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Yitro 2 Moshe assembled the entire community of Israel and said to them, "These are the words that Hashem has commanded (for you) to do. During the six weekdays you should do your work, but the seventh day, you should keep sanctified as a Sabbath of Sabbaths for Hashem .... The Beis Yoseph [Chap. 290](R' Yoseph Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch) quotes a Medrash Tanchumah (which I have not been able to find) as follows: "From the beginning of the Torah until here we do not find the mention of 'assembly' at the beginning of a section other than this one. Why? Because here Hashem told Moshe, 'Go down and make great assemblies on Shabbos. In this way, the generations which follow yours, will learn to gather in large assemblies on every Shabbos. They will enter into the Shuls and study houses to study the Torah in public.....Hashem told the Jewish people, 'If you will assemble every Shabbos in you Shuls and study houses and study the Torah and the words of the prophets, I will consider it as if you truly made me King over the world." The Tur (ibid.) states. ..."after having a sleep (on Shabbos afternoon) we set aside time to learn. We find in the Medrash, "the Torah said before Hashem, "When the Jewish people will enter their land, one will run to take care of his vineyard, and another will run to care for his field. What will happen with me? Answered Hashem, "I have for you a partner, and her name is Shabbos. On Shabbos the Jewish people will not be doing their work and will be able to involve themselves in the learning of Torah."" It is therefore incumbent to establish a time for study to let the people know the Laws of Hashem and his Torah." Continues the Tur: "At this time of study, it is prohibited to arrange alternative activities such as a meal etc. The Gemara in Gitten (38b) writes, ".. for these three offences households become impoverished... and for taking their Shabbos meal at the time of study... For there were two families in Yerushalayim one of which used to take its meal at the time of community study... and they both became extinct." The Bach (R' Yoel Sirkas) explains the Tur. "We see from his words that the study time should be set aside for the practical application of Halachos, rather than the study of Agada. The original ordinance of Moshe Rabbanu was to study Halachos of Shabbos on Shabbos... not to show off how you can explain a passuk in many different ways." This Halachoh is mentioned in Shulchan Aruch and is brought by all the Poskim. The Mishnah Brura writes. "This is an explicit rebuke to those who go wandering in the streets and market places at that time. If the Shabbos meal which is a Mitzvah is prohibited, all the more so, to wander about and spend time talking is not to be condoned." |
