Vayakhel
"Do Not Burn Fire in All Your Residences on the Day of Shabbat"
We read in the beginning of Parashat Vayakhel that Moshe assembled Benei Yisrael and instructed them with regard to the laws of Shabbat. In addition to his general warning to them that they observe Shabbat, he singles out one particular prohibition: "Do not burn fire in all your residences on the day of Shabbat" (35:3). Many Rabbis raised the question of why Moshe makes specific mention of this prohibition. There are so many forbidden activities on Shabbat; in fact, the Rabbis enumerated thirty-nine general categories of activity from which we must refrain on Shabbat. What particular message did Moshe seek to convey by emphasizing the specific prohibition against lighting a fire on Shabbat?
One answer that has been suggested is to read this verse slightly out of its natural context. We often speak of anger in terms of "fire," such as in the expression, "His blood is boiling." Moshe's warning to Benei Yisrael not to "burn fire" on Shabbat may be understood to mean that one must avoid anger and strife especially on Shabbat. On Friday afternoon, as Shabbat approaches, and particularly in the wintertime, when Shabbat begins early in the day, the Satan attempts to interfere with the serenity of Shabbat by engineering situations that add pressure and tension in the home. Often it happens that something goes wrong in the home late on Friday afternoon: something breaks or malfunctions, the husband or wife realizes that they forgot to run an important errand, and so on. The Satan knows the immense value and power of the sanctity of Shabbat, and therefore seeks to deprive us of it by causing us to become tense and angry as Shabbat sets in. All it takes is for one family member to grow angry, to shout, to make a disparaging remark, and the Shabbat atmosphere is lost for the night. The family gathers around the Shabbat table uptight and aggravated.
Moshe therefore found it necessary to warn us, "Do not burn fire in all your residences on the day of Shabbat." We must ensure not to allow the "fire" of rage and discord to "consume" the special aura of Shabbat. Whenever the situation grows tense on Friday afternoon, we must remember that this is just the Satan's scheme at work in our home – and in everybody else's home, as well – in an attempt to deprive us of the special power of Shabbat.
The Mishna says, "A person must say three things in his home before dark on Erev Shabbat: Have you tithed; Have you prepared the Eruv; Light the candle." Meaning, a husband must check that all preparations for Shabbat are complete, and then instruct his wife to light the Shabbat candles. Why does the Mishna emphasize that the husband must say this "in his home"? Is it not readily obvious that he is speaking to his wife, at home?
The answer, perhaps, is that the Mishna wants to impress upon the husband to ensure that his voice be heard only "in his home," that he does not raise his voice. Despite the pressure and anxiety that often sets in late Friday afternoon, one must overcome the natural tendency to grow angry, and make a point to speak softly and calmly, thereby avoiding the "fire" that otherwise threatens to destroy the special atmosphere of Shabbat.
