Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Head of the Yeshiva: Chizuk for the 14th of Elul and the Hilula of Rabbi Yosef Chaim the Ben Ish Chai - with a focus on Shabbat

Preparing for Judgment and the Symbolic Lessons of Fish

We stand on the fifth day toward the approaching Holy Sabbath, the 14th of Elul, 5786 [2026]. Only two weeks remain in the month of Elul—this week's portion of Ki Tavo, next week's portion of Nitzavim, and immediately following is Rosh Hashana, the great and awesome Day of Judgment. With two weeks behind us and two remaining, we must ask ourselves how we can succeed with the help of Hashem to merit a favorable judgment, walk in His ways, and make proper use of these crucial remaining days through prayer, mitzvot, good deeds, and Torah study.

This year, Rosh Hashana falls on the Sabbath. While some customs abstain from eating fish (dag) on Rosh Hashana because the word resembles da'agah (anxiety/worry)—whereas others eat it as an omen to "be fruitful and multiply like fish"—when Rosh Hashana falls on the Sabbath, everyone eats fish. A Sabbath cannot be left without fish, and through it, Hashem removes our worries. Some specifically eat sardines (sardinim), which can be homiletically broken down into sar dinim ("judgments depart"), signifying the removal of harsh heavenly decrees. My honorable father did not eat fish on Rosh Hashana, but whenever the holiday coincided with the Sabbath, we would partake in fish.

Our Ashkenazi brethren traditionally say the blessing, "May we be for a head and not for a tail," over the head of a fish stuffed with gefilte fish, whereas Sephardic custom uses the head of a ram. But what is the deeper significance of the fish head?

Unlike land animals, a fish can only swim forward; it cannot move in reverse. Furthermore, animals such as chickens or dogs can turn their heads backward to groom themselves, but a fish's head constantly faces forward. This teaches us the core attitude required for serving Hashem: we must always move forward. Do not sink into sadness or melancholy over past missteps—what has passed is gone. While a person must perform proper soul-searching, the primary focus must remain on progress, saying, "From here onward, I advance."

Additionally, in nature, larger fish often hunt smaller fish. Yet Hashem, in His divine providence, ensures that when a large fish feeds, the prey approaches head-first. If a large fish were to swallow another fish tail-first, the sharp fins would tear its stomach. Thus, Hashem performs a kindness by positioning the food head-first. Symbolically, the head represents spirituality, while the body represents materiality. When a person prioritizes spirituality over physical pursuits, Hashem guarantees that all physical needs are provided seamlessly without causing harm or distress.

Moving Forward: Lessons from the Sages and Yehuda

The Lev Simcha of Gur cited a narrative from the Jerusalem Talmud regarding Rabbi Yochanan and Resh Lakish. As they entered the bathhouse of Tiberias, a poor man asked them for charity. Unable to give him money while entering the bathhouse, they asked him to wait until they exited. Upon coming out, they found that the poor man had passed away. Seeking to honor him, they declared, "If we did not merit to care for him during his life, let us perform his purification and burial."

Upon stripping his clothes for burial, they discovered belts full of money hidden around his waist; he was actually a wealthy man. They immediately recalled the statement of Rabbi Abbahu: "We must be grateful to impostors, for were it not for them, anyone who refused a beggar would be punished instantly by Heaven."

Consider the emotional reaction of an ordinary person in that situation—he would succumb to overwhelming guilt and despair for not giving charity immediately. But the Sages did not sink into paralysis. They focused on moving forward to perform the mitzvah at hand, whereupon Heaven revealed to them that the man was an impostor and no harm had been done.

We observe this same principle in the life of Yehuda (Judah). After he suggested selling Yosef into slavery, Yaakov tore his garments in deep mourning, the Divine Spirit departed from the house, and the brothers demoted Yehuda from his leadership position, blaming him for the tragedy. A person in Yehuda's position could easily have descended into deep gloom and despair over his mistake. Yet the Torah states: "And it came to pass at that time, that Yehuda went down from his brethren..." and he went on to build a family. Yehuda taught an essential lesson in moral conduct: a person must never allow failure or hardship to paralyze them. "Shake yourself from the dust; arise!" One must continually move forward from one mitzvah to the next.

The Evil Inclination (Yetzer Hara)—described by King Shlomo (Solomon) as an "old and foolish king"—uses clever tactics to derail a person. He either minimizes sin to tempt someone or, after a misstep, convinces the person that they are beyond redemption, driving them into the lowest depths of despair. To counter this, Hashem gifted us holy days, the Sabbath, and joy to constantly elevate our spirits.

The Supernatural Protection and Merit of Shabbat

Rabbi Zamir Cohen related a remarkable event that occurred during the massacre on Simchat Torah in the Gaza Envelope kibbutzim. A young mother who had given birth the previous Sabbath was at home with her family. Two years prior, she had begun observing Shabbat, though her husband found it difficult. To accommodate their growth, they routinely left their secular kibbutz every weekend to stay with relatives in Bnei Brak or Tel Aviv.

However, on that specific Simchat Torah Sabbath, because the woman had recently given birth, they stayed at home and hosted another couple. When the terrorists invaded the kibbutz on Sabbath morning, they carried detailed intelligence operational lists targeting each residence. On this couple's home, the terrorists' notes indicated: "They never spend Sabbath at home." Assuming the house was empty, the terrorists bypassed it entirely without entering, even while screams echoed throughout the neighborhood. Their devotion to Shabbat became their physical salvation.

Another incident involved a Kollel scholar from Bnei Brak named Yehuda, who was driving late at night on the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway. He noticed a stranded motorist from Kibbutz Be'eri—a secular community—who had run out of fuel. Yehuda drove to a gas station, filled a jerrycan, returned, and refused any payment, stating it was a privilege to help. Deeply moved by this selfless kindness, the kibbutz member admitted that his lifelong prejudice against religious Jews was a mistake.

Yehuda kept in touch with the man, calling him every Friday to share a short story for his little daughter. In the month of Elul 5783 [late summer 2023], the kibbutz member asked Yehuda: "Tell me the truth, how do you survive Shabbat? Stuck at home without phones or media—it sounds like a prison!" Yehuda explained the deep peace, family connection, and delight (Oneg) of Shabbat, inviting him: "Come spend a Shabbat with us, and we will spoil you."

The kibbutz member accepted the invitation for the specific weekend of Simchat Torah, bringing his elderly father from Sderot along as well. Because they were staying with Yehuda in Bnei Brak celebrating Shabbat, their lives were saved while their home kibbutz suffered devastating attacks.

The holy Ohr HaChaim writes that the effort a person invests in Shabbat during these final weeks of the year directly influences the favorable decrees issued on Rosh Hashana. One should prepare for Shabbat early—purchasing the fish, meat, and delicacies well in advance.

The Power of Early Shabbat Preparation

It is told that the Ridvaz (Rabbi Yaakov David Wilovsky), the famed Rabbi of Slutsk, fell critically ill in his advanced years. As his soul ascended to the Heavenly Court, the judges decreed that his time had come to depart the world. When asked if he had any defense to present, the Ridvaz noted his extensive, groundbreaking written commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud (Talmud Yerushalmi). The Court responded that other scholars could complete the commentary. He then cited his extensive charitable work with widows and orphans, but the Court noted that other gabbaim could fulfill those duties.

Feeling helpless, the Ridvaz remembered a private custom: he and his wife consistently cleaned and polished their home starting Thursday night, so that by Friday morning, the entire house was pristine, the food was set on the hot plates, and the household had already welcomed the sanctity of Shabbat early. Upon hearing this, the Heavenly Court declared: "If these are your deeds, 20 years are added to your life!"

By the merit of preparing for Shabbat early, the Ridvaz recovered, completed his commentary on the Jerusalem Talmud, moved to the Land of Israel, and established a prominent yeshiva of 150 students in Safed before passing away two decades later.

A similar account is told regarding the father of the Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles). The Rama was one of the greatest halakhic authorities in history—so much so that a heavenly messenger (Maggid) warned Rabbi Yosef Karo (author of the Beit Yosef) to hasten his writing of the Shulchan Aruch, as a great Sage in Poland was writing a parallel work (Darkhei Moshe).

How did the Rama's father merit such an extraordinary son? He owned a fabric store and held a strict practice to close his business every Friday at 11:00 AM without exception to prepare for Shabbat. One Friday, a wealthy merchant arrived right at closing time, seeking to execute a massive, highly lucrative transaction that dragged on. Recognizing the conflict with his Shabbat preparations, the father halted the deal, walked away from the immense financial gain, and closed his shop. In reward for honoring the Shabbat early, he was granted a son who illuminated the Jewish world—the Rama.

Finally, Rabbi Simcha HaKohen Kaplan, the late Rabbi of Tzfat (Safed), recounted that during his youth studying in yeshiva abroad, he lodged with a family that had an only son. One Friday afternoon, the father had to travel briefly to a nearby town. The mother was overwhelmed with anxiety, pleading with her husband to return on time and repeatedly calling him.

Seeing her distress, Rabbi Simcha asked her why she was so fearful. She revealed that for many years they had been childless. When they finally had their son, he fell critically ill with a terminal condition, and top professors gave him less than six months to live. In desperation, the mother traveled to Radin to seek a blessing from the Chafetz Chaim.

The Chafetz Chaim instructed them: "There is one thing you can do. Accept Shabbat early, such that by 1:00 PM on Friday your entire house is fully prepared for Shabbat. If you do this, your son will live and be healthy."

The family immediately adopted the practice. Shortly thereafter, they brought the child back to the doctor for evaluations. Upon examining the boy, the doctor insisted: "This cannot be the same child! Bring me the sick boy—this child is completely healthy and shows no trace of illness!" Through the meticulous honor and early preparation of Shabbat, the boy was granted complete healing.