Zemiros aren’t just a nice addition to the Shabbos meal; they go to the heart of what Shabbos is

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Its Very Essence

Zemiros aren’t just a nice addition to the Shabbos meal; they go to the heart of what Shabbos is. In his sefer Zichronos Eliyahu, Rav Eliyahu Mani writes that the word Shabbos is an acronym for “shirah bo tomar — Upon it, song shall be said.”

The Chida (Pnei Dovid, Bereishis) cites Rabbeinu Efraim, who says this concept is alluded to in the Chumash. When the Torah describes the oncoming of the very first Shabbos it says, “Vayechulu hashamayim v’ha’aretz — and Hashem completed the heaven and earth.” Rabbeinu Efraim expounds on the pasuk homiletically, explaining that the “heaven and earth” are an allusion to the body. The pasuk continues, “v’chol tzeva’am — and all its legions.” In line with the metaphor, Rabbeinu Efraim says that this is a reference to the bones and sinews.

Finally, the pasuk says, “Vayechal Elokim bayom hashvi’i — and Hashem concluded on the seventh day.” This, says Rabbeinu Efraim, parallels the final touch on human life: the mouth. The body of a fetus can be complete while in utero, but it cannot speak. The power of the mouth begins when the rest of the work is complete.

Similarly, the Sefer Yetzirah says that there are seven gateways in the body. Two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and, finally, the mouth. “Vayevarech Elokim es yom hashvi’i,” says the pasuk. Hashem blessed this seventh day, this seventh organ called the mouth.

Shabbos is a day when the mouth is blessed. Thus, using your mouth to raise your voice in song, praising Hashem for His beautiful creation, is the very essence of what Shabbos is. In fact, says the Chida, the word “hashvi’i” shares the same gematria as “shevach b’peh” (397).

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The Definition of Blessing

The Sefer Chasidim says that singing zemiros on Shabbos is actually a mitzvah d’Oraisa. He explains that Hashem instilled brachah into the world on Shabbos, as the pasuk says, “va’yivarech Elokim es yom hashvi’i — and Hashem blessed the seventh day.” But how do we define brachah? Says the Sefer Chasidim, we can understand what brachah means by examining the converse of brachah, i.e., klalah — curse.

No one person endured as cursed a life as did Iyov. In Sefer Iyov (3:6) Iyov says, “al tavo renana bo.” Iyov had reached a point where song could not enter him. So, says the Sefer Chasidim, if curse is defined as something bereft of song, then does blessing not mean something filled with song? “Va’yivarech Elokim es Yom hashvi’i” — Hashem filled the seventh day with blessing… and with song.

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On Angel’s Wings

Tosafos (Sanhedrin 37b) quotes a midrash that  the angels have six wings. These wings have the capacity to sing shirah, and the malachim use them over the course of the week, offering one shirah per day, sung by one wing, to Hashem. Questions the Tosafos, there are seven days in a week and only six wings! How do the malachim sing on Shabbos?

Tosafos answers that they don’t. We do. On Shabbos, our zemiros supplant the song of the malachim.

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Enduring Melody

MY grandfather, Reb Shimon Hershfang, grew up in the Bronx during the Great Depression. The assimilation rate in the Bronx during that time period was overwhelming. And yet my grandfather remained strong. He told me that this was because he used to spend Shabbos together with his grandfather, Reb Meshulem Feish, a very spirited Yid. And his grandfather sang “Kah Ribon” with such fervor that the ceiling would literally shake.

This image of his grandfather was seared on his soul and inspired him to remain loyal to Yiddishkeit and the ways of his ancestors.

I am here today through the power of that “Kah Ribon.”

Shabbos is a day when the mouth is blessed. Thus, using your mouth to raise your voice in song, praising Hashem for His beautiful creation, is the very essence of what Shabbos is

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein is the mara d'asra of Kehilas Tiferes Mordechai in Cedarhurst, NY, and author of numerous seforim in Lashon Hakodesh and in English for ArtScroll. He is an international lecturer and maggid shiur. His thousands of recorded shiurim are available on Torahanytime.com, podcast, his website rabbidg.com, and other venues.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 944)