In the book “Shabat Airlines” Rabbi Abram Anidjar explains “Shabat men Olam Haba” (Shabbat is like the World to Come).
There are all types of flights we take: pleasure, business, Simcha’s, etc… but there is one flight we take which is our final flight in 120 years when we have to depart this world and go to the World to Come.
In this flight we can’t take our possessions, not even our dearest ones. The only thing we can take with us is those things that are useful for our trip, “our Mitzvahs and the Torah we learned.”
The same way is when we enter Shabbat, we can only take what will be useful for the day. Delicious food that was prepared beforehand, special clothes, our prayer books, etc.. the iPad, computer, iPhone, etc.. will have to be left behind for this 25 hour trip.
Keeping with the analogy of the trip. Before we take a flight we need to prepare and be in the airport a few hours before. To get to Shabbat we need to prepare beforehand. Just as when your making a celebration has to be prepared beforehand. The preparations in themselves are also considered part of the kedusha (sanctity) of Shabbat. Even taking a hot shower before is part of this preparation and it’s accounted as a mitzvah.
B”H for Shabbat, apart from being a religious Day it is also a day of peace, tranquility and family union. We live in a time that nothing stops, we even receive text messages in the middle of the night. If it wasn’t for this saintly day we wouldn’t have time for what really matters.
Shabbat Shalom day to unplug
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