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1508 (5787-09) 22 Cheshvan 5787 "Choose, Table or Shelf" Rebbe Moshe-Mordechai of Lelov signaled to the unknown surprise visitor to approach him, then whispered something in the man's ear. The man turned away and rushed outside. Why This Week? Candlelighting as a mitzvah is not mentioned anywhere in the written Torah. There is, however, a hint to it near the end of this week's Torah reading (Gen. 24:67 + Rashi from the Midrash). Story in PDF format for more convenient prinitng
A Rav [a level higher than 'Rabbi'] in Bnei Brak who goes to a nearby city every Erev Shabbos [Friday] to answer halachic [Torah Law] questions in the beit din [rabbinical court] of the community, always travels there by taxi. One week, his taxi driver turned out to be a new ba'al teshuvah ['returnee' to mitzvah observance], and he was listening to a religious radio station. The Rav liked to use this time in a car to study Torah, but the radio disturbed his concentration. He thought to ask the taxi driver to turn it off, but then he figured that the newly religious driver might benefit from or even be inspired by the encouraging words of the program, so he decided not to ask him to turn off the radio. He heard a listener call in, and say, "Today is the 24th of the Jewish month of Tevet, which is the yahrtzeit of the tzadik [holy man], Rebbe Moshe-Mordechai of Lelov. Therefore, in honor of the occasion, I want to share a wonderful story of his ruach hakodesh ['Divine inspiration'] and his superb middos tovos [good character traits] that I heard with my own ears and saw with my own eyes." When the Rav heard this introduction, he put down his sefer [Torah book] and focused on what the person was saying. The man began. "Once, when I was still a student in yeshiva, I and a few other students went to Rebbe Moshe Mordechai's Shabbat Friday night tish ['open table' -- at the end of a Shabbat or Festival meal]. After a while a man entered and remained near the door; he was someone who never before. had come to Lelov, a regular there told me. Immediately the Rebbe signaled to the surprise visitor to approach him. When he did so, the Rebbe whispered something in the man's ear. The man nodded, turned away and rushed outside. "My friends and I wanted to know what this was all about, so we followed the man. We asked him to tell us what the Rebbe told him. He didn't want to say. But we persisted, and this is what he told us: "'My wife and I have a raging debate regarding where to light the Shabbos candles. I say that it is better to light them on a shelf in the dining room,[1] , while my wife wants to light the candles on the Shabbos table because that's what her mother does too. "'Every week, I prepare the candles on the shelf before I go to shul. And every week, she removes them from the shelf, places them on the table, and lights them there. It makes me very angry. "'This week, before I left, I told her that if I come home from shul and find the candles on the table, I won't make Kiddush, and I won't eat the Shabbat meal[2]. "'Tonight, I came home and saw the lit candles on the table. I immediately left the house and went to a shul and opened one of the holy books. As I sat there, I heard joyous singing coming from Reb Moshe Mordechai of Lelov's tish. I decided to go there. Why should I remain by myself? "'The Rebbe immediately called me over and whispered in my ear. "The purpose of lighting the Shabbos candles is for the sake of peace. If you make a machlokes [quarrel] over it, the purpose is forfeited." "'I am stunned by the Rebbe's ruach hakodesh. How did he know what I was thinking and exactly the answer I needed to hear? Before you stopped me, I was on my way to establish peace in my home.'" The taxi reached the destination, and the Rav left to go to the beis din. He was glad that he heard this inspirational story of ruach hakodesh, which teaches us to avoid quarrels and arguments. That day, as the Rav sat in the beis din, a man came in, presented to him his dilemma and requested a clear halachic ruling. His words shocked the Rav: "I have a long-standing debate with my wife regarding where it's better to light the Shabbos candles. I say that it's better to light the candles on a shelf attached to the dining room wall, and my wife insists lighting the candles on the table, just like her mother does. What does your honor say? Where should we light the candles?" The Rav was astounded by this manifestation of hashgachah pratis [Divine Supervision] in our lives[3]. It was the same question that he heard in the taxi! He told the man that he doesn't know any source in Jewish Law regarding where it is best to light the Shabbat candles, as long as they are placed where they can provide sufficient illumination for the Shabbat meal. Different communities have different customs. "However," he quickly added, "I do know that the purpose of Shabbos lights is for peace in the home, and therefore that factor should be considered primary and be given great consideration." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Why This Week? Candlelighting as a mitzvah is not mentioned anywhere in the written Torah. There is, however, a hint to it near the end of this week's Torah reading (Gen. 24:67 + Rashi from the Midrash). Biographic note:
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Yerachmiel
Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor
of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories
to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells
them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.