שבת Date: 18 Cheshvan, 5776 (11/19/16) – Bava Metzia Daf 54 ~ Eliezer Guterman

PURE PLEASURES

[54a bottom] R’ Yochanan: The verse states, “And you will call Shabbos ONEG (a pleasure).”
GM’ Yerushalmi: What is “Oneg” Shabbos? Braisa #1: Sleeping, Braisa#2: Learning. These answers are not contradictory because one is referring to a person who learns all week and the other refers to a person who works all week. — But which person goes with which answer?
Meiri (quoted in Rama): Even though, most are of the opinion that those who learn all week get extra special Mitzvos of learning on Shabbos (because spirituality is their enjoyment), and those that work all week should do the Mitzvos of sleeping and resting on Shabbos (because physicality is their enjoyment), it makes even more sense that those who learn all week should sleep on Shabbos (to show the difference of the extra Holiness of this day, and rest so as not to ‘burn out’) and those that work all week should learn on Shabbos (to show their connection to the added spiritual dimension of this day, when they have real time to learn without working).

D-E-ep Thoughts: Since there are two opinions as to what we should be doing on the Shabbos day (learning or sleeping), whatever we do, we are covered. Therefore, whenever we learn and/or sleep, we should have in mind that both the physical and spiritual parts are done with intention to be fulfilling the Mitzvos of the day. Whatever moods we may be in during a particular Shabbos (ie: sleepy or thirsty for Torah knowledge), we should focus our minds and hearts on our actions and enjoy them to their fullest.