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Why does the Gemara (גמרא) pray to be 'among those who eat three meals on Shabbos (שבת)' rather than simply to fulfill the mitzvah (מצוה)? The shiur develops that Shabbos eating means 'tasting the day itself' - mindful appreciation that connects us to Shabbos's spiritual quality. This requires discipline and community support, with three meals corresponding to distinct phases of Shabbos time.
The shiur begins with an analysis of the Talmudic passage 'Yehi chelki me'ochlei shalosh seudos b'Shabbos (שבת)' (May my portion be among those who eat three meals on Shabbos), focusing on understanding what makes this a meaningful prayer. The speaker emphasizes the importance of asking proper questions in Torah (תורה) learning - questions that provide logical frameworks for understanding, not mere curiosity about arbitrary details. The discussion examines why the Gemara (גמרא) uses the language 'ochlei' (those who eat) versus 'mekayam' (those who fulfill), and why the prayer asks to be 'among' others rather than simply to fulfill the mitzvah (מצוה) personally. This leads to an investigation of the source for three Shabbos meals in Parshas Beshalach, where Moshe says 'ichlu hayom' (eat today) three times, with 'hayom' (the day) being the key word rather than a number.
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Shabbos 117b-118a
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Why does the Gemara record both Rav Yehuda bar Bilah sitting to receive Shabbos and Rabbi Chanina standing? The shiur resolves this apparent contradiction by explaining that one sits in preparation and then stands to greet Shabbos, following the protocol of rising for a king. This leads to exploring Shabbos's unique character as both melech and kallah.
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