Class 1: Distinction between Shabbat and Yom Tov

[Moderator]

Rabbi Isaacson speaks about the mitzvah of Kavod Shabbos in this class.  He points out that the halachos of Kavod Shabbos are really about proper preparation for Shabbos, and directly parallel the Halachos of preparation for Tefilah.  Rav Soloveitchik explains that this is because both are in preparation for an engagement with Shechina.  How can one create an atmosphere of engagement with Shechina on both erev Shabbos and Shabbos in our own homes and lives?

[michael2]

Mitzvot Tzrikus Kavanna.  Mitzvot require kavanna.  I think the biggest issue is that we don't think of the Shechina or G-d at all when we are preparing for Shabbat.  Even on Shabbat we often go through the motions, including divrei Torah without really contemplating that Shabbat is a OS a sign of the covenent between H-shem and the Jewish people.

As the Rabbi notes in the shiur.  We are supposed to take some time to contemplate H-shem as part of our preparation for Shabbos.   The use of the halachot for tefilla is a great parrallel in our discussion.  We also often manage to go through davening three times a day without thinking of G-d.

[Simcha1]

R' Isaacson brought up the famous $#!@a of the Rosh, that erusin is not a mitzvah but rather a hechsher mitzvah, and that is why it gets a birkas hashevach.  I heard in a shiur by R' Bezalel Rudinsky from Monsey that perhaps even the Rosh could that erusin is a mitzvah deor'.  He draws a distinction between mitzvos kiyumi and chiyuvi, and only mitzvos chiyuvi would get a bracha, with the way to differentiate between the two is whether or not there is another way to perform the task at hand.  The example given is shchita, and since this is only a reshus, but still gets a bracha, it must be because shchita is the only way to be matir the meat of an animal.  Marrying a woman, on the other hand, is not the only way to have children, as in theory it is possible to have a concubine, so it does not get a birkas hamitzvah.  It gets a birkas hanehenin, but while we're making a bracha already, we can throw in aspects of birkas hamitzvah as well.  I thought this was interesting.