Shabbos Day or Saturday?

When it says, “You may not do any work…” it’s not only referring to abstaining from physical work, rather it also means talking about mundane things.

Rav Hirsch states that the word zachor, remember, is the statement telling us to keep the Shabbos in our minds and hearts, which includes giving verbal expression to its holiness [see The Hirsch Chumash by Dayan Dr. I. Grunfeld, Shemos 20:7 (link http://bit.ly/1DEPXWC). Sparkling Speech by Rabbi Elyasha Sandler, pages 35, 36, 39 and 42].

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt”l says, “On Shabbos, one could refrain from the forbidden categories of work in the literal sense, but still violate the Shabbos in spirit. The Torah, therefore, states, “Six days shall you do all your tasks, and on the seventh day you shall rest.” The Torah is telling us that we must rest according to the spirit of the law as well as according to its letter. Besides abstaining from actual work, one must preserve the general aura of the Shabbos.” [SABBATH Day of Eternity, page 132. (FYI: His yahrtzeit is on the 14^th of Shevat). See also, Encyclopedia of Taryag Mitzvos by Rabbi Dovid Wax, page 178, footnote 1, second paragraph]

Rabbi Ribiat points out, “…You shall honor (the Shabbos) in your goings, (by refraining) from pursuing your weekday occupations, and from speaking (of them) - v’dabeir davar.”

From the words v’dabeir davar, the Novi tells us a halacha:

• The purpose and character of our conversations and thoughts (i.e. mindset) must be different from that to which we are accustomed during the week.

V’dabeir davar includes restrictions upon verbally expressing one’s intentions to perform a melechah after Shabbos (even if the discussion does not help achieve one’s plans in any way.) One may not state his intention to repair an appliance, send an email (or texting, facebooking, twittering or skyping), drive a car or similar melechah activities after Shabbos. In addition, one may not negotiate business deals or plan strategies, etc. on Shabbos.​​​​​​​

What type of speech is permitted?

Speech that doesn’t comprise any melechah intentions is permissible if the conversation is enjoyable to the participants. Even though mundane discussions can be permitted, it is nevertheless praiseworthy to limit or avoid such talk on Shabbos.

Why? Shabbos isn’t just a day off from our physical labor like the non-Jews view Saturday; rather it is a holy day, given to us as a gift by our Creator.

We say on Shabbos morning:

If you cannot access the video, click here.

Rav Yisrael Meir HaKohein Kagan or better known as the Chofeitz Chayim says, “Men and boys of learning-age are especially admonished not to squander away the precious Shabbos hours with idle chatter, but rather to engross themselves in the study of Torah, each according to his abilities.”

The Eitz Yosef teaches that all the weekday blessings and success come as a result of the Shabbos’s holiness.

Therefore, what you put into Shabbos is what you get out of it. The amount of energy (spirituality) you inject into sanctifying the Shabbos, will determine the amount of blessing that will be deposited into the coming week.

Here is a story of one incident that changed a Gadol’s entire life:

Rav Scheinberg’s daughter, Rivka, became sick with pneumonia when she was 5 years old, and her condition became critical on Shabbos. Had this occurred on a weekday, as a merit for her recovery, Rav Scheinberg would have accepted upon himself to fast on that day of the week for the rest of his life. However, since it was Shabbos when it is forbidden to fast, Rav Scheinberg asked the rebbetzin if she would permit him to accept upon himself not to speak entire Shabbos, except while learning Torah or davening. This was a monumental under taking for the rebbetzin since the only time she had to speak to him was on Shabbos when there was more family time. But she did not hesitate and encouraged him to do this taanis dibbur. And even after his daughter had a robust recovery, Rav Scheinberg continued this practice - for the rest of this life (Rav Scheinberg by Rabbi Yechiel Spero, page 94).

Why did Rav Scheinberg specifically choose to accept upon himself a taanis dibbur? What can we learn from this?

Like what? It’s responsible for one’s thoughts and feelings etc. The brain is the master control center of speech (see Sparkling Speech by Rabbi Elysha Sandler). When one communicates, the brain tells the mouth what to say. A person’s speech expresses his innermost thoughts of what he’s feeling and thinking. Rav Shlomo Harkavy zt"l said, “One’s thoughts are a product of his behavior and situation. As a rule, one’s thoughts are a product of what he is involved with at that time” (Sefer Zos Brisi by Rabbi Shimon Finkelman, page 165). He also creates his atmosphere (mood) for him and those who surround him as well. What a person speaks about on Shabbos will have a profound influence on how one “views” Shabbos and the impact that it will have on him. Therefore, we have to SOS - Scrutinize Our Speech - to ensure that we (i.e. our souls) can be in sync with the holiness and spirit of this day.

Furthermore, Rashi says that the commandment of the Shabbos includes not only deed but attitude, for when the Shabbos arrives, one should feel that all his work is finished, even though his desk or workbench is still piled high (Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash, page 410, notes 9-10). There are two things that Rashi is telling us. A person’s attitude (which takes place in his mind), will greatly affect how he will come into Shabbos. The Chofeitz Chayim says, “Just as a person’s thoughts determine the mann’s taste, so, too, ‘our thoughts’ determine our experience of Torah and mitzvos” (Rav Schwab on Chumash by Rabbi Myer Schwab, page 263). The topics he engages in on Shabbos will affect his attitude toward what the meaning of what Shabbos is supposed to be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Watch your Thoughts, they become Words; Watch your Words, they become Actions; Watch your Actions, they become Habits; Watch your Habits, they become your Character; Watch your Character, it becomes your Destiny." Similarly, Earl Nightingale said, “We become what we think about.” For this reason, one should preferably choose a “Torah subject” that is enjoyable to him on Shabbos. Here two titles that I would recommend: Living Shabbos and Embrace Shabbos by Rabbi David Sutton.

Why do the halachos of V’Dabeir Davar seem to be accidentally transgressed? This could due to the fact that we don’t prepare spiritually for Shabbos. As Rabbi Frand says:

“When it comes to Pesach, every man prepares before Pesach; some even buy a new Haggadah each year so that they can come to the Seder prepared.” We have to do the very same for Shabbos. We cannot plop ourselves down at the table Friday night unprepared and yet expect to have a meaningful Shabbos. Especially for those who have children at home - you must make Shabbos special for them.

A friend from Silver Spring came to show me a notebook in which he writes down riddles for his kids during the week. Friday night at the meal, they have family time trying to work out the riddles. Another person told me that at the Seudah in his home, each person has to say a special thing Hashem did for them during the week. They don’t have to say a vort or read from their parshah sheet, which most people don’t pay attention to [We’re All in This Together, pages 165 – 166. (See also With Hearts Full of Love by Rav Mattisyahu Salomon, pages 69-70)]

We must learn the halachos of v’dabeir davar which will help us be more conscious of what we speak about on Shabbos. It will also ensure that the holiness of Shabbos remains elevated.

With Hashem’s help, may we merit the words of the prophet:

This article is dedicated:

• In memory of Eliyahu ben Mordechai, Mashah Tzivyah bas R’ Shlomo Zalman, Altah Soshah Devorah bas Aryeh Leibush, Chaim ben Shmuel Efraim Zalman, Tuvyah Shlomo ben Naftali Tzvi HaKohein, Esther Perel bas R’ Shlomo, Miriam bas Zelig Shaul, Menachem ben Shimon, Menachem ben Zev, Sarah bas HaRav Yisroel, Yosef ben Moshe HaLevi, Yisroel ben Yeshayah, Elisheva Basyah bas Yechiel Ephraim and all the other departed souls of our nation.
  

• For the complete recovery of Chayah Malka bas Bas-Sheva, among the other sick ones of our nation.