By Rabbi Baruch Lederman
SAN DIEGO–The Slonimer Rebbe, of blessed memory, asked: On Friday night when we sit down to our Shabbos meal the first thing we do is welcome the Angels into our home. ‘Shalom Aleichem! Malachei HaShareis.’ We recite ‘Peace unto you, oh ministering angels.’ Hashem (G-d) sends the holiest guests to our home when we make Shabbos. ‘Borchuni LeShalom!’ We ask these holy Angels of peace to bless us and our homes with peace. What can be greater than to have Hashem’s angels joining us at our Shabbos table?
But then, after a few short moments we recite, ‘Tzeischem L’Shalom!’ Farewell holy Angels – it is almost as if the Angels had just arrived and we are already asking them to leave! Why don’t we beg them to stay?
The Slonimer Rebbe answered: Think about a bride and a groom that are wishing farewell to their guests after a beautiful, meaningful and festive wedding. They feel so privileged that their guests honored them and blessed them. But the time has come for their honored guests to go home; the bride and groom wish to spend time together all alone.
We feel so privileged that the Angels have honored us at our Shabbos meal. We welcome them, we honor them, and we seek their blessing. But then we must say to them ‘Holy Angels! We appreciate so much that you came to our homes, we cherish your presence
and we treasure your blessings -come again; but please forgive us if we ask you to leave – right now we want to be alone with
Hashem.’
Shabbos is so many things: a day of rest, a day of faith, a family day, and a day of celebrating the fact that Hashem created the
world. Indeed, it is a day that we can be alone with Hashem, or as the Kabbalists say, it is a day in which we can experience Yichud
Elyon – an epic intimacy with Hashem. [The foregoing is adapted from an article By Rabbi Yaacov Haber]
Dedicated L’zecher Nishmas Shlomo ben Yitzchok.
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Rabbi Lederman is spiritual leader of Congregation Kehillas Torah in San Diego. He may be contacted at baruch.lederman@sdjewishworld.com