Lecha Dodi likras kallah pnei Shabbos nekablah. Come my beloved – meet the bride.
The idea that Shabbos is Klal Yisrael’s soulmate is expressed beautifully with the following parable. Once a prince was betrothed to a noble and kindhearted queen. Before they were married, however, tragedy struck, as an enemy nation attacked the kingdom and took the queen captive. She was placed in exile, separated from her home and her betrothed. The prince, heartbroken but determined, never forgot her. He refused to give into despair, because he believed that one day the two would be reunited. To maintain his belief, each week on a set day, he would don his finest garments and prepare a feast, in the belief that one day his bride would return.
Years passed, and, although many urged him to move on, the prince remained steadfast in his faithfulness. Then, one day, against all odds, the queen was released from captivity and returned to the prince. Words cannot describe the joy that permeated their reunion, for, as the years had passed, their longing for one another had not dissipated – it had deepened.
Throughout our tumultuous history, even in exile, we have prepared for Shabbos with unwavering devotion, setting the table, lighting the candles and welcoming our eternal soulmate Shabbos like the exiled queen. Those who continue to remain loyal to Shabbos find their souls uplifted and their lives enriched.
