What Should We Know?
Understanding the Halachos of Cooking in a First Vessel on Shabbos
📝 Law (What to Do):
- What is a Kli Rishon?
A Kli Rishon is the original pot that was on the fire. Whether it is still on the fire or removed, as long as the contents are Yad Soledes (hot enough to burn the hand), it retains the status of a Kli Rishon.
- Cooking Power of a Kli Rishon:
A Kli Rishon can cook food even when off the fire, provided the contents are Yad Soledes. The only exception: dry ox meat cannot be cooked unless the pot is on the fire.
- Adding Salt and Spices:
It is forbidden to add spices to a Kli Rishon while the contents are Yad Soledes because of the prohibition of cooking. Regarding salt, opinions differ:
– Some say salt does not cook in a Kli Rishon off the fire.
– In practice: We are stringent and avoid adding salt even in a second vessel (Kli Sheini).
– If salt or spices were added to a Kli Rishon off the fire, it is permitted be-di’avad (after the fact), as they are nullified to the main food.
– If the Kli Rishon is no longer Yad Soledes, it is proper to avoid adding items that are normally cooked, such as spices.
- Adding Cooked Noodles:
Permitted only if the noodles are completely dry.
- Removing the Pot with a Wet Towel:
Not allowed if the moisture could heat up to Yad Soledes.
- Adding Cold Water to a Boiling Mikveh:
If the heating source is inside the mikveh, it is considered a Kli Rishon. Therefore, adding cold water is forbidden if the mikveh water is Yad Soledes.
- Placing a Baby Bottle in a Water Heater:
Forbidden—even if you intend to remove it before it reaches Yad Soledes.
💡 Reasons (Why):
- A Kli Rishon retains strong cooking power as long as its contents are Yad Soledes, even off the fire.
- Adding spices or salt can constitute cooking, which is prohibited on Shabbos.
• Precautions are taken to avoid indirect cooking or heating that could lead to violations.
🧩 Example:
One Shabbos, a family hosted many guests. The hostess tasted the soup and realized it lacked salt and spices. Embarrassed to serve bland soup, she added salt to the Kli Rishon pot sitting on the counter (off the fire).
Halacha: The soup is permitted be-di’avad!
📚 Sources:
📖 Shulchan Aruch Harav Orach Chaim 318
📖 Mishnah Berurah 318
📖 Igros Moshe O.C.
📖 The Shabbos Kitchen – Rabbi Y Goldstein
