Mishna Brachos: Chapter 7 - Shabbos Meal

The eighth chapter of Mishna Brachos (tractate on Blessings) starts with Kiddush (sanctification), the middle more or less has customs about birkat hamazon (Grace after Meals), and kind of ends with Havdalah (separation). In fact these Mishnayot are not the original source for these practices. Rather they are discussed through the prism of a debate between the schools of Shammai and Hillel about their details.

Kiddush (קִידוּש) is a variant of the word holy and it refers to sanctifying the Shabbos day. The ritual is of Biblical origin and refers to holidays that were instituted by the Torah. The idea is that at their start there should be a formal declaration. It is a paragraph that mentions the holiday, it's significance, and the fact that it is holy to God. It is appropriate to say it on wine as a sign of its importance and joy. People who don't like wine are permitted to fulfill the obligation by using grape juice. 

The reason the day is holy is because it is to be used exclusively for learning, disseminating, and celebrating religious concepts. For Passover the message is the importance of freedom and that the exodus from Egypt really did happen. For Yom Kippur the lesson is that we should apologize and forgive. For Shabbat the message is that God made the world in six days and we should take a break and enjoy what we have. Strictly speaking Kiddush is not said on Yom Kippur, but its function is performed by the liturgy.

Several Mishnayot deal with matters of etiquette. Part of the pleasure of Shabbat and Yom Tov is to partake of a nice meal with bread. Before eating bread, the sages require that the hands be washed in order that they be physically and spiritually clean. In addition they must be properly dried. Likewise at the end of the meal, before Grace after meals, the hands are to be washed again. Generally the hands should not be dirty when saying a blessing. Hands can be expected to get dirty when eating and this was even more so in ancient times before use of utensils was common. In addition, in the days of the Talmud the salt, which was applied by pinching a little of it, was very strong and could harm the eyes. As a result it was decreed that hands must be washed after eating. In addition the table is to be cleared especially of small pieces of bread.

Today there is a formal ritual washing before eating bread. For washing after a meal, practices vary. On Shabbos it's common to have a small symbolic washing. Others dispense with it entirely saying dangerous sodom salt is no longer used. If three men are saying birkat hamazon, also a Biblical obligation, it's considered a beautification of the mitzvah to say it over a cup of wine. Again because it demonstrates the importance of the mitzvah and adds to its joy. 

Havdalah (הַבְדָּלָה) is said at the conclusion of the holiday. It is the language of separation and is of Biblical origin, specifically to distinguish between sacred and secular. This means making a distinction between days set aside by the Torah for devotion to religious values; as opposed to days on which it is appropriate to provide for physical needs for example by engaging in an ordinary profession, going shopping, or getting a haircut. It also is a formal declaration recited over wine. 

Generally speaking religious learning and observance should be pleasant and fun. Often a good vehicle for this is a formal dinner; on a day free from mundane concerns; with family, friends, and wine.

לע"נ  האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח

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