(ח) זָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ
(8) Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.
(א) זכור. זָכוֹר וְשָׁמוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד נֶאֶמְרוּ, וְכֵן מְחַלְלֶיהָ מוֹת יוּמָת (שמות ל"א), וּבְיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת שְׁנֵי כְבָשִׂים (במדבר כ"ח); וְכֵן לֹא תִלְבַּשׁ שַׁעַטְנֵז, גְּדִלִים תַּעֲשֶׂה לָּךְ (דברים כ"ב); וְכֵן עֶרְוַת אֵשֶׁת אָחִיךָ (ויקרא י"ח), יְבָמָהּ יָבֹא עָלֶיהָ (דברים כ"ה); הוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אַחַת דִּבֶּר אֱלֹהִים שְׁתַּיִם זוּ שָׁמָעְתִּי (תהילים ס"ב): זכור. לְשׁוֹן פָּעוֹל הוּא, כְּמוֹ אָכוֹל וְשָׁתוֹ (ישעיהו כ"ב), הָלוֹךְ וּבָכֹה (שמואל ב ג'), וְכֵן פִּתְרוֹנוֹ: תְּנוּ לֵב לִזְכֹּר תָּמִיד אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, שֶׁאִם נִזְדַּמֵּן לְךָ חֵפֶץ יָפֶה תְּהֵא מַזְמִינוֹ לְשַׁבָּת (מכילתא):
(1) זכור — This word REMEMBER which opens this commandment here and שמור “observe” which opens it in Deuteronomy (5:12) were spoken in one utterance. Similar is, (Exodus 31:14) “Everyone that profaneth it (the Sabbath) shall surely be put to death”, which apparently is in contradiction with (Numbers 28:9) “And on the Sabbath day [ye shall offer] two lambs”, a command necessitating actions which, if done for any other purposes on the Sabbath, would involve a profanation of that day. Similar is, (Deuteronomy 22:11) “Thou shalt not wear a garment of two kinds, [as of woollen and linen together]” and (Deuteronomy 22:12) “Thou shalt make thee tassels”, for the performance of which command wool and linen may be employed in combination. Similar is, (Leviticus 18:16) “The nakedness of thy brother’s wife” (the prohibition of marriage with her), and (Deuteronomy 25:5) “her husband’s brother shall come unto her” (he shall marry her). — This is the meaning of what is said (Psalms 62:12) “One thing did God speak, these two things did we hear” (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:8:1). זכור — This word expresses the verbal action without any reference to a particular time (the infinitive), similar to, (Isaiah 22:13) אכול ושתו “to eat and to drink”; (II Samuel 3:16) הלוך ובכה “to go and to weep”; and the following is its meaning: take care to remember always the Sabbath day — that if, for example, you come across a nice article of food during the week, put it by for the Sabbath (Beitzah 16a).
(ט) שֵׁ֤֣שֶׁת יָמִ֣ים֙ תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד֮ וְעָשִׂ֖֣יתָ כָּל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ֒
(9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
(א) ועשית כל מלאכתך. כְּשֶׁתָּבֹא שַׁבָּת יְהֵא בְעֵינֶיךָ כְּאִלּוּ כָּל מְלַאכְתְּךָ עֲשׂוּיָה, שֶׁלֹּא תְהַרְהֵר אַחַר מְלָאכָה (שם):
(1) ועשית כל מלאכתך [SIX DAYS SHALT THOU LABOUR] AND DO ALL THY WORK — When the Sabbath comes it should be in thy eyes as though all thy work were done (completed), so that thou shouldst not think at all about work (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:9).
(י) וְי֙וֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔֜י שַׁבָּ֖֣ת ׀ לַיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑֗יךָ לֹֽ֣א־תַעֲשֶׂ֣֨ה כָל־מְלָאכָ֡֜ה אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבִנְךָֽ֣־וּ֠בִתֶּ֗ךָ עַבְדְּךָ֤֨ וַאֲמָֽתְךָ֜֙ וּבְהֶמְתֶּ֔֗ךָ וְגֵרְךָ֖֙ אֲשֶׁ֥֣ר בִּשְׁעָרֶֽ֔יךָ
(10) but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God: you shall not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements.
(א) אתה ובנך ובתך. אֵלּוּ קְטַנִּים; אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא גְּדוֹלִים? אָמַרְתָּ, הֲרֵי כְּבָר מֻזְהָרִים הֵם, אֶלָּא לֹא בָא אֶלָּא לְהַזְהִיר גְּדוֹלִים עַל שְׁבִיתַת הַקְּטַנִּים; וְזֶהוּ שֶׁשָּׁנִינוּ (שבת קכ"א), קָטָן שֶׁבָּא לְכַבּוֹת אֵין שׁוֹמְעִין לוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁשְּׁבִיתָתוֹ עָלֶיךָ:
(1) אתה ובנך ובתך THOU AND THY SON AND THY DAUGHTER — these latter mean the young children. Or perhaps this is not so, but it means your adult children? But you must admit that these have already been placed under this prohibition (by the word “Thou”, because the performance of this command is obligatory upon all adults to whom it was addressed). Therefore these words must be intended only to admonish the adults (implied in the term “Thou”) about the Sabbath rest of their young children (to impose upon the parents the obligation of enforcing the Sabbath rest upon them) (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:10:1). This is the meaning of what we have learnt in a Mishna, (Shabbat 16:6) “A minor who is about to extinguish a fire — we do not listen to him (do not permit him to do this), because his observance of the Sabbath is a duty imposed upon you”.
רַבִּי חֲנִינָא מִיעֲטֵף וְקָאֵי אַפַּנְיָא דְמַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא, אָמַר: ״בּוֹאוּ וְנֵצֵא לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת הַמַּלְכָּה״. רַבִּי יַנַּאי לָבֵישׁ מָאנֵי מְעַלּוּ (שַׁבָּת) [וּמִיכַּסֵּי], וְאָמַר: ״בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה״. רַבָּה בַּר רַב הוּנָא אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי רַבָּה בַּר רַב נַחְמָן. קָרִיבוּ לֵיהּ תְּלָת סָאוֵי טַחְיֵי. אֲמַר לְהוּ: מִי הֲוָה יָדְעִיתוּן דְּאָתֵינָא? אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: מִי עֲדִיפַתְּ לַן מִינַּהּ?
The Gemara now returns to the issue of delight in and deference to Shabbat. Rabbi Ḥanina would wrap himself in his garment and stand at nightfall on Shabbat eve, and say: Come and we will go out to greet Shabbat the queen. Rabbi Yannai put on his garment on Shabbat eve and said: Enter, O bride. Enter, O bride. The Gemara relates: Rabba bar Rav Huna happened to come to the house of Rabba bar Rav Naḥman. They brought before him three se’a of oiled biscuits. He said to them: Did you know I was coming and prepared all of this in my honor? They said to him: Are you more important to us than Shabbat? The biscuits were prepared in deference to Shabbat.
רַב סָפְרָא מְחָרֵיךְ רֵישָׁא. רָבָא מָלַח שִׁיבּוּטָא. רַב הוּנָא מַדְלֵיק שְׁרָגֵי. רַב פָּפָּא גָּדֵיל פְּתִילָתָא. רַב חִסְדָּא פָּרֵים סִילְקָא. רַבָּה וְרַב יוֹסֵף מְצַלְּחִי צִיבֵי. רַבִּי זֵירָא מְצַתֵּת צַתּוֹתֵי. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק מְכַתֵּף וְעָיֵיל, מְכַתֵּף וְנָפֵיק. אָמַר: אִילּוּ מִקַּלְעִין לִי רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי, מִי לָא מְכַתֵּיפְנָא קַמַּיְיהוּ? וְאִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי מְכַתְּפִי וְעָיְילִי, מְכַתְּפִי וְנָפְקִי, אָמְרִי: אִילּוּ אִיקְּלַע לַן רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, מִי לָא מְכַתְּפִינַן קַמֵּיהּ?!
Rav Safra would roast the head of an animal to prepare it for Shabbat. Rava salted a shibuta fish in deference to Shabbat. Rav Huna kindled lamps in deference to Shabbat. Rav Pappa spun the wicks for the Shabbat lamp. Rav Ḥisda cut the beets in preparation for Shabbat. Rabba and Rav Yosef cut wood. Rabbi Zeira prepared thin sticks for kindling. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak would load objects on his shoulder and enter, load objects on his shoulder and exit. He said: If Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi happened to visit me, would I not load objects on my shoulder before them? So too, it is fitting to do so in deference to Shabbat. And some say that Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would load objects on their shoulders and enter, load objects on their shoulders and exit. They said: If Rabbi Yoḥanan happened to come to visit us, would we not load objects on our shoulders before him?
רַבִּי אַבָּא זָבֵן בִּתְלֵיסַר אִסְתִּירֵי פְּשִׁיטֵי בִּישְׂרָא מִתְּלֵיסַר טַבָּחֵי, וּמְשַׁלֵּים לְהוּ אַצִּינּוֹרָא דְּדַשָּׁא, וַאֲמַר לְהוּ: ״אַשּׁוּר הַיָּיא, אַשּׁוּר הַיָּיא״. רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ הֲוָה יָתֵיב אַתַּכְתָּקָא דְשִׁינָּא וּמוֹשֵׁיף נוּרָא. רַב עָנָן לָבֵישׁ גּוּנְדָּא, דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: בְּגָדִים שֶׁבִּישֵּׁל בָּהֶן קְדֵירָה לְרַבּוֹ — אַל יִמְזוֹג בָּהֶן כּוֹס לְרַבּוֹ.
Rabbi Abba bought thirteen plain staters [astirei peshitei] worth half a zuz of meat from thirteen butchers in deference to Shabbat, so that he would have various types of fine meat. And he would place the meats at the door hinge at the entrance to his house to hurry to bring another type of meat. And he said to the cooks, in order to rush them: Hurry and prepare it, hurry and prepare it. The Gemara also relates: Rabbi Abbahu would sit on an ivory chair [takhteka] and fan the fire cooking the food for Shabbat, in order to play a role in preparations for Shabbat. Rav Anan would don a simple black garment for the Shabbat preparations, as the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: While wearing the garments in which he cooked a pot of food for his master, one should not dilute a cup of wine for his Master. One should wear a garment appropriate for the task at hand.
רַב סָפְרָא מְחָרֵיךְ רֵישָׁא. רָבָא מָלַח שִׁיבּוּטָא. רַב הוּנָא מַדְלֵיק שְׁרָגֵי. רַב פָּפָּא גָּדֵיל פְּתִילָתָא. רַב חִסְדָּא פָּרֵים סִילְקָא. רַבָּה וְרַב יוֹסֵף מְצַלְּחִי צִיבֵי. רַבִּי זֵירָא מְצַתֵּת צַתּוֹתֵי. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק מְכַתֵּף וְעָיֵיל, מְכַתֵּף וְנָפֵיק. אָמַר: אִילּוּ מִקַּלְעִין לִי רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי, מִי לָא מְכַתֵּיפְנָא קַמַּיְיהוּ? וְאִיכָּא דְאָמְרִי: רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי מְכַתְּפִי וְעָיְילִי, מְכַתְּפִי וְנָפְקִי, אָמְרִי: אִילּוּ אִיקְּלַע לַן רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, מִי לָא מְכַתְּפִינַן קַמֵּיהּ?!
Rav Safra would roast the head of an animal to prepare it for Shabbat. Rava salted a shibuta fish in deference to Shabbat. Rav Huna kindled lamps in deference to Shabbat. Rav Pappa spun the wicks for the Shabbat lamp. Rav Ḥisda cut the beets in preparation for Shabbat. Rabba and Rav Yosef cut wood. Rabbi Zeira prepared thin sticks for kindling. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak would load objects on his shoulder and enter, load objects on his shoulder and exit. He said: If Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi happened to visit me, would I not load objects on my shoulder before them? So too, it is fitting to do so in deference to Shabbat. And some say that Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would load objects on their shoulders and enter, load objects on their shoulders and exit. They said: If Rabbi Yoḥanan happened to come to visit us, would we not load objects on our shoulders before him?
יוֹסֵף מוֹקַר שַׁבֵּי, הֲוָה הָהוּא גּוֹי בְּשִׁבָבוּתֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה נְפִישִׁי נִכְסֵיהּ טוּבָא. אָמְרִי לֵיהּ כַּלְדָּאֵי: כּוּלְּהוּ נִכְסֵי — יוֹסֵף מוֹקַר שַׁבֵּי אָכֵיל לְהוּ. אֲזַל זַבְּנִינְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ נִיכְסֵי, זְבַן בְּהוּ מַרְגָּנִיתָא, אוֹתְבַהּ בִּסְיָינֵיהּ. בַּהֲדֵי דְּקָא עָבַר מַבָּרָא — אַפְרְחֵיהּ זִיקָא, שַׁדְיֵיהּ בְּמַיָּא, בַּלְעֵיהּ כַּוְורָא. אַסְּקוּהּ, אַיְיתוּהּ אַפַּנְיָא דְּמַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא. אָמְרִי: מַאן זָבֵין כִּי הַשְׁתָּא? אָמְרִי לְהוּ: זִילוּ אַמְטְיוּהּ לְגַבֵּי יוֹסֵף מוֹקַר שַׁבֵּי דִּרְגִיל דְּזָבֵין. אַמְטְיוּהּ נִיהֲלֵיהּ, זַבְנֵיהּ, קַרְעֵיהּ אַשְׁכַּח בֵּיהּ מַרְגָּנִיתָא. זַבְּנַיהּ בִּתְלֵיסַר עִילִּיָּתָא דְּדִינָרֵי דְּדַהֲבָא. פְּגַע בֵּיהּ הָהוּא סָבָא אֲמַר: מַאן דְּיָזֵיף שַׁבְּתָא — פַּרְעֵיהּ שַׁבְּתָא.
The Gemara relates with regard to Yosef who cherishes Shabbat: There was a gentile in his neighborhood whose property was extremely plentiful. The astrologers said to the gentile with regard to all his property: Yosef who cherishes Shabbat will consume it. The gentile went and sold all of his property, and with the money he received he bought a pearl, and he placed it in his hat. When he was crossing a river in a ferry, the wind blew his hat and cast it into the water, and a fish swallowed it. The fish was caught and removed from the water and it was brought to shore adjacent to nightfall on Shabbat eve. The fishermen said: Who buys fish at a time like this? The townspeople said to the fishermen: Go bring it to Yosef who cherishes Shabbat, as he regularly purchases delicacies in deference to Shabbat. They brought it to him and he purchased it. He ripped the fish open and found a pearl inside it. He sold it for thirteen vessels filled with golden dinars (Tosafot). This elderly man who encountered him and said: One who lends to Shabbat, Shabbat repays him.
וְשֶׁבִּשְׁאָר אֲרָצוֹת בַּמָּה הֵן זוֹכִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁמְּכַבְּדִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: פַּעַם אַחַת נִתְאָרַחְתִּי אֵצֶל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת בְּלוּדְקִיָּא, וְהֵבִיאוּ לְפָנָיו שֻׁלְחָן שֶׁל זָהָב מַשּׂוֹי שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנֵי אָדָם, וְשֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה שַׁלְשְׁלָאוֹת שֶׁל כֶּסֶף קְבוּעוֹת בּוֹ, וּקְעָרוֹת וְכוֹסוֹת וְקִיתוֹנִיּוֹת וּצְלוֹחִיּוֹת קְבוּעוֹת בּוֹ, וְעָלָיו כׇּל מִינֵי מַאֲכָל וְכׇל מִינֵי מְגָדִים וּבְשָׂמִים. וּכְשֶׁמַּנִּיחִים אוֹתוֹ אוֹמְרִים: ״לַה׳ הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ וְגוֹ׳״. וּכְשֶׁמְּסַלְּקִין אוֹתוֹ אוֹמְרִים: ״הַשָּׁמַיִם שָׁמַיִם לַה׳ וְהָאָרֶץ נָתַן לִבְנֵי אָדָם״. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: בְּנִי בַּמֶּה זָכִיתָ לְכָךְ? אָמַר לִי: קַצָּב הָיִיתִי, וּמִכׇּל בְּהֵמָה שֶׁהָיְתָה נָאָה, אָמַרְתִּי: זוֹ תְּהֵא לַשַּׁבָּת. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ: [אַשְׁרֶיךָ שֶׁזָּכִיתָ], וּבָרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁזִּיכְּךָ לְכָךְ.
With regard to the wealthy of other countries, where there are no Sages, by what virtue do they merit their wealth? He said to him: Because they honor Shabbat, as Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: One time I was hosted at the home of a homeowner in Laodicea and they brought before him a table of gold that was so heavy it required sixteen people to carry it, and there were sixteen chains of silver attached to it, and there were bowls and cups and pitchers and flasks attached to it, and there were all sorts of food, and delicacies, and fragrant spices on it. And when they placed it there they would say: “The earth and all that fills it is God’s, the world and all that inhabit it” (Psalms 24:1). And when they removed it they would say: “The heavens are God’s heavens, but the earth He gave to mankind” (Psalms 115:16). I said to him: My son, what did you do to merit this? He said to me: I was a slaughterer, and when I would come across parts from every animal that I slaughtered that was fine, I would say: This will be for Shabbat. I said to him: Happy are you that you merited this, and blessed is God, Who has afforded you this merit.
(ד) רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אָמַר, מִפְּנֵי אִיסְטְנִיסִים בֵּרְכוֹ בְּמַטְעַמִּים. רַבֵּנוּ עָשָׂה סְעוּדָה לְאַנְטוֹנִינוּס בְּשַׁבָּת, הֵבִיא לְפָנָיו תַּבְשִׁילִין שֶׁל צוֹנֵן אָכַל מֵהֶם וְעָרַב לוֹ, עָשָׂה לוֹ סְעוּדָה בַּחוֹל הֵבִיא לְפָנָיו תַּבְשִׁילִין רוֹתְחִין, אָמַר לוֹ אוֹתָן עָרְבוּ לִי יוֹתֵר מֵאֵלּוּ. אָמַר לוֹ תֶּבֶל אֶחָד הֵן חֲסֵרִין. אָמַר לוֹ וְכִי יֵשׁ קֵילָרִין שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ חָסֵר כְּלוּם, אָמַר לוֹ שַׁבָּת הֵן חֲסֵרִין, אִית לָךְ שַׁבָּת. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי שַׁיְלֵיהּ לְרַבִּי, אָמַר לוֹ בְּנֵי בָּבֶל בִּזְכוּת מָה הֵן חַיִּים, אָמַר לוֹ בִּזְכוּת הַתּוֹרָה. וּבְנֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּזְכוּת מָה, אָמַר לוֹ בִּזְכוּת מַעַשְׂרוֹת. וְאַנְשֵׁי חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ בִּזְכוּת מָה, אָמַר לוֹ בִּזְכוּת שֶׁהֵן מְכַבְּדִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא פַּעַם אַחַת זִמְנַנִי אָדָם אֶחָד בְּלוּדְקִיָא וְהֵבִיא לְפָנֵינוּ דְּיוֹסְקוּס אֶחָד טָעוּן בְּי"ו מוֹטוֹת, וּבוֹ מִכָּל מַה שֶּׁנִּבְרָא בְּשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית, וְתִינוֹק אֶחָד הָיָה יוֹשֵׁב בְּאֶמְצָעִיתוֹ, וְהָיָה מַכְרִיז וְאוֹמֵר (תהלים כד, א): לַה' הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ תֵּבֵל וְישְׁבֵי בָהּ, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה שֶׁלֹא תָּזוּחַ דַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת עָלָיו. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ בְּנִי מֵהֵיכָן זָכִיתָ לְכָל הַכָּבוֹד הַזֶּה. אָמַר לִי, טַבָּח הָיִיתִי, וְכָל בְּהֵמָה יָפָה שֶׁהָיִיתִי רוֹאֶה כָּל יְמוֹת הַשַּׁבָּת הָיִיתִי מַפְרִישָׁהּ לְשַׁבָּת. וְאָמַרְתִּי לוֹ לֹא עַל מַגָּן זָכִיתָ. אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא, עוֹבָדָא הֲוָה בְּרוֹמִי בַּעֲרוֹבַת צוֹמָא רַבָּה, וַהֲוָה תַּמָּן חַד חַיָּט וַאֲזַל דְּיִזְדַּבַּן לֵיהּ חַד נוּן, אִשְׁתְּכַח הוּא וְטַלְיָא דְּאִיפַּרְכוֹס קָיְימִין עִילָוֵיהּ, הֲוָה הָדֵין מַסֵּיק לֵיהּ בְּטִימֵי וְהָדֵין מַסֵּיק לֵיהּ בְּטִימֵי, עַד דְּמָטְיָא לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר דִּינָרִין, וּנְסָבֵא הַהוּא חַיָּטָא. בְּעָנָתָא דַּאֲרִיסְטוֹן אֲמַר אִיפַּרְכוֹס לְטַלְיָה לָמָּה לָא אַיְתֵית לִי נוּן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, מָרִי מָה לִכְפֹּר מִינָךְ, אֲזַלִּית וְלָא הֲוָה תַּמָּן אֶלָּא חַד נוּן, וְאִשְׁתְּכָחִית אֲנָא וְחַד יְהוּדָאי קָיְימִין עִילָוֵיהּ, וַהֲוָה הוּא מַסֵּיק לֵיהּ בְּטִימֵי וַאֲנָא מַסֵּיק לֵיהּ בְּטִימֵי, עַד דְּמָטְיָא לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר דִּנָּרִין, מָה הֲוַת בְּעָא דְּנַיְיתָא לָךְ נוּן בִּתְרֵי עֲשַׂר דִּנָּרִין, אֶתְמְהָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ מָאן הוּא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ בַּר נָשׁ פְּלַן, שְׁלַח בַּתְרֵיהּ וַאֲתָא לְגַבֵּיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ מָה חֲמֵית חַיָּט יְהוּדָאי דַּאֲכַלְתְּ נוּן בִּתְרֵי עֲשַׂר דִּנָּרִין. אֲמַר לֵיהּ מָרִי אִית לָן חַד יוֹם, בְּכָל חוֹבִין דַּאֲנַן עָבְדִין כָּל יוֹמֵי שַׁתָּא, הוּא מְכַפֵּר עֲלֵינַן. וְכַד הוּא אֲתָא לֵית אֲנַן צְרִיכִין לְיַקּוּרֵי יָתֵיהּ. אֲמַר כֵּיוָן שֶׁהֵבֵאתָ רְאָיָה לִדְבָרֶיךָ הֲרֵי אַתָּה פָּטוּר. מַה פָּרַע לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הָלַךְ וְקָרַע אוֹתָהּ וְזִמֵּן לוֹ בְּתוֹכָהּ מַרְגָּלִיּוֹת טוֹבָה, וְהָיָה מִתְפַּרְנֵס הֵימֶנָּהּ כָּל יָמָיו.
"Bless it (the day of Shabbat) with delicacies."
Rebbi (Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi) made a feast for [the Roman Emporer] Antoninus on Shabbat. They brought before him prepared foods that were cold. He ate from them and found them very tasty. Rebbi made a feast for Antoninus on a weekday and brought before him steaming foods. Antoninus said to Rebbi those cold food on Shabbat tasted better to me than these warm foods. Rebbi explained that the warm weekday food was missing a single spice. Antoninus said to him, "is it possible that there is anything in the king’s treasury that is lacking?" Rebbi replied: "the food was missing Shabbat. Do you have Shabbat?"
Bereishit Rabbah 11:4
"Bless it (the day of Shabbat) with delicacies."
Rebbi (Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi) made a feast for [the Roman Emporer] Antoninus on Shabbat. They brought before him prepared foods that were cold. He ate from them and found them very tasty. Rebbi made a feast for Antoninus on a weekday and brought before him steaming foods. Antoninus said to Rebbi those cold food on Shabbat tasted better to me than these warm foods. Rebbi explained that the warm weekday food was missing a single spice. Antoninus said to him, "is it possible that there is anything in the king’s treasury that is lacking?" Rebbi replied: "the food was missing Shabbat. Do you have Shabbat?"
"Bless it (the day of Shabbat) with delicacies."
Rebbi (Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi) made a feast for [the Roman Emporer] Antoninus on Shabbat. They brought before him prepared foods that were cold. He ate from them and found them very tasty. Rebbi made a feast for Antoninus on a weekday and brought before him steaming foods. Antoninus said to Rebbi those cold food on Shabbat tasted better to me than these warm foods. Rebbi explained that the warm weekday food was missing a single spice. Antoninus said to him, "is it possible that there is anything in the king’s treasury that is lacking?" Rebbi replied: "the food was missing Shabbat. Do you have Shabbat?"