The Sedra Vayakehl 5783

There is nothing quite like the smell of hot food wafting through a home on Shabbat morning. In this week’s portion, Parshat Vayakhel, the Torah explicitly prohibits lighting a fire on the Shabbat day. This raises a fascinating question: If we cannot light a fire, how can we enjoy a hot meal? The answer lies in the Oral Law and the wisdom of our Sages. We learn that while lighting a fire on Shabbat is forbidden, benefiting from a fire lit beforehand is a fulfillment of Oneg Shabbat, the delight of the day. In this video, we explore why eating hot food is actually a demonstration of our belief in the tradition passed down through the generations. Refusing to enjoy hot food based on a literal reading of the text is not just a missed delight, but a rejection of the Sage’s essential role in explaining God’s word. Join me as we discuss the importance of tradition. Shabbat Shalom!