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Affluent Advancement

Rabbi Yehoshua Alt

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Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of the books, Fascinating Insights and Incredible Insights. His writings inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes, and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.

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Affluent Advancement

Among the benefits of observing Tosefes Shabbos is that it has the ability to increase the money we earn from our livelihood.[1] This is measure for measure because when one extends the boundary of Shabbos and narrowed the boundary of the weekday, Hashem extends his boundary and gives him more parnassa, when he is in a narrow strait.

 

In this way, R’ Menachem Mendel Riminover explainedעשה שבתך חול ואל תצטרך לבריות :[2] we should make our Shabbos while it is still weekday, meaning Tosefes Shabbos. Then, as it continues ואל תצטרך לבריות, we won’t need to come onto people to ask them for charity.

 

Likewise, R’ Noach Lechivitzor would translate מאשר שמנה לחמו והוא יתן מעדני מלך, from Asher, his bread will have richness and he will provide kingly delicacies.[3] What are the letters that are above the letters that comprise the name אשר? Above an א is a ב,[4] above a ש is a ת and above a ר is a ש. These letters spell שבת. This refers to Tosefes Shabbos. From this, as the pasuk continues, one earns fat parnassa, שמנה לחמווהוא refers to Shabbos itself where he will be rewarded in Gan Eden—יתן מעדני מלך.[5]

 

Every moment of Tosefes Shabbos is valued by Hashem. To fulfill Tosefes Shabbos, as the gemara says מוסיפין מחול על הקודש, add from the weekday onto the holy,[6] it has been recommended to accept Shabbos at least ten minutes earlier than we normally would. In this way we can merit the many blessings this affords.[7]



[1] It has been said that “more than we keep Shabbos, Shabbos keeps us.”

[2] Shabbos 118a. The simple translation is treat your Shabbos as a weekday rather than depend on people for aid.

[3] Breishis 49:20.

[4] The numerical value of the letter א is 1 while ב is 2. Therefore, ב is above an א, meaning it has a higher numerical value.

[5] This idea is also reflected in ביומו תתן שכרו, on that day shall you pay his hire (Devarim 24:15), as its initials spell שבת.

[6] Yoma 81b. See Orach Chaim 261:2. Incidentally, Shabbos is the holiest day, more than Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Just take a look at the punishments. For desecrating Yom Tov, one receives malkus, lashes. For desecrating Yom Kippur, one receives kareis (spiritual excision). However, for Shabbos desecration, one receives kareis and sekila (death by stoning).

[7] We should also keep in mind that no one ever lost out from keeping the Torah or performing a mitzva

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