The family sits around a beautifully set table, bedecked in their Shabbos finery. The table is replete with all the traditional Shabbos foods: challah, fish, chicken soup, and more. The air around them shimmers with joy and holiness, the Shechinah itself hovering above the scene...
Fantasy imagery? Not at all. It is the picture of every Jewish family at their Shabbos table each week.
The connection a Jew has with Hashem begins at his Shabbos table, as that is a primary starting point to attaining emunah, yiras Shamayim, and a loving relationship with our Creator. Shabbos is Hashem's special gift to His beloved nation; it is like a private invitation for us to dine at His very own table. By our sitting there with decorum, partaking in the meaning-rich traditional foods, and showing our appreciation and enjoyment of this precious gift, we are bonding with Hakadosh Baruch Hu in a most intense way.
In Shabbos Secrets Volume 2, popular author Rabbi Dovid Meisels explores the layers of meaning behind our traditional Shabbos foods and customs. Reading this book will open your eyes to the wondrous power inherent in Shabbos food and how it serves as a connection between body and soul.
Truly there is nothing so powerful as a Yid's Shabbos table.