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1)

(a) Rebbi Chaviva and Rebbi Yanai used to greet the Shabbos on Erev Shabbos, dressed in their Shabbos clothes: the one would say 'Bo'u ve'Netzei Likras Shabbos ha'Malka'! the other 'Bo'i Chalah, Bo'i Chalah'!

(b) When Raba bar Rav Huna arrived at the house of Rabah bar Rav Nachman for Shabbos, they surprised him by spontaneously serving him three Sa'ah of wafer-loaves smeared in the juice of the fat-tail (or in oil) - even though he had not informed them of his arrival. They pointed out however, that there was no reason not to prepare for the advent of Shabbos any less than for him.

(c) Rebbi Aba purchased meat in order to ensure that, at some time on Shabbos, he would taste of the best. As he handed his servants his latest purchase, he would instruct them to quickly prepare it for Shabbos, before he returned with his next purchase.

(a) When Rebbi Avahu fanned the fire li'Chevod Shabbos, he would sit on an ivory chair.

(b) The Amora'im preferred to do something li'Chevod Shabbos themselves, because, as the Gemara says in Kidushin (41a), it is preferable to perform a Mitzvah oneself than through a Sheli'ach.

(c) Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak used to go in and out, schlepping the vessels, clothes and food that were needed for Shabbos. 'If Rav Ami and Rav Asi were to pay me a visit, wouldn't I do the same'? he explained.

(a) Yosef Mokir Shabbi was a man who honored the Shabbos, as his name suggests. He did this, it appears, by always buying things li'Chevod Shabbos, at any price, at any time - and also by personally preparing the fish for Shabbos.

(b) The soothsayers told that wealthy gentile that all his possessions were destined to go to Yosef Mokir Shabi.

(c) Te prevent this from happening, he sold all of his possessions, and with the money he bought a jewel, which he fixed in his hat.

(d) The gentile's hat blew into the river, and a fish swallowed the jewel. That fish arrived in the market late on Friday afternoon, and the fisherman did not think that anybody would be interested in buying a fish so late, until someone advised him to ask Yosef Mokir Shabi. He did, and Yosef Mokir Shabi bought the fish. Upon cutting the fish open, he discovered the jewel, which was priced at thirteen attics of golden Dinrim (though this amount is an exaggeration). This is how Shabbos paid Yosef Mokir Shabi back.

(a) "Aser te'Aser" - teaches us that someone who gives Ma'asros properly, becomes wealthy ('Aser Bishevil she'Tis'asher').

(b) One would merit great wealth ...

1. ... in Bavel (where there were no Ma'asros) - by honoring the Torah (Talmidei-Chachamim);
2. ... in others countries in Chutz la'Aretz (where there were no Talmidei-Chachamim either), by honoring Shabbos.

(c) The butcher told Rebbi Chiya bar Aba that Hashem granted him wealth because he was accustomed to honoring the Shabbos. What did he used to do? On Shabbos, he would serve the most delicious foods and wonderful spices on beautifully-adorned tables. When the tables were brought in, they would announce "la'Hashem ha'Aretz u'Melo'ah" (before the Berachah) and (after the Berachah) "ha'Shamayim Shamayim la'Hashem, ve'ha'Aretz Nasan li'Venei Adam" (both in Tehilim).

(d) Rebbi Yehoshua told the Roman Emperor that it was only those who observed the Shabbos, who were able to enjoy the delicious aroma of the Shabbos Cholent.

(a) When Yeshayah wrote "ve'li'Kedosh Hashem Mechubad" - he was referring to Yom Kipur, and what he meant was to honor it with nice clothes (and with nice lights - Rosh Si'man 5).

(b) Rav holds that one honors Shabbos by eating *earlier* than usual, and Shmuel, by eating later, because by postponing the meal, one works up a better appetite - and more appetite means more Oneg Shabbos.

(c) Rav Papa made a compromise between Rav and Shmuel: he told Rav Papa bar Aba's sons - who were wealthy and accustomed to eating meat every day - that if they usually ate early, they should postpone their Shabbos meal, and eat late; whereas if they normally ate late, they should bring their Shabbos meal forward, and eat early.

(d) Rav Sheshes, worried that he would force the Chachamim to remain at his Derashah, and deprive them of the Mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos - would seat them in a spot where the sun in the summer and the cold in the winter would force them to get up and leave, when the time to eat fell due.

6)

(a) Rebbi Zeira would implore pairs of Talmidei-Chachamim not to desecrate the Mitzvah of Oneg Shabbos by continued Torah-discussion, once the time to eat Se'udas Shabbos fell due.

(b) We learn from "va'Yechulu" (without its first 'Vav') that whoever says "va'Yechulu" on Friday night (declaring that he believes in the creation), becomes a partner with Hashem in the creation of the world.

(c) We learn from "bi'Devar Hashem Shamayim Na'asu" - that (there are times when) words are considered like actions, since Hashem created the world only with words, yet the Pasuk uses the word "Na'asu". That is why, although one has only made a verbal declaration, one nevertheless becomes a partner in the actual creation.

(d) It is the two angels who accompany the man home from Shul on Friday night, after he has said "va'Yechulu" in his Ma'ariv prayer - who say "ve'Sar Avonecha, ve'Chatascha Techupar".

(e) One of the two angels was a 'good' angel, the other one, a 'bad' angel. If, upon arrival at the man's house, they found the candles lit, the table laid and the beds made, then the good angel would declare 'Let it always be so'! and the 'bad' angel was forced to answer 'Amen'! But if not, then it was the 'bad' angel who declared 'Let it always be so'!, and the 'good' angel who was forced to answer 'Amen'!

(a) Someone who is not hungry on Friday night, should nevertheless lay the table and eat at least a Kezayis, and the same applies to someone who is not hungry on Motza'ei Shabbos - he too, should lay the table on Motza'ei Shabbos and eat at least a Kezayis.

(b) 'Chamin be'Motza'ei Shabbos, Melugma' - means that it is healthy to eat something hot on Motza'ei Shabbos.

(c) It is also healthy to eat warm bread on Motza'ei Shabbos.

(d) Rebbi Avahu used to prepare a third (born) calf on Motza'ei Shabbos, from which he used to eat only its kidney. Until one day, his son Avimi, suggested that it would be cheaper for him to reserve the kidney from the calf that he Shechted for Shabbos for Motza'ei Shabbos. He followed his son's advice, and a lion came and ate it.

(a) If someone answers "Amen, Yehei Shemei Raba" with full Kavanah, Hashem will tear up any evil decree that has already been written - even if his sins include a little bit of idolatry.

(b) We learn from the Pasuk "Pischu She'arim, ve'Yavo Goy, Shomer Emunim" - that if someone answers Amen with full Kavanah, the gates of Gan Eden are opened for him.

(c) 'Amen' is the acronym of 'Keil Melech Ne'eman'.

(a) The most common cause of fires - is Chilul Shabbos.

(b) "ve'Lo Sichbeh" - means that the fires will occur at a time when nobody is permitted to extinguish them.

(c) Chilul Shabbos also results in the destruction of Yerushalayim.

(d)

1. Rams follow each other blindly, without looking where they are going, symbolical of the generation of the Churban Beis ha'Mikdash, who would turn a blind eye to each other's sins - i.e. they failed to rebuke each other.
2. "Vayihyu Mal'ivim be'Mal'achei Elokim u'Bozin Devarav" - means that they were disrespectful towards Talmidei-Chachamim.
3. "Ad Ein Marpei" - means that any punishments that results from the above sin is uncurable.

(a) We learn from ...

1. ... "Al Tig'u bi'Meshichai" - that one should not interfere with the full-time studies of the Tinokos shel Beis Raban (the small children who study Torah) - who are referred to by that name ('Meshichai') because they used to anoint the small children with oil;
2. ... "u'vi'Nevi'ai Al Tarei'u" - that one should not antagonize the Talmidei-Chachamim (who are referred to in Tehilim as Nevi'im).

(b) The entire world exists only on the breath of the young children who study Torah.

(c) Little children under Bar-Mitzvah are free of sin, grown-up Talmidei-Chachamim, even of the caliber of Abaye and Rav Papa, are *not*.

(d) One may not stop the children from learning Torah, even to build the Beis-ha'Mikdash.

(a) A town with no Tinokos shel Beis Raban will be destroyed.

(b) 'Machrivin Osah' - means total destruction; 'Machrimin Osah' - means that there will be a remnant.

(c) Anshei Amanah are men of integrity, and it is because they were lacking in Yerushalayim, that the Beis ha'Mikdash was destroyed.

(d) When Rav Ketina said that there were men of integrity in Yerushalayim even at the time of the Churban - he was referring to the readiness of the people of that time to admit their total ignorance, and unworthiness to be appointed to high advanced Rabbinical positions. Unfortunately, they were not so honest in their financial dealings.