Just the word itself brings waves of nostalgia for the beautiful Shabbosos of my childhood
Styling and photography by Sina Mizrahi
Food prep by Kayla Miller
Shabbos. Just the word itself brings waves of nostalgia for the beautiful Shabbosos of my childhood. I can smell my mother’s delicious chicken soup, and I chuckle as I remember how my father would get all fired up over the latest politics — but of course he would focus on how it fit in with the parshah and how the bottom line is that Hashem runs the world. My siblings and I sat around the table and listened, debating, laughing, and teasing each other. And of course, we finished the meal with the chocolate cake staple that was Shabbos dessert for at least 15 years of my life. We never left the table to go and play. There wasn’t anywhere that we would rather be!
Fast-forward 17 years. It’s the dream of every Yiddishe mama. What could be a better zechus for me than to prepare Shabbos for my precious family? Except that I’m finding this gem called Shabbos to be a project that I have not quite perfected! Seventeen years into making Shabbos every week, I’m still engrossed in getting it right each week and trying to attain that serene atmosphere I remember from my youth. Yes, my family is larger than the one I grew up in, and the boy species dominates our table, so the challenges are definitely there! But I’m determined to give my kids the same cozy and tranquil feeling that I associate with Shabbos.
I learned once that when there’s so much potential for ruchniyus, that’s when the satan will do whatever it takes to rob us of the goodness and treasure that he knows we can acquire. How true with Shabbos — the makor habrachah! This gem is so precious, and I want to access this much-needed brachah in my home. That’s why I feel so passionate about figuring out solutions to the challenges and making Shabbos so special.
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