Rav Ashkenazi tells over a story of a family that was distressed because their son had gone off the derech and left home. They contacted the Lubavitcher Rebbe for guidance. The Rebbe's advice was simple but surprising:
"Put effort into your Shabbat."
The parents were confused—what connection could this have with their son who wasn't even home?
But the Rebbe simply repeated his instruction.
So the parents took action. The mother asked each child what special foods they would like for Shabbat. She set the table beautifully. The father made sure to rest on Friday afternoon so he wouldn't be tired and irritable at the Shabbat table.
At first, the children at home were wary—as children often are when parents suddenly change their approach. But the transformation was genuine, and it lasted beyond that first week.
One day, the son who had left called home. One of his siblings answered and couldn't contain their excitement:
"You wouldn't believe what's happening at home! Mommy and Tatty are making Shabbat so special..."
The son sounded intrigued. One Shabbat, he showed up for the day meal—clearly not having walked there,
without a kippah, phone in his pocket.
The parents simply hugged and kissed him, saying nothing about his appearance.
Everyone at the table was smiling and laughing—none of the tension that used to pervade their meals.
A few weeks later, the son came for an entire Shabbat.
Over time, he completely returned to Yiddishkeit.
The lesson: When we take care of Shabbat—not just halachically, but by making it beautiful, joyful, and delightful for everyone—the Shabbat takes care of us.
The Talmud teaches that two angels—one good and one bad—visit every home on Friday night to see how Shabbat is being prepared. When they find the home ready for Shabbat, the good angel says, "May it be so next Shabbat," and the bad angel must answer "Amen." But if there's no preparation, the bad angel says, "May it be so next Shabbat," and the good angel must answer "Amen."
The lesson: The effort we put into preparing for Shabbat determines the blessing that rests on our homes. When we invest in making Shabbat special, we invite blessing; when we neglect it, we create spiritual distance.
After October 7th, OneTable (a nonprofit supporting Shabbat dinners) saw a 45% increase in participation across the country. People turned to Shabbat for comfort and connection during one of the most difficult times, finding that the rituals and traditions brought them back to life.
Our active investment in making Shabbat delightful, beautiful, and joyful creates a spiritual force that draws souls closer—both those in our homes and those who have drifted away.
Photo by ISKRA Photography on Unsplash
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