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On the first Shabbos after Pesach we bless the new Hebrew month of Iyar. Iyar is when the manna began to fall from heaven. There is a minhag to bake shlissel challah (shlissel means “key” in Yiddish.) Some people bake the challah in the shape of a key. Others bake the challah with their actual key baked in the dough, (wrap it in foil first!) There is also a custom to sprinkle sesame seeds on the challah to remind us of the manna. Call it a segulah for sustenance, call it a reminder that our livelihood is in G-d’s Hands, or call it a bit of fun at the Shabbos table for your children!

“This month shall be for you the beginning of the months..” (Shemos 12/1) This refers to the month of Nissan. G-d tells the Jews that Nissan will be “for you” the month of your redemption. Without experiencing the bitter darkness of slavery, we would not know, or appreciate, the light of true freedom.

This is the first commandment given to the Jewish nation. G-d gives us responsibility for establishing the new months. At the time of the Chanuka story, the Greeks understood the power of this commandment. They chose the establishment of the new month as one of the three mitzvos they tried to abolish, (the other two being: keeping of Shabbos and circumcision.)

On Parshas HaChodesh, the Shabbos before Rosh Chodesh Nissan, we read about the establishment of Nissan as the first month, and about the honor that must be shown to the King when he enters or leaves the Sanctuary.

“For you.” G-d created darkness, for us to see the light. He created slavery and freedom. He gave us His commandments for our benefit. May this be a Nissan of light, of freedom and of mitzvos. The Nissan of the Final Redemption, B’EH…

Ever wonder what a “heifer” is? Well, it is a young female cow that has not born a calf. This Shabbos we read the third of the four parshiot, Parshas Parah. This is read on the Shabbos immediately preceeding Parshas HaChodesh (which is read the Shabbos before Rosh Chodesh Nissan.)

When the Temple stood, the only way to purify oneself from contact with the dead was with the ashes of a red heiffer. The reading of this parsha was a reminder to purify oneself in order to be able to bring the Pesach offering at its right time. Although we no longer have the Temple, or the ability to purify ourselves as prescribed by the Torah, by reading this parsha, it is as if we had purified ourselves.

Thus begins our “cleaning” for Pesach… Shabbat Shalom!

On the Shabbos before Purim we are commanded to remember what Amalek did to us as we were leaving Egypt. The nations of the world feared the Jews after the miracles that G-d wrought for them in Exodus from Egypt. Amalek “came along” and struck the weak from behind, “cooling” the fear that the nations had of Israel.

The Torah commands us to hate Amalek and his descendants and to never forget what that nation did to the Jews until their memory is erased. We read this on the Shabbos before Purim. This connects the commandment to wipe out Amalek to the wiping out of Haman, Amalek’s descendant, in the Purim story.

What is the power of Amalek? Esav had spent his whole life trying to kill Ya’akov, but to no avail. So, he bequeathed the task to his grandson Amalek. Amalek asked his grandfather how he would be able to accomplish what his grandfather had not been able to do. Esav’s answer was, wait until Ya’akov’s descendants sin, then pounce on them.

Israel’s protection against sin is rooted in Torah study. Amalek wants us to be so busy with worldly matters that we neglect our Torah study. When we have serenity of the soul, we recognize that sin is empty. Shabbos is the day of rest for the soul. It is the day that is best suited for fighting and blotting out the memory of Amalek. Shabbos Zachor – remember who you are, and who you are meant to be. Use Shabbos and Torah study to get there. Good Shabbos!

Imagine you were busy the whole week trying to make a living. It was a hard week. Things maybe didn’t go the way that you wanted. You get to the end of the week and G-d so to speak says, “Come, you deserve a break. Let’s spend Shabbos together, this one is on Me…”

All of a person’s income for the year is decided in heaven between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Yet, the Gemorrah (Beitzah 15b) specifies that this does not include the expenses related to Shabbos. In preparing for Shabbos, G-d so to speak “covers” our expenses to the level that we are accustomed. If we spend less, He will give us less, and if we spend more, He will give us more.

That is because He wants us to be His guest on Shabbos. “Borrow on My account, and I will pay,” is His message to us. So, this Shabbos, don’t forget- put out the best that you can, because G-d will be picking up the bill…

Throughout the week, we are immersed in the trials and tribulations of trying to make a living, building a home or family, staying healthy and alive. We want to have a good life. We try to do whatever we can to make that happen. By constantly running and doing, we think we are in control. We can get confused and lose sight of the Hand of the Creator in Creation. So, by granting us the gift of Shabbos, God reminds us each and every week to stop and to just be. When Shabbos comes in, we are commanded to behave as if we had really managed to complete all of our work.

If you had really managed to do everything that you set out to do this week how would you feel? How would you behave? Imagine the overwhelming happiness of accomplishment and peace of mind you would feel. No room for any worries or negative thoughts. Well, that is what God wants for us each and every week.

So when you light candles or make kiddush this week, really have in mind to enjoy the gift of Shabbos. Experience the joy of completion. Really keep Shabbos.

In his family, the custom was to serve the kugel right at the beginning of the meal. Friday was a busy day. Anyone who peeked into the pots of delicious food was told that the pot’s contents were reserved for Shabbos Kodesh. By the time the men got home from shul, they were always very hungry. So, serving the kugel first took the edge off of their hunger, and allowed them to enjoy the slower pace of the Shabbos meal.

In her family, the kugel was served at the end of the meal, as a Shabbos treat. Imagine the husband’s surprise when his new wife did not serve him kugel at the beginning of the meal. Imagine his confusion when she served it to him at the end of the meal. This went on for weeks, with each one insisting that their minhag was the correct one.

Finally, the couple took their dilemma to the Rav. The Rav listened intently and gave the couple the following advise. He told the wife to make Shalom Bayis kugel. He said she could use her own recipe, but that she should make two. He instructed her to serve the first kugel at the beginning of the meal. At that point, she would be eating Shalom Bayis kugel. Then at the end of the meal, she should serve the second kugel. Then, the husband would be eating Shalom Bayis Kugel.

A simple solution. Give to one another and be happy. This Shabbos, try serving Shalom Bayis kugel, and have a Shabbat Shalom!

In the Shabbos morning prayers we recite chapter 92 of Tehillim (Psalms). Adam, the first man is credited with having composed this psalm. Adam sinned in the afternoon of the sixth day. When he saw the sun setting, he believed that the impending darkness was the permanent result of his having sinned. When the sun rose the next morning, he was overcome with joy and sang praises to Hashem and to Shabbos.

Moshe Rabbeinu is alternatively credited with composing this psalm. When he saw the Jews suffering from Egyptian bondage, he went to Paro to ask him to give the Jews one day off to rest. Moshe argued that if Paro did not give them a day off, they would not survive. When Paro agreed, Moshe established Shabbos as the day of rest for the Jews. In this psalm, Moshe wanted to console the Jews who saw the wicked Egyptians flourishing while the righteous Jews suffered.

This psalm speaks to the questions that we have about the apparent inequities in this world, and the joy that we will experience in Messianic times when all of our questions will be answered. Shabbos is a time when we express our faith, even in the night of exile, that we trust that the dawn is coming. May it be soon…

This week is Shabbat Shekalim. This is the first of the four special parshiyos: shekalim, zachor, parah and hachodesh. We read the Torah commandment for Jewish males over the age of twenty to contribute one half-shekel to the communal offerings brought in the Tabernacle. Since no longer have a Temple, we now read this parsha instead.

What was special about this offering? Whether rich or poor, each Jew was obligated to bring the same amount. For the poor person, that might necessitate pawning or selling a garment, or borrowing the money. This highlights that regardless of one’s financial worth, all Jews are equal before Hashem. Thus, through their participation in bringing this offering, each and every Jew was equally represented in the daily communal offerings and upkeep of the Temple.

Why were we commanded to bring a half and not a whole shekel? To teach that no one is a complete entity by himself. The nation of Israel is made up of a multitude of individuals who are all dependent upon one another. To be complete, Jews need to be united with one another, for the greater good of the community. From this we learn how precious Jewish unity is to G-d.

Hashem blessed Shabbos by providing a double portion of manna on Friday so that the Jews would not need to collect it on Shabbos. He sanctified Shabbos, making it special and Holy, by refraining from providing the manna on that day.

This is a model for how we are to relate to our livelihood on Shabbos. Hashem provides for all of our needs. He takes care of us during the week, as well as on Shabbos. G-d relieves us of the burden of having to work on Shabbos. If a person insists on working on Shabbos, he will add to the amount of effort he puts in, but not to the amount of income he will receive.

We can choose to use Shabbos as a day to connect and appreciate the blessings that Hashem gives us. We can choose to be His partner in sanctifying the day as unique and holy. What a beautiful way to testify our belief and trust that Hashem is indeed the Creator of the Universe.